US Offers $10 Million Bounty for Information on New Syrian Leader
A representative from Washington stated that negotiating with an individual on the US wanted-terrorist list would be “incoherent” following discussions with HTS in Damascus. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US has withdrawn its $10-million reward for information leading to the capture of Syria's new leader, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani. This decision follows a meeting between a Washington delegation and the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Friday.
Earlier this month, opposition forces led by HTS jihadists launched a surprise offensive that resulted in the resignation of Bashar Assad, the former president, who has since sought asylum in Russia.
Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, led the delegation to Syria. This marked the first visit by American diplomats to the country since the closure of the US embassy in Damascus in 2012.
Leaf stated that discussions focused on preventing terrorist groups from operating in Syria and ensuring the protection of minority and women's rights.
“We also discussed the critical need to ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the US and our partners in the region,” Leaf shared during a telephone briefing from Jordan. “Based on our discussion, I informed him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice offer that has been in effect for some years.”
Leaf clarified that withdrawing the bounty reflects a policy shift aimed at legitimizing engagement with HTS, which is still classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, with accompanying sanctions remaining in effect.
“If I’m sitting with the HTS leader and having a lengthy, detailed discussion, it’s a little incoherent to have a bounty on his head,” she noted. “Otherwise, I should ask the FBI to come in and arrest him or something.”
The US delegation included Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and Daniel Rubinstein, a senior adviser on relations with the new Syrian forces. They addressed the fate of Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012, among other pertinent issues.
This week, the US military announced it had increased its forces in Syria to about 2,000 troops prior to Assad's fall, aiming to prevent Islamic State terrorists from taking advantage of the turmoil. The Pentagon also conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria on Thursday, reportedly killing a leader of the terrorist group.
While there are no immediate plans to reopen the US embassy in Damascus, Leaf indicated that future diplomatic recognition would be contingent on the actions taken by the new Syrian authorities.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Earlier this month, opposition forces led by HTS jihadists launched a surprise offensive that resulted in the resignation of Bashar Assad, the former president, who has since sought asylum in Russia.
Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, led the delegation to Syria. This marked the first visit by American diplomats to the country since the closure of the US embassy in Damascus in 2012.
Leaf stated that discussions focused on preventing terrorist groups from operating in Syria and ensuring the protection of minority and women's rights.
“We also discussed the critical need to ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the US and our partners in the region,” Leaf shared during a telephone briefing from Jordan. “Based on our discussion, I informed him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice offer that has been in effect for some years.”
Leaf clarified that withdrawing the bounty reflects a policy shift aimed at legitimizing engagement with HTS, which is still classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, with accompanying sanctions remaining in effect.
“If I’m sitting with the HTS leader and having a lengthy, detailed discussion, it’s a little incoherent to have a bounty on his head,” she noted. “Otherwise, I should ask the FBI to come in and arrest him or something.”
The US delegation included Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and Daniel Rubinstein, a senior adviser on relations with the new Syrian forces. They addressed the fate of Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012, among other pertinent issues.
This week, the US military announced it had increased its forces in Syria to about 2,000 troops prior to Assad's fall, aiming to prevent Islamic State terrorists from taking advantage of the turmoil. The Pentagon also conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria on Thursday, reportedly killing a leader of the terrorist group.
While there are no immediate plans to reopen the US embassy in Damascus, Leaf indicated that future diplomatic recognition would be contingent on the actions taken by the new Syrian authorities.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
