US Drops $10 Million Bounty on Syrian Rebel Leader Ahmad al-Sharaa
In a significant development, the US government has announced that it will no longer pursue a $10 million reward for the capture of Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa. This decision comes after a meeting between al-Sharaa and top US diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, in Damascus ¹.
Al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was once aligned with al-Qaida. However, during his meeting with Leaf, he committed to renouncing terrorism, which led to the US dropping the bounty.
"We discussed the critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the US and our partners in the region," Leaf said. "Based on our discussion, I told him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offered."
The US delegation's visit to Damascus was aimed at pushing for an inclusive government and seeking information on the whereabouts of missing American journalist Austin Tice. Leaf was joined by former special envoy for Syria Daniel Rubinstein and the Biden administration's chief envoy for hostage negotiations, Roger Carstens.
The meeting between al-Sharaa and the US delegation marks a significant shift in the US approach to Syria. The US had previously offered the $10 million reward for information leading to al-Sharaa's capture, but the decision to drop the bounty suggests that the US is now seeking to engage with the new leadership in Syria.
However, the US has not lifted its designation of HTS as a foreign terrorist organization, and Leaf would not comment on whether sanctions would be eased. The US is likely to continue to monitor al-Sharaa's actions and ensure that he follows through on his commitment to renounce terrorism.
The development comes as the US seeks to navigate the complex and rapidly changing landscape in Syria. The US has been working to support the establishment of a stable and inclusive government in Syria, and the meeting with al-Sharaa is seen as a key step in this process.
In related news, the US military has conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria, killing a leader of the Islamic State group and one other militant. The strike was part of an ongoing effort to prevent IS insurgents from taking advantage of the upheaval in Syria.
The US has also doubled its military presence in Syria to around 2,000 troops, with the aim of preventing IS from regrouping and posing a threat to regional and global security.
Overall, the decision to drop the bounty on al-Sharaa marks a significant shift in the US approach to Syria, and suggests that the US is now seeking to engage with the new leadership in the country. However, the US will likely continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure that any engagement with al-Sharaa and HTS is conditional on their commitment to renouncing terrorism.
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