US Administration Withdraws $10 Million Terrorism Bounty for Syrian Rebel Leader Ahmad al-Sharaa

The Biden administration has decided to withdraw a $10 million reward for capturing Ahmad al-Sharaa, a Syrian rebel leader. Al-Sharaa, who once had ties with al-Qaida, led the ousting of President Bashar Assad earlier this month. This decision was announced after a meeting in Damascus between al-Sharaa and Barbara Leaf, the top US diplomat for the Middle East.

US Diplomatic Engagement in Syria

Leaf's visit marked the first official US diplomatic delegation to Syria since Assad's removal. Despite Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) still being labelled a foreign terrorist organisation, Leaf refrained from commenting on potential sanction relief. She noted that al-Sharaa pledged to renounce terrorism, leading to the reward withdrawal. "We discussed the critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the US and our partners in the region," she stated.

The US delegation aimed to advocate for an inclusive government and gather information on missing American journalist Austin Tice. Alongside Leaf were Daniel Rubinstein, former special envoy for Syria, and Roger Carstens, the chief envoy for hostage negotiations. Carstens mentioned no new leads on Tice's whereabouts but assured continued efforts to locate him.

Ongoing Search for Austin Tice

Carstens emphasised their determination to find Tice, focusing on six prisons where he might have been held. He also mentioned three additional prisons and up to 40 sites that could be investigated for evidence of Tice's presence. "We're going to be like bulldogs on this," Carstens asserted. Tice disappeared at a checkpoint west of Damascus during the Syrian civil war.

A video released weeks after his disappearance showed Tice blindfolded and held by armed men. He has not been heard from since, and Assad's government denies holding him. The US continues its search efforts, with more officials expected to visit Syria soon.

US Military Actions in Syria

Shortly before the delegation's arrival in Damascus, the US military conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria. These strikes targeted and killed an Islamic State leader and another militant. This action is part of ongoing efforts to prevent IS insurgents from exploiting Syria's instability.

The Pentagon revealed an increase in US forces in Syria, doubling their numbers to approximately 2,000 troops before Assad's fall. These forces aim to combat IS and prevent any plans to release over 8,000 IS prisoners detained by Kurdish forces allied with the US.

Future Diplomatic Relations

Despite the diplomatic visit, there are no immediate plans to reopen the US embassy in Damascus. The embassy remains under Czech protection. Decisions regarding diplomatic recognition will depend on the new Syrian authorities' intentions. Leaf expressed cautious optimism about al-Sharaa's commitments but stressed that actions would determine future relations: "He came across as pragmatic," she said. "It was a good first meeting. We will judge by deeds not just by words."