- US diplomats arrive in Syria
- They will discuss a vision for Syria's future
- Since the fall of Assad, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has spoken moderately, advocating reconciliation and Syrian unity, protection of minorities, and pledging to dismantle rebel groups
US diplomats arrive in Syria
US diplomats have arrived in Syria to speak directly with the new Islamist-led rulers in the hope of encouraging a moderate, inclusive path and learning more about the missing Americans, the State Department said on Friday.
It is the first official US diplomatic mission to Damascus since the early days of the brutal civil war that began in 2011 and followed the surprise lightning offensive that toppled long-ruling Bashar al-Assad this month.
The diplomats will meet with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group celebrating its victory, which is considered a terrorist group by Washington, as well as activists, members of civil society and minority groups, the State Department said.
They will discuss a vision for Syria's future
US officials will talk to Syrians about "their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can support them", a State Department spokesman said.
The delegation includes Barbara Leaf, the State Department's top official for the Middle East, and Daniel Rubinstein, a veteran U.S. diplomat in the Arab world who is responsible for relations with Syria, the spokesman said. Roger Carstens, the US representative for hostages, has also arrived and will be looking for clues about missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in August 2012.
The trip comes a week after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was in direct contact with HTS. HTS had previously been linked to Al Qaeda, so the US kept its distance throughout the civil war, while seeking to isolate the more secular Assad.
Since the fall of Assad, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani has spoken moderately, advocating reconciliation and Syrian unity, protection of minorities, and pledging to dismantle rebel groups
Mr Blinken said it was too early to assess Mr al-Jolani's sincerity and that the easing of sanctions would depend on action.
It is unlikely that the US would remove HTS from the terrorist list before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House after his inauguration on 20 January. Trump has made it clear that he does not want a major US involvement in Syria.
Based on ELTA reports
