US officials meet Sharaa, CENTCOM says took out ISIS leader in Syria
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The US delegation also engaged directly with Syrian civil society, activists, and members of various communities.
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This handout image made available by SANA's Telegram channel, on December 17, 2024, shows Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), head of the the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group receiving the director of the MENA department at Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in Damascus (SANA/AFP)
US diplomats met in Damascus on Friday with representatives of Syria's Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to discuss transition principles and regional developments, a State Department official revealed.
While in Damascus, diplomats are also working on the fate of missing American journalists Austin Tice and Majd Kamalmaz, as well as other Americans who have disappeared under Bashar al-Assad's administration, according to the spokesperson.
The US State Department announced early Friday that three senior American diplomats have arrived in Damascus, Syria's capital, to meet with leaders of the new regime forces now in control of the country and to search for information on Austin Tice, a missing journalist, and other US citizens.
The delegation, which included top US diplomat for the Middle East Barbara Leaf, Hostage Envoy Roger Carstens, and Senior Advisor Daniel Rubenstein, also engaged directly with Syrian civil society, activists, and members of various communities.
A Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, later confirmed the US delegation had met with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of HTS. "And the results will be positive, God willing," the official said, as quoted by AFP.
During their discussions with HTS, the diplomats addressed key issues, such as Syria's transition principles, regional developments, and the crucial need to continue the fight against ISIS.
A planned press conference by the US delegation was "canceled due to security concerns."
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) unexpected appearance in the capital has left foreign governments, particularly the United States, scrambling for a new policy, as HTS is listed as a terrorist group by certain countries.
Meanwhile, demonstrators in Damascus protested religious rules chanting they wanted "democracy, not a religious state" after a spokesperson for the new regime forces declared that "female representation in ministries or parliament... is premature," citing "biological" and other reasons.
Majida Mudarres, a former public official, was furious at the remarks, vowing not to accept any position against women. "The time in which we were silent is over," she said.
On Friday, Amy Pope, the chief of the UN migration agency, encouraged "the caretaker government to continue to empower and enable women because they are going to be absolutely critical to the rebuilding of the country." Pope also urged for a reassessment of Syria's international sanctions to assist the country in recovering.
US airstrike in Syria kills ISIS leader Abu Yousif
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday a precision airstrike in Syria’s Deir Ezzor, killing ISIS leader Abu Yusif, also known as Mahmud. The strike, which also killed another ISIS operative, is allegedly part of CENTCOM’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist operations in the region, according to CENTCOM.
CENTCOM emphasized that the strike is part of a broader mission to prevent ISIS from regaining strength and to thwart their attempts to attack US personnel, allies, and partners worldwide.
CENTCOM Forces Kill ISIS Leader During Precision Strike in Syria
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2024
On Dec. 19, U.S. Central Command Forces conducted a precision airstrike targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif aka Mahmud in the Dayr az Zawr Province, Syria resulting in two ISIS operatives killed, including Abu… pic.twitter.com/g3nO68Ye1T
General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, reiterated that the US "will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute. ISIS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria," affirming that the US will "aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria."
