Senior U.S. Diplomats Meet Syria’s New De Facto Leader Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, Signal Shift in Relations

DAMASCUS, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. diplomats met on Friday with Syria's new de facto ruler, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Damascus, holding what was described as a "good" and "very productive" meeting to discuss the country’s political transition. The U.S. delegation also announced the withdrawal of a $10 million bounty previously placed on al-Sharaa’s head.

Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s top diplomat for the Middle East, told reporters that the meeting marked the first direct U.S. engagement with leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) since the former al-Qaeda affiliate ousted long-time Syrian President Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago.

“HTS presented itself as a pragmatic organization,” Leaf said during a briefing after leading the U.S. delegation. She emphasized the importance of actions over words, stating that U.S. officials reiterated their demand for an inclusive government that ensures terrorist groups cannot pose a threat.

“Ahmad al-Sharaa committed to this,” Leaf said. “Based on our discussion, I informed him that we would no longer pursue the ‘Rewards for Justice’ bounty.”

Gradual Engagement

The U.S., alongside other Western nations and many Syrians, welcomed Assad's ouster by HTS-led forces. However, questions remain about whether the group will enforce strict Islamist rule or show flexibility toward democratic governance.

Western governments have cautiously opened channels of communication with HTS and its leader, a former al-Qaeda commander in Syria. Discussions have reportedly included the possibility of removing HTS from international terrorist organization lists. The U.S. visit follows similar engagements by France and the United Kingdom in recent days.

U.S. Priorities in Syria

The United States laid out principles for Syria’s political transition, emphasizing inclusivity and minority rights. The delegation also sought updates on missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012.

Roger Carstens, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said Washington would collaborate with Syria's interim authorities to locate Tice. While Carstens noted receiving extensive information about Tice during the visit, he said none of the leads confirmed his current status.

A Shift in Diplomacy

The U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Syria and closed its Damascus embassy in 2012. However, Daniel Rubinstein, recently appointed senior advisor for U.S. engagement in Syria, hinted at increased visits by U.S. officials.

“We aim to proceed prudently and as frequently as practical,” Rubinstein said, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy toward the war-torn country.

The evolving dynamics in Syria have raised cautious optimism among Western governments, though the path forward remains uncertain.