Biden admin lifts $10M bounty on the head of leader of Islamist group now in charge in Syria

The Biden administration made a significant decision to lift the $10 million bounty on the head of Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group that recently overthrew Bashar al-Assad in Syria. In exchange for this gesture, al-Sharaa agreed to a crucial U.S. demand – to prevent terrorism groups in Syria from posing a threat to the United States or its neighboring countries.

Barbara Leaf, the top U.S. envoy to the Middle East, described her meeting with al-Sharaa as productive and comprehensive, covering a range of regional issues. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group led by al-Sharaa, successfully drove Assad out of Damascus earlier this month, consolidating control over a significant portion of Syria.

Initially founded as an offshoot of al-Qaeda, HTS broke away from the group in 2016. Despite being designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. in 2018, al-Sharaa and HTS have been working to shed their extremist image. Al-Sharaa emphasized the group’s commitment to education and development, highlighting the presence of universities in Idlib, the province under HTS control since 2011.

The U.S. decision to lift the bounty on al-Sharaa’s head was described as a policy choice aligned with the ongoing discussions with HTS. The group has been striving to distance itself from its militant Islamist roots and showcase a more pragmatic approach. U.S. officials have engaged with Syria to advocate for a more pragmatic government and seek information on detained U.S. journalist Austin Tice.

Despite the complex relationship between the U.S. and HTS, al-Sharaa maintains that the group does not target civilians and considers themselves victims of Assad’s regime. The U.S. has been vigilant in targeting ISIS militants in northeastern Syria through airstrikes to prevent a resurgence of the terrorist group, which could lead to the release of thousands of ISIS prisoners, posing a significant security threat.

In response to these challenges, the Pentagon revealed an increase in U.S. forces from 900 to roughly 2,000 to combat ISIS before Assad’s fall. This escalation underscores the ongoing efforts to address security concerns in the region and navigate the complex dynamics in post-Assad Syria.