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US Cancels $10 Million Reward for Syrian Islamist Leader

December 21, 2024 TruthUSA

Ahmad al-Sharaa is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a Sunni Islamist faction currently designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. government.

President Joe Biden’s administration has retracted its $10 million counter-terror bounty against Ahmad al-Sharaa, an insurgent leader who played a key role in driving Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad from power in recent weeks.

Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist faction currently designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. government. HTS is a rebrand of Jabhat al-Nusra, an offshoot of al-Qaeda.

The decision to drop the bounty against Sharaa coincided with a U.S. diplomatic visit to Syria on Dec. 20. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf announced the bounty decision in a call with reporters after meeting with Sharaa.

“If I’m sitting with the HTS leader and having a detailed discussion about U.S. and Syrian interests, it’s inconsistent to have a bounty on his head,” Leaf said.

The now-deleted bounty notice against Sharaa mentions his founding of Jabhat al-Nusra and leading its reorganization into HTS. It also states HTS has been involved in kidnappings and killings in Syria, including the 2015 murders of 20 Druze villagers in Idlib province.

Leaf’s meeting with Sharaa and the decision to drop the bounty are part of the Biden administration’s ongoing assessment of post-Assad Syria.

The Biden administration has welcomed Assad’s ousting but has been cautious about the role of HTS in post-Assad Syria.

“Some rebel groups that fought Assad have a troubling history of terrorism and human rights violations,” Biden noted in a Dec. 8 speech. “While they are making positive statements now, we will judge them on their actions as they take on more responsibility.”

The U.S. State Department stated that Leaf used her meeting with Sharaa to advocate for the new government post-Assad to protect women’s rights and the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.

“He seemed practical,” Leaf said of her meeting. “While we have heard promising statements on various issues, we will assess their actions, not just their words.”

Leaf said Sharaa pledged to ensure that terrorist groups cannot operate in Syria or use it to threaten neighboring regions.

Whether these talks and the withdrawal of the bounty against Sharaa will lead to further actions, such as lifting HTS’s terrorist label or recognizing its transitional government, remains to be seen.

Some U.S. lawmakers have pressed for easing some of the sanctions imposed on Syria over the years.

Leaf provided few details on discussions regarding sanctions and the terror label for HTS. She anticipated significant internal pressure within Syria to meet the sanctions requirements.

Despite Assad’s departure from Syria marking a milestone in the ongoing civil war since 2011, various factions continue to vie for control.

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have clashed with Turkish-backed forces as Israel has established a presence in southwest Syria to safeguard against potential threats post-Assad.

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