Envoys from the White House also informed Syria's de facto new ruler that Washington will not continue to offer a $10 million reward for his capture
News Desk - The Cradle
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf led the delegation along with Daniel Rubenstein, who is leading Washington's efforts in Syria. The two became the first US diplomats to travel to Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month.
“The meeting took place and was positive, and positive results will emerge from it,” AFP cited an official from Syria’s new government as saying.
During the meeting, Leaf reportedly informed Sharaa – who recently dropped his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani – that Washington will not continue to offer a $10 million reward for his capture under terrorism charges. Furthermore, officials said Sharaa “assured” them that Iran “will have no role in Syria's political future.”
According to a spokesperson for the US embassy in Damascus, a press conference was scheduled after the meeting but canceled for “security reasons.”
Earlier on Friday, the State Department said officials from the outgoing government of US President Joe Biden will discuss with HTS leadership their “vision” for the future of Syria and their support for a transitional process incorporating inclusivity and respect for minority rights.
Regional developments and the need to combat ISIS were also a part of the meeting. US officials held other meetings with Syrian activists and civil society leaders from different sects.
HTS and Ankara’s proxy, the Syrian National Army (SNA), stormed Damascus on 8 December after an 11-day shock offensive that resulted in the collapse of the Syrian army.
The HTS extremist group, formerly known as Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, has set up a transitional authority under the premiership of Mohammad Bashir. The new government in Syria has publicly promised that the rights of people from all sects and minority groups will be respected. Yet, incidents involving attacks on ethnic minorities and vandalism of holy sites have already begun.
Militants recently shot at and attacked the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in the city of Hama, vandalizing statues and desecrating graves. HTS leadership has reportedly vowed to take action against any perpetrators of such attacks.
The SNA groups backed by Turkiye, which were part of the HTS-led assault on Syria, have many ex-ISIS fighters and commanders among their ranks.
These groups, responsible for many war crimes over the years along with HTS, have been committing atrocities against Kurds in northern Syria. According to a 19 December report by the Synergy Association, over 120 Kurdish people, including women, have been detained by SNA factions since the extremist attack against Syria began last month, with some who have been released reporting torture and sexual assault.
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