The US has officially scrapped its $10 million bounty on Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa following talks.
US officials described the discussions as “productive” with the man who was described as Al-Qaida terrorist, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf praised Sharaa’s “pragmatic” approach during the meetings in Damascus.
First US Diplomatic Visit To Syria
This marked the first American diplomatic visit to Syria in over a decade, coming just weeks after HTS ousted Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
While HTS remains labeled a terrorist group, Washington is exploring ways to engage with it.
Why US is Engaging With New Rulers?
The US delegation’s main priority is to encourage inclusive governance in its dealings with Syria’s new rules.
The resurgence of IS is also a concern for the US and regional allies as they could capitalize on the vulnerability of the law and order situation.
