US cancels bounty for new Syrian leader, Türkiye calls for lifting of global sanctions

(CLO) Recently, the US government announced that it would cancel the $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa, an important leader of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group.

Previously, al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, led rebel forces to seize control of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and won a major victory against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, leading to the collapse of this regime.

In a recent meeting between al-Sharaa and US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, the two sides agreed to remove the bounty, in part to support the reconstruction and stabilization of Syria, in which al-Sharaa pledged not to allow potential terrorist groups to threaten Syria as well as the US and its regional partners.

Al-Sharaa had joined Al-Qaeda but severed ties with the terrorist organization and allied with other groups to form HTS. In 2013, the US designated him a “global terrorist” and offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The US cancellation of the bounty reflects a change in Washington's policy towards Syria amid the collapse of the Assad regime.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus. Photo: Turkish Foreign Ministry

In another development, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus and expressed support for Syria's political transition.

Mr. Fidan stressed the importance of unifying and stabilizing Syria after more than a decade of civil war, and called on the international community to lift sanctions against the country to support the recovery and reconstruction process.

Mr. Fidan said Türkiye would continue to support the Syrian government in rebuilding state institutions and helping Syrian refugees return home. He also called for the lifting of sanctions against Syria as soon as possible, saying they would only worsen the difficult situation for the country recovering from the war.

During the meeting, al-Sharaa also reaffirmed that his government will protect the rights of minorities in Syrian society, including Kurds, Christians, Druze and other religious communities.

The meeting between Fidan and al-Sharaa comes amid a volatile political landscape in Syria and the region. Syria is entering a transitional period, with many countries, including the United States and Türkiye, looking to support the country’s recovery and reconstruction after years of war.

Syria now faces a number of important issues, including rebuilding state institutions, protecting minorities and dealing with the refugee crisis. Syria’s new leaders have pledged to push for a new constitution and protect the diversity of its religious and ethnic communities, with the goal of building a peaceful and stable Syria after more than a decade of war.

Coupled with commitments from countries like Türkiye, the United States, and other regional partners, Syria faces a rare opportunity to rebuild and reshape its future in an environment of peace and international cooperation.

Ngoc Anh (according to Newsweek, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-huy-treo-thuong-cho-thu-linh-moi-cua-syria-tho-nhi-ky-keu-goi-do-bo-lenh-trung-phat-toan-cau-post326992.html