In a significant shift, the United States has removed its $10 million bounty on Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s new de facto leader, following what officials have called “very productive” talks with the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS recently seized control of Damascus in a surprise move, ousting the Assad regime and altering Syria’s political landscape.
Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State, praised the talks with Sharaa, calling him “pragmatic” and emphasizing his role in shaping Syria’s future. The high-level US delegation, including hostage envoy Roger Carstens, visited Damascus for the first time in over a decade, following HTS’s stunning victory. The visit marked a shift in US policy, with discussions centered on “transition principles” and collaboration in the fight against Daesh, despite Washington still designating HTS a terrorist group.
The US delegation also used the opportunity to seek information on missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, who disappeared under Assad’s regime. The visit was part of broader efforts by the US and its allies to shape Syria’s governance after Assad’s collapse.
While pushing for HTS to form an inclusive, non-sectarian government, the US has laid the groundwork for potential sanctions relief. The US also reaffirmed its commitment to defeating Daesh, confirming an airstrike in Deir al-Zour province that killed Daesh leader Abu Yusif.
The removal of the bounty on Sharaa, once linked to Al-Qaeda and Daesh, underscores the rapidly changing dynamics in Syria. HTS, which once maintained ties to both groups, has distanced itself and focused on governing, though it remains a controversial entity in US eyes. The lifting of the reward signals a new chapter in US-Syria relations amid the shifting sands of the country’s power struggle.
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