6 hours ago Tom Bateman BBC State Department correspondent The US has scrapped a $10m (£7.9m) reward for the arrest of Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, following meetings between senior diplomats and representatives from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf said the discussion with Sharaa was “very productive”, and he came across as “pragmatic”.
The US delegation arrived in the capital, Damascus, after HTS overthrew the Bashar al-Assad regime less than a fortnight ago.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that the diplomats discussed “transition principles” supported by the US, regional events and the need to fight against IS.
A US embassy spokesperson earlier said a news conference involving Ms Leaf had been cancelled due to “security concerns”.
Six hours ago.
Tom Bateman.
BBC correspondent at the State Department.
After senior diplomats met with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the United States canceled a $10 million (£7.9 million) reward for the arrest of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader.
According to Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, Sharaa came across as “pragmatic” and the conversation was “very productive.”.
The US delegation arrived in Damascus, the capital, less than two weeks after HTS toppled the Bashar al-Assad government. It is still classified as a terrorist organization in Washington.
The diplomats talked about regional events, the need to combat IS, and “transition principles” backed by the US, according to a State Department spokesperson.
AdChoices.
ЕК؛ؐؐ.
Additionally, the spokesperson stated that the authorities were looking for more details regarding American nationals who vanished under Assad’s rule, such as journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in Damascus in 2012, and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, who died in 2017.
An earlier statement from a US embassy spokesperson stated that “security concerns” were the reason behind the cancellation of a news conference featuring Ms. Leaf.
Leaf refuted that, claiming “street celebrations” were the reason for the delay in a subsequent briefing.
This is the first official U.S. diplomatic visit to Damascus in over ten years.
It is another indication of the profound changes occurring in Syria since Assad was overthrown and the rapidity with which the US and Europe—whose support is also based on Arab nations—are attempting to influence the country’s new government.
The visit comes after delegations from the UN and other nations, such as the UK, France, and Germany, visited in recent days.
Senior officials in the delegation include Daniel Rubinstein, a senior adviser in the Bureau of Near East Affairs, Barbara Leaf, and Roger Carstens, the hostage envoy for US President Joe Biden.
The delegation also spoke with members of various communities and civil society organizations in Syria “about their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can help support them,” according to the spokesperson.
The meeting demonstrated preparedness to deal with HTS, which the United States continues to label as a terrorist organization while exerting pressure on it to change to a non-sectarian, inclusive government.
In effect, Washington is establishing a set of requirements before it will consider delisting the group, which is a crucial step that could facilitate the sanctions relief that Damascus sorely needs.
In the meantime, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that an airstrike in the northeastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour had killed IS leader Abu Yusif and two of his operatives.
The airstrike was launched on Thursday and was carried out in an area that was previously under the control of the Assad regime and Russian forces that backed his government, the statement said on Friday.
The US would not permit IS “to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute,” according to CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, who also stated that the organization planned to release the more than 8,000 IS militants who were detained in Syria.
