IRIA News

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The Biden administration has announced that it will no longer pursue a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmad Al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad Al Jolani, the leader of the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

This decision comes following Al Jolani’s role in the recent ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the first formal U.S. diplomatic delegation visit to Damascus in over a decade.

The U.S. delegation, led by Barbara Leaf, the top diplomat for the Middle East, engaged in discussions with al-Sharaa and interim Syrian leaders, focusing on forming an inclusive government and addressing critical regional security concerns.

HTS, which remains designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., was initially formed as an offshoot of Al Qaida. However, Al Sharaa’s recent commitments to renounce terrorism and promote minority and women’s rights appear to have shifted the U.S. approach.

“We discussed the critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the U.S. and our partners in the region,” Leaf said during a press briefing from Jordan. “Based on our discussion, I told him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offered.”

Skepticism over HTS commitments

Despite this development, skepticism lingers among U.S. officials regarding the authenticity of Al Sharaa’s promises. While his statements about human rights have been cautiously welcomed, the Biden administration is adamant about evaluating future actions rather than relying solely on rhetoric.

“He came across as pragmatic,” Leaf noted. “It was a good first meeting. We will judge by deeds not just by words.”

The #WhiteHelmets met with US Assistant Secretary of State for NEA Barbara Leaf (@SafiraLeaf) and Senior Advisor Daniel Rubinstein to discuss pathways toward a free and pluralistic Syria.

We emphasized the need for regional actors to commit to a coordinated plan supporting… pic.twitter.com/DS2exjHOZF

— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 20, 2024

The U.S. has yet to announce whether the terrorist designation or sanctions against HTS will be lifted, signaling an ongoing evaluation of the group’s actions under its new leadership.

The delegation’s visit also focused on the unresolved case of Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared in Syria in 2012. Tice, who has contributed to outlets such as The Washington Post and McClatchy newspapers, was last seen at a checkpoint west of Damascus during the height of the Syrian civil war. Weeks after his disappearance, a video surfaced showing him blindfolded and held by armed men. Since then, there has been no confirmed information about his fate.

Roger Carstens, the U.S. special envoy for hostage negotiations, accompanied the delegation and vowed to intensify efforts to locate Tice. “We’re going to be like bulldogs on this,” Carstens said, outlining plans to investigate up to 40 potential detention sites.

Although no new evidence has surfaced, Carstens emphasized the administration’s commitment to continuing the search. He also noted that efforts extend to nearby countries, including Lebanon, in hopes of uncovering leads about Tice’s whereabouts.

Syria’s new leader tries to reassure US he is no jihadi

As U.S. diplomats arrived in Damascus, Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who recently dropped his nom de guerre of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, likely emphasized that the West faces no threat in Syria under his rule.

This softened stance came after his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group helped overthrow President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Sharaa has also made efforts to distance himself from his past as a jihadist leader with ties to both ISIS and Al Qaeda.

As his administration takes power, Sharaa has also called for the U.S. and other nations to lift sanctions on Syria. “Sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime,” Sharaa, now dressed in a smart suit and a white shirt instead of his former jihadist attire, told the BBC in an interview earlier this week. “The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way,” he added.

U.S.-Syria diplomatic re-engagement

The visit to Damascus marks the first formal diplomatic mission to the country since the U.S. closed its embassy there in 2012. Although the embassy remains shuttered, with the Czech government providing interim protection, the Biden administration has signaled a willingness to engage with Syria’s new authorities to assess their intentions.

The diplomatic delegation included Daniel Rubinstein, a former special envoy for Syria, and focused on fostering political stability in the war-torn nation. Leaf underscored the U.S. position on advocating for an inclusive government and protecting the rights of minorities and women as pivotal to future collaboration.

Military developments in Syria

Amid these diplomatic moves, the U.S. military has ramped up operations in Syria, conducting airstrikes targeting Islamic State (IS) leaders. A Pentagon statement on Thursday confirmed the killing of a senior IS leader in northeastern Syria, part of an effort to counter the group’s resurgence and prevent the release of thousands of IS detainees held by Kurdish forces.

The Pentagon also revealed that the number of U.S. troops in Syria has doubled to approximately 2,000 as part of this counterterrorism effort. This increased military presence underscores Washington’s focus on stabilizing the region and preventing extremist groups from exploiting the power vacuum created by Assad’s ouster.

Future of US-Syria relations

Despite the landmark meeting, U.S. officials clarified that the visit does not signify immediate diplomatic recognition or plans to reopen the embassy in Damascus. Leaf stressed that decisions on formal recognition would depend on the actions and commitments of Syria’s new leadership.