The Biden administration has made a significant decision to lift a $10 million bounty on the head of Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that recently overthrew Bashar al-Assad in Syria. This move comes as part of an agreement where al-Sharaa has committed to not allowing terrorism groups in Syria to pose threats to the United States or its neighboring countries.
Barbara Leaf, the U.S.'s top envoy to the Middle East, confirmed that a productive meeting took place between U.S. officials and al-Sharaa, emphasizing discussions on various regional issues. HTS, which drove Assad out of Damascus, now holds significant control over parts of Syria, despite its origins as an offshoot of al Qaeda.
While HTS was initially linked to terrorism, it broke away from al Qaeda in 2016. The U.S. designated HTS as a terrorist group in 2018, but recent policy decisions have paved the way for diplomatic engagement with the group. Al-Sharaa has been vocal about HTS's efforts to distance itself from extremism, highlighting initiatives such as promoting education for women in Syria.
The U.S. has been engaging with HTS to push for a more pragmatic government in Syria and gather information on detained U.S. journalist Austin Tice. Despite HTS's militant Islamist roots, al-Sharaa argues that the group does not target civilians and sees itself as a victim of Assad's regime.
Concerns about the resurgence of ISIS amid the Syrian conflict have led the U.S. to increase its military presence in the region. The Pentagon recently disclosed a doubling of U.S. forces to around 2,000 troops to combat ISIS and prevent the release of over 8,000 IS prisoners, a move aimed at addressing significant security risks.
