What's New
The first U.S. diplomats to visit Syria following President Bashar al-Assad's ouster earlier this month have arrived in Damascus. Their agenda includes talks with the nation's new leaders and efforts to uncover information about missing American journalist Austin Tice.
Barbara Leaf, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, joined former special envoy for Syria Daniel Rubinstein and Roger Carstens, President Biden's top hostage negotiator, on a diplomatic mission to Damascus. The high-level delegation arrived to engage in talks with Syria's interim leadership, the State Department confirmed early Friday.
Why It Matters
The delegation marks the first official visit by American diplomats to Syria in over a decade, following the closure of the U.S. embassy in Damascus in 2012.
At the forefront of their agenda is the search for answers about Tice, the journalist who disappeared in Syria in 2012. The delegation also plans to advocate for key principles outlined by the Biden administration, including inclusion, the protection of minorities, and the rejection of terrorism and chemical weapons—standards the U.S. considers essential for supporting any future Syrian government.
What to Know
The U.S. has intensified efforts to locate Tice and secure his return, confirming that officials have communicated with the rebel factions responsible for ousting Assad's government regarding the missing journalist. Carstens, previously traveled to Lebanon to gather leads.
Tice, a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers, and other outlets, vanished at a checkpoint in a contested region west of Damascus in 2012, as the Syrian civil war escalated.
Weeks after Tice disappeared, a video surfaced showing him blindfolded, surrounded by armed men, and uttering the words, "Oh, Jesus." Since then, no further communication or evidence of his whereabouts has emerged. The Assad regime has publicly denied any involvement or knowledge of his detention.
The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the offensive on Damascus that forced Assad to flee, is classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and other nations. While this designation imposes extensive sanctions, it does not prevent U.S. officials from engaging in dialogue with its members or leaders as part of efforts to locate Tice.
The State Department confirmed that Leaf, Rubinstein, and Carstens would hold meetings with officials from HTS during their visit. However, it did not specify whether Ahmad al-Sharaa, the group's leader and a former al-Qaida affiliate, would be among those they meet.
U.S. officials cautiously welcomed al-Sharaa's recent public statements advocating for the protection of minority and women's rights but expressed skepticism about his long-term commitment to such principles. Concerns remain about whether HTS can align its actions with these promises as part of Syria's shifting political landscape.
The Pentagon announced Thursday that the U.S. has doubled its troop presence in Syria to combat the Islamic State (IS) following the ouster of Assad. Additionally, the U.S. has intensified its airstrike campaign against IS targets, citing concerns that a power vacuum could enable the militant group to regain strength.
What People Are Saying
De facto Syrian leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told the BBC from Damascus: "Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime," he said. "The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way."
U.N. special envoy for Syria Geir O Pedersen, said in a news conference in Damascus: "I think it is important to say that there is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria."
A State Department spokesperson said of the delegation: "They will be engaging directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, members of different communities, and other Syrian voices about their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can help support them."
What Happens Next
U.S. officials clarified that the diplomatic delegation's visit to Damascus would not immediately lead to the reopening of the U.S. embassy, which remains under the protection of the Czech government. Decisions regarding formal diplomatic recognition will depend on the new Syrian leadership's actions and their alignment with U.S. expectations for governance and stability.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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