Several U.S. diplomats are in the Syrian capital, Damascus, where they plan to meet with representatives of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which currently holds power in the region but remains on Washington’s list of designated terrorist organizations.
This visit by American officials follows several other recent delegations from the United Nations and other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, according to the BBC.
This marks the first formal diplomatic engagement by the United States in Damascus in more than a decade.
Among the senior U.S. officials expected to attend the meeting in Damascus are Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, President Joe Biden’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, and Senior Advisor for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department Daniel Rubinstein.
“They will be engaging directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, individuals from various communities, and other Syrian voices, to hear their vision for the country’s future and how the United States can support their efforts,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
The delegation plans to meet with HTS representatives as a sign of willingness to engage with a group that the U.S. still considers a terrorist organization, while pressuring them to transition toward an inclusive, non-sectarian government.
