The United States has made a significant decision to remove the long-standing $10 million bounty on the de-facto leader of Syria. This move follows a high-level US delegation meeting with the former jihadist on Friday.
The Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs described the policy decision as aligned with the need to address critical issues such as combating terrorism. The leader in question, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is associated with the US-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has committed to working on these issues.
The urgency of engaging with Syria's interim government was underscored during the meeting to prevent a resurgence of ISIS in the aftermath of the collapse of the Syrian regime. The international community has also endorsed principles for a transition to a new Syrian government that prioritizes inclusivity and respect for human rights.
The meeting with al-Sharaa was described as productive and detailed, with discussions covering a wide range of domestic and external issues. The US officials emphasized the importance of judging actions over words, highlighting the need for tangible progress.
Efforts to locate American journalist Austin Tice, who has been detained in Syria for over a decade, have been a focal point. The US has received commitments from HTS to assist in finding Tice and gathering information on other missing Americans.
The search for Tice has focused on specific facilities believed to have housed him, with plans to expand the search to additional sites in collaboration with interim authorities. Limited resources have necessitated cooperation with partners, allies, NGOs, and the media to gather information effectively.
The US officials expressed the intention to continue refining the search efforts in the coming days and weeks, with a potential expansion to more prison sites. The cooperation with interim authorities has been crucial in advancing these search operations.
