US diplomats prepare for landmark meeting with Syrian rebel leader

President Joe Biden is dispatching senior diplomats to Damascus for groundbreaking talks with Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the Islamist faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.

This meeting marks a significant shift in US engagement with Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Barbara Leaf, the State Department’s top Middle East official, is expected to lead the delegation, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

If confirmed, this will be the first formal in-person contact between US officials and HTS leadership since its designation in 2018. HTS, which played a leading role in the offensive that unseated Assad two weeks ago, is now urging the international community to lift sanctions on Syria.

US officials are reportedly considering removing HTS’s terrorist designation and easing sanctions on Syria if the group demonstrates a commitment to inclusive governance and regional stability. “If you don’t want that isolation, there are certain things that you have to do,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at a New York event on December 18, referencing issues such as chemical weapons and the threat of groups like ISIS.

This potential US visit follows similar delegations from France, Germany, and the UK, signalling a coordinated Western effort to stabilize Syria after Assad’s fall. Jolani, who now uses his birth name Ahmed al-Sharea, has been making overtures to the West, pledging to foster a united and secure Syria.

American officials have already engaged HTS in discussions about Syria’s political transition and the recovery of Austin Tice, an American journalist abducted in Damascus in 2012. While Jolani’s conciliatory rhetoric has been noted, US officials stress the importance of matching words with action.

Türkiye and Qatar, longtime supporters of Syrian opposition factions, are reopening their embassies in Damascus, while the EU plans to reestablish its diplomatic presence in the city. Ankara’s ties to HTS position it as a critical player in the evolving political landscape.

The US remains focused on preventing ISIS from exploiting the power vacuum. Approximately 900 American troops stationed in northeastern Syria have intensified operations against the terror group in the wake of Assad’s downfall.

By Tamilla Hasanova