The United States has lifted its $10 million bounty for the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader, following constructive diplomatic talks with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that recently ousted Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State, called the discussions with Sharaa “very productive,” praising his pragmatic approach. The US delegation, which included hostage envoy Roger Carstens, arrived in Damascus after HTS took control of the capital, signaling a major shift in Syria’s political landscape.
While the US continues to label HTS as a terrorist group, the talks focused on principles for Syria’s transition and the need for cooperation against Daesh. The US State Department also confirmed that the delegation sought information on missing American citizens, including journalist Austin Tice and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, who disappeared during the Assad regime’s rule.
This visit marks the first formal US diplomatic mission to Damascus in over ten years, part of broader efforts by the US, European nations, and Arab states to shape Syria’s post-Assad governance. The US delegation also met with civil society groups and local Syrian communities to discuss Syria’s future and the role of US support in its transition.
The US is pushing for HTS to establish an inclusive, non-sectarian government, setting conditions that could lead to the easing of sanctions. Meanwhile, the US confirmed an airstrike in Deir al-Zour province that killed Daesh leader Abu Yusif and two operatives, reaffirming its commitment to preventing IS resurgence in Syria.
The removal of the bounty on Sharaa comes after his group, HTS, distanced itself from Al-Qaeda and Daesh, focusing on governance in Syria, though the US still classifies it as a terrorist organization. The bounty was originally placed in 2013 due to HTS’s links to Al-Qaeda and its involvement with Daesh.
