The Biden administration announced that it would no longer pursue a $10 million reward initially offered for the capture of a prominent Syrian rebel leader.
This decision follows a recent meeting in Damascus with a representative from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States.
HTS, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, played a significant role in ousting former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The U.S. government had placed a bounty on al-Sharaa, known for his leadership within the group. However, after discussions in Damascus, the U.S. decided to lift this bounty.
Senior U.S. officials, including Barbara Leaf, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, took part in these discussions. The meeting aimed to address concerns about terrorist activities within the region and to emphasize the need for peace and stability in Syria.
The decision to remove the bounty occurred amidst ongoing diplomatic activities. U.S. officials are also searching for signs of Austin Tice, a missing American journalist, and other U.S. citizens believed to be in the region.
HTS remains a designated foreign terrorist organization, and the U.S. government has not indicated whether this classification might change in the future. Despite the removal of the bounty, the U.S. continues to monitor the group’s activities closely.