Ahmed al-Sharaa.Photo: Russian media.
The United States is reconsidering its approach to the Syrian conflict, cancelling the offer of a reward for assistance in the arrest of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. This decision is part of Washington’s new diplomatic strategy towards Syria.
Washington has withdrawn its offer of a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organisation. This decision was made as part of a new political course that provides for the establishment of contacts between the United States and Syrian rebels. According to the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Israel’s Channel 9, the cancellation of the award was an important component of Washington’s diplomatic changes in the context of the Syrian conflict.
Ahmed al-Sharaa: from opposition leader to an important player in the Syrian political arena
Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known by his pseudonym Abu Muhammad al-Julani, became the de facto leader of the opposition forces in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. His organisation, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has long been on the list of terrorist groups, but its political influence in the country and abroad has become noticeable. Al-Sharaa has given numerous interviews in which he demonstrated a high level of political insight, which has aroused interest among the international media.
Against the backdrop of the difficult situation in Syria and changes in US foreign policy, al-Sharaa has become an important figure for Washington. US diplomats who recently visited Damascus for talks with him noted that he left a positive impression as an extremely intelligent and politically astute leader.
Meeting in Damascus: Political Transition and the Fight Against Terrorism
The main purpose of the visit of the American delegation led by Barbara Leaf was to discuss the conditions of political transit in Syria and the prospects for fighting terrorist groups, in particular the Islamic State. During the meeting, Leaf informed al-Sharaa that the Rewards for Assisting Justice programme had been cancelled. This step, according to the head of the delegation, is part of a broader strategy aimed at changing the course of US policy towards Syria.
“We made it clear to al-Sharaa that terrorist groups must not threaten security not only inside Syria but also outside Syria, including the United States and its partners in the region,” Leaf said after the meeting.
The United States also outlined the conditions under which it is ready to review the status of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and ease sanctions against Syria if the organisation fulfils certain requirements, including the cessation of terrorist activities.
Search for missing Americans and new chances for dialogue
In addition to discussing terrorist threats, US diplomats raised the issue of two Americans who went missing in Syria: journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in 2012, and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, who has not been in contact since 2017. The United States called on the Syrian authorities to provide information about their whereabouts, which became an important item on the agenda of the talks.
The meeting in Damascus was part of a new stage in diplomatic relations between the United States and Syria, in which recognition of the importance of cooperation with the new political realities in the country plays a significant role. Establishing contacts with the transitional government of Syria and cooperation with representatives of the opposition open up new opportunities for resolving the conflict and stabilising the situation in the region.
