US Eases Stance After Meeting Syrian Leader Rewritten English Version: In a significant diplomatic shift, senior U.S. diplomat Barbara Leaf announced the U.S. decision to remove a $10 million bounty on Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, following discussions in Damascus. This marks the first official U.S. delegation to the Syrian capital since the early days of the civil war. Leaf described the talks as encouraging and highlighted the new Syrian leadership’s willingness to combat terrorism and foster regional peace. Sharaa, who recently ascended to power after the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad on December 8, leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group with roots in Al-Qaeda. Despite its U.S. designation as a terrorist organization, HTS has rebranded itself in recent years. The U.S. delegation’s engagement signals a pragmatic approach to dealing with Syria’s evolving political landscape. In her statements, Leaf underscored that the U.S. supports a “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process” aimed at building an inclusive government that upholds the rights of all Syrians. This includes addressing the needs of Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities. Discussions in Damascus also covered efforts to counter terrorism, with Leaf affirming the importance of actions matching rhetoric in the fight against extremist threats. The shift in U.S. policy comes amid broader regional efforts to stabilize Syria. Leaf also met with Syrian civil society representatives and members of the White Helmets rescue group to discuss future rebuilding initiatives and commemorate victims of the Assad regime. This includes tens of thousands of Syrians who were detained, tortured, or killed during Assad’s rule. In a related development, the U.S. military reported the killing of an Islamic State (IS) leader in Deir Ezzor province, further demonstrating its ongoing commitment to counterterrorism. Leaf reaffirmed the U.S. dedication to preventing a resurgence of IS and other extremist groups, calling for greater collaboration among regional actors. Meanwhile, regional tensions persist as Turkey continues its military operations against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the eradication of all terrorist threats, including IS and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The U.S. has urged a ceasefire in areas such as Kobane, a Kurdish-controlled town on the Syrian border. Leaf also expressed optimism about Syria reducing Iran’s influence, citing signs of a potential departure of Iranian forces. Iran and its ally Hezbollah had been key supporters of Assad during the civil war, but their role in Syria’s future now appears uncertain. As Syria transitions under its new leadership, international sanctions remain a topic of debate. Amy Pope, head of the UN migration agency, called for sanctions to be reassessed to aid Syria’s recovery. With more than 500,000 lives lost in the civil war and millions displaced, rebuilding the nation remains a monumental task.
