US cancels $10 million bounty for HTS leader in Syria

The United States has canceled a $10 million reward it had offered for the capture of the leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group that has now seized power in Syria. The announcement was made by US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf on Friday.

This comes after a US delegation visited the Syrian capital to meet with HTS officials, including its leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. In 2017, the US declared the HTS leader a terrorist who is wanted for his actions and crimes.

Now, after al-Jolani is seen to be serving US interests, he is no longer a terrorist. The US diplomat said they received, in his words, a positive message, during discussions with Al Sharaa in Damascus. During a press conference, Leaf told Sharaa that there is a "critical need to ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or outside."

Leaf, leading the first official visit by US diplomats to Damascus since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, described Sharaa as a "wise leader". He also described their meeting as "very good, very productive and very detailed." The United States closed its embassy in Damascus in February 2012. In a statement released last week, the United States said it would be prepared to recognize the new Syrian government if certain conditions were met.

Syria has been silent on Israel's aggression against the country. Israel has carried out more than 500 strikes in Syria since the removal of Bashar Al Assad two weeks ago. Israel has also carried out new land seizures inside Syria that are illegal under international law. Throughout the entire period of Israeli aggression, no stance to oppose or confront Israel was taken by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, its leadership, or other takfiri groups in Syria.