U.S. State Department Engages with HTS Leader in Post-Assad Damascus
In a significant diplomatic move, officials from the U.S. State Department have met with Ahmad al Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad Al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in Damascus. This meeting marks the first official contact between the United States and the new power structure in Syria since the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The delegation, led by top Middle East diplomat Barbara Leaf, aimed to discuss the future governance of Syria and the potential lifting of sanctions against the Syrian people and entities, including the controversial Caesar Act. The engagement signals a shift in U.S. policy towards recognizing and possibly legitimizing the new administration led by Al-Jolani, who has been working to rebrand HTS away from its Al-Qaeda roots towards a more moderate image. This development comes amidst ongoing discussions about the stability and reconstruction of Syria in the post-Assad era.
