On Friday, December 20th, a diplomatic delegation sent by the U.S. Department of State arrived in Syria, marking the first official visit to Damascus by senior American officials since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that the highest-ranking Middle East diplomat at the Department of State, Barbara Leaf, President’s Hostage Affairs Special Envoy Roger Carstens, and newly appointed senior advisor Daniel Rubinstein, would hold talks with Syria’s interim leadership.
This meeting signifies the first formal face-to-face meeting between the United States and the new governing authority in Syria following the downfall of President Assad.
The group represents the first official visit to Syria by American diplomats in over a decade since the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus in 2012.
On December 8th, Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus, forcing Assad to flee the country after a 13-year civil war, ending decades of his family’s rule.
The rebel organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the attack on Damascus and forced Assad to flee, is still recognized as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. and other countries. Despite this designation and accompanying sanctions, U.S. officials are not prohibited from engaging in dialogue with members or leaders of this group.
The U.S. State Department stated that these officials will directly engage with the Syrian people, including civil society members, activists, members of different communities, and others in Syria, to discuss their visions for the country’s future and how the United States can assist and support them.
The State Department spokesperson mentioned that American officials would discuss a range of principles with HTS representatives during the meetings, such as inclusivity and respect for the rights of minority groups, with the hope that these principles can be integrated into Syria’s political transition process.
The diplomatic delegation also seeks information regarding American journalist Austin Tice and other missing U.S. citizens.
The U.S. State Department did not disclose whether American officials would meet with HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.
The leader of the anti-government forces, Ahmad al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has replaced the Assad family’s rule with a transitional government lasting for three months.
American officials expressed their hope that Ahmad al-Sharaa would publicly commit to protecting the rights of minorities and women, while also remaining observant of his ability to uphold these pledges in the long run.
President Biden and U.S. officials view the ousting of Assad as a historic opportunity for the Syrian people. For decades, the people of Syria have lived under the oppressive rule of the Assad family.
However, they cautioned that Syria will face a period filled with risks and uncertainties.
Washington remains concerned about the potential resurgence of the extremist group ISIS and hopes to prevent conflicts between the factions supported by Turkey and the Kurdish militia, allies of the United States.
The Pentagon revealed on Thursday that prior to Assad’s ouster, the U.S. had doubled its military presence in Syria. The U.S. has also significantly increased airstrikes on ISIS targets, fearing a resurgence of the group in the power vacuum.