A gaggle of U.S. officers are in Syria’s capital for the primary time in additional than 10 years searching for info on Americans who disappeared underneath the Assad regime, amongst different issues.
The crew visiting Damascus consists of US Particular Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Assistant Secretary of State for Close to Japanese Affairs (NEA) Barbara Leaf and NEA Senior Adviser Daniel Rubinstein, a State Division spokesperson instructed Fox Information Digital.
Rubinstein, who beforehand served as U.S. Particular Envoy for Syria and has many years of overseas affairs expertise, will lead the diplomatic engagement, the spokesperson confirmed.
His mission is to interact with the Syrian folks and key events throughout the nation. He additionally seeks to coordinate with allies to advance ideas specified by a gathering between world leaders within the Jordanian metropolis of Aqaba earlier this month.
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Assistant Secretary of State for Close to Japanese Affairs (NEA) Barbara Leaf (left), US Particular Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens (center) and NEA Senior Adviser Daniel Rubinstein (proper) are in Damascus, Syria, for a diplomatic engagement, a State Division spokesperson instructed Fox Information Digital (Alex Wong/Getty Photos; Mehmet Serkan afak/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos; Gali Tibbon-Pool/Getty Photos)
The trio will meet with the Syrian folks to uncover their imaginative and prescient for his or her nation after the Assad regime fell earlier this month amid an ongoing civil conflict. They may also ask how the U.S. may also help assist them of their desired future.
“They will be engaging directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, members of different communities, and other Syrian voices,” the spokesperson mentioned, partially.
The three officers may also meet with representatives of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist group, to “discuss transition principles” endorsed by america and regional companions in Aqaba, Jordan, the State Division mentioned.
Abu Mohamed al-Jolani leads the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that took over Syria following the autumn of the Assad regime. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken beforehand famous that world leaders mentioned “the need for an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition” through the Aqaba Conferences on Syria in Jordan on Dec. 14.
“The United States supports a future government in Syria that is chosen by and representatives of all Syrians,” Blinken mentioned on X.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Minister of International Affairs Hakan Fidan on Dec. 13 in Turkey to debate establishing higher stability in Syria amid competing insurgent factions. (Getty Photos)
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One other aim of the go to is to find out what has occurred to Americans who disappeared underneath the Assad regime, together with former marine turned freelance journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped whereas reporting in Syria in 2012.
Carstens has been main the cost to find Tice and just lately shared that Rewards for Justice is providing as much as $10 million for info on his whereabouts.
The State Division’s Reward for Justice program is providing $10 million for info relating Austin Tice. (The State Division’s Reward for Justice)
“Given current occasions in Syria, the FBI is renewing our name for info that might result in the secure location, restoration, and return of Austin Bennett Tice, who was detained in Damascus in August 2012,” the FBI mentioned in an announcement.
