Published December 20,2024
Subscribe
The US on Friday mentioned it can not be pursuing $10 million “Rewards for Justice” bounty on the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, also referred to as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
“I told him (HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa) we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice, reward offer that has been in effect for some years,” Barbara Leaf, the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, informed reporters following her assembly with HTS officers in Damascus.
On her discuss with al-Sharaa, Leaf mentioned she had a “good”, “thorough” dialogue on a variety of regional points in addition to the home scene.
“I heard him on his priorities, which are very much rooted in and getting Syria on the road to economic recovery,” she continued.
She mentioned the HTS chief got here throughout as “pragmatic,” including: “We’ve been hearing this for some time, some very pragmatic and moderate statements on various issues, from women’s rights to protection, equal rights for all communities.”
“It was a good first meeting. We will judge by deeds, not just by words,” she added.
Emphasizing the “critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside of Syria or externally”, she mentioned the HTS chief has expressed a dedication to this as nicely.
The assembly marks first assembly between US officers and HTS members days after Bashar Assad, Syria’s chief for practically 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime teams took management of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in energy since 1963.
The takeover got here after HTS fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted lower than two weeks.
HTS has been designated as a terrorist group by the US, UK, UN and Türkiye. However, the group and its chief have sought to rebrand themselves as a extra reasonable power in Syria, emphasizing inclusion and a political path ahead.
According to a number of experiences, the US, together with the UN and several other different international locations, contemplate eradicating HTS’s from terror checklist although the officers have but to verify it formally.
Source: www.anews.com.tr