The US No Longer Wants to Arrest Syria's New Leader
The US is no longer offering a reward for the arrest of Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. This is according to top diplomat Barbara Leaf, according to news agencies.
Leaf is leading the US delegation that is in Damascus for talks with the rebel leader, whose HTS militia took power from dictator Bashar al-Assad just over two weeks ago.
She says they have had "good and thorough talks" with al-Sharaa, and perceives his message as positive. The US will review sanctions against Syria, but wants to see action first, she adds.
The US will support the new regime in documenting Assad's war crimes and mass graves, Leaf continues.
The US is no longer offering a reward for the arrest of Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. This is according to top diplomat Barbara Leaf, according to news agencies.
Leaf is leading the US delegation that is in Damascus for talks with the rebel leader, whose HTS militia took power from dictator Bashar al-Assad just over two weeks ago.
She says they have had "good and thorough talks" with al-Sharaa, and perceives his message as positive. The US will review sanctions against Syria, but wants to see action first, she adds.
The US will support the new regime in documenting Assad's war crimes and mass graves, Leaf continues.
IS leader in Syria killed in US airstrike
The Syrian IS leader Abu Yusif has been killed in a US airstrike, the US Central Command (Centcom) said according to AFP.
The airstrike was carried out in an area previously controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, Centcom wrote in a statement.
The US has stepped up attacks on IS in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Areas previously protected by Syrian and Russian air defenses are now unprotected since the change of power in the country.
US delegation in Damascus for first meeting with HTS leader
A group of US diplomats has arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus for a meeting with rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The US State Department announced this, according to several media outlets.
The meeting is the first formal meeting between the US and the HTS leader who recently toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad. The US priority since al-Assad's fall has been to prevent terrorists from gaining a foothold in Syria. The rebel leader, for his part, wants sanctions against Syria lifted and the US to remove him from its terror list.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously said that the US is willing to lift the terror designation if HTS creates a democratic government that fights terrorism and protects human rights.
In addition to the meeting with al-Sharaa, the US delegation will also seek answers about the whereabouts of American journalist Austin Tice. Tice disappeared in Syria in 2012 but is believed to still be alive.
The Syrian IS leader Abu Yusif has been killed in a US airstrike, the US Central Command (Centcom) said according to AFP.
The airstrike was carried out in an area previously controlled by the Syrian regime and Russian forces, Centcom wrote in a statement.
The US has stepped up attacks on IS in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Areas previously protected by Syrian and Russian air defenses are now unprotected since the change of power in the country.
US delegation in Damascus for first meeting with HTS leader
A group of US diplomats has arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus for a meeting with rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. The US State Department announced this, according to several media outlets.
The meeting is the first formal meeting between the US and the HTS leader who recently toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad. The US priority since al-Assad's fall has been to prevent terrorists from gaining a foothold in Syria. The rebel leader, for his part, wants sanctions against Syria lifted and the US to remove him from its terror list.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has previously said that the US is willing to lift the terror designation if HTS creates a democratic government that fights terrorism and protects human rights.
In addition to the meeting with al-Sharaa, the US delegation will also seek answers about the whereabouts of American journalist Austin Tice. Tice disappeared in Syria in 2012 but is believed to still be alive.
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