U.S. drops bounty on new Syrian leader amid promising talks
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf reported on Friday, after a meeting with Syria's new de facto leader, that we informed Ahmed al-Shara that we would no longer offer a reward for his capture. In 2017, a 10 million dollar reward was set for information about the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
After talks with Ahmed al-Shara, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf announced that the United States would no longer offer a reward for his capture. Leaf described the conversation as constructive. Al-Shara, previously known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, pledged to ensure that "terrorist groups will not pose a threat within Syria or beyond."
Based on our discussion, I told him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offered, stated Leaf.
Leaf jokingly noted, "If I'm sitting with the leader of HTS and having a long, detailed discussion about a whole series of interests—U.S. interests, Syrian interests, regional interests—it's a bit inconsistent to place a bounty on the guy's head. Otherwise, I should ask the FBI to come and arrest him."
According to Leaf, the conversation with Syria's new leader was "good and detailed," and al-Shara seems pragmatically inclined and motivated to rebuild the country's economy.
Leaf did not declare the lifting of sanctions on HTS and Syria but expressed optimism that the new authorities would pursue the country's unity, which is a condition for lifting sanctions. She also announced further diplomatic contacts with the new government in Damascus.
The situation of Syrian Kurds and the search for a journalist
The diplomat also addressed the situation of Syrian Kurds, whose militia, SDF, is a U.S. partner in fighting the Islamic State but is opposed by militias supported by Turkey.
Leaf expressed the desire to de-escalate tensions but noted that with the change of government in Syria, the conditions that forced the Kurds to self-organize and govern their own territory in the north of the country have changed.
Leaf expressed hope for talks between the SDF and the new authorities so that the Kurds could be part of a new Syria. Accompanying Leaf, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens stated that the talks also addressed the fate of journalist Austin Tice, captured by the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Carstens said that the search for Tice is ongoing but extremely complicated due to the vastness and number of secret prisons of the overthrown regime throughout the country, which are greater than expected. Friday's visit by the U.S. delegation was the first diplomatic visit to Syria since 2012.
10 million dollars for the leader's capture
Let us recall: just two days ago, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller assured that the reward of 10 million dollars offered by the U.S. for information about the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Muhammad al-Julani, was still in effect. It was set in 2017.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime created a power vacuum in Syria, attracting the attention of international powers. Russia and Iran, Assad's former allies, lost their influence, and the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, took key regions. The new authorities face the challenge of managing resource-rich areas and resolving political tensions.
