The State Department announced early Friday that three senior American diplomats arrived in Damascus, Syria, to engage with militia leaders who have taken control of the country and to search for signs of missing U.S. citizens, including journalist Austin Tice.
This marks the first visit by American diplomats to Damascus since the collapse of the previous government. The diplomats aim to understand and influence Syria's political landscape following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad, the long-time autocratic leader responsible for mass atrocities during the civil war that began in 2011. The United States severed diplomatic ties with Syria in 2012.
The visit indicates a cautious step toward diplomatic engagement in Syria, where U.S. involvement has largely been military in recent years. The Biden administration has maintained contact with militia leaders but has faced challenges in determining the extent of direct engagement, especially since a precursor of the leading rebel group has been designated as a terrorist organization.
The State Department stated that the diplomats will engage with various Syrian voices, including civil society members and activists, to discuss their vision for the future and how the U.S. can support them.
The delegation includes Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; Roger D. Carstens, special presidential envoy for hostage affairs; and Daniel Rubinstein, special adviser on Syria.
During their discussions with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the most powerful militia, the diplomats plan to address "transition principles" that American, Arab, and Turkish officials agreed upon at a recent meeting in Aqaba, Jordan. U.S. officials have stressed the importance of an inclusive governance process that respects ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken emphasized the need for clear expectations and principles for Syria's future during a recent public talk, highlighting the necessity for recognition and support from the international community.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has indicated in interviews that his group intends to pursue an inclusive governance model and does not aim to harm non-Muslims. Although the group follows conservative political Islam, it has distanced itself from Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
It remains uncertain how the American diplomats will interact with Mr. al-Jolani or Ahmed al-Shara, the leader of the rebel coalition opposing al-Assad. While a precursor group was designated as terrorist during the Obama administration, meeting with the current iteration of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is not illegal for U.S. diplomats. Group leaders have requested that the U.S. remove their terrorist designation, which officials are monitoring closely.
The initial designation was due to the Nusra Front's use of terrorist tactics during the civil war, including deadly car bombings in Damascus in December 2011. Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria at that time, advocated for the designation.
In a recent interview, Mr. Ford suggested that the Biden administration should consider delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization, noting the group's relative tolerance for Christians while governing Idlib Province and their cooperation in rebuilding churches.
The Biden administration has also found Hayat Tahrir al-Sham cooperative in the search for Austin Tice, who was abducted in Damascus in 2012, providing a list of former Assad officials who may have information about him. President Biden has expressed belief that Tice is still alive and in Syria.