Canada Global (Web News) U.S. diplomats have traveled to Syria to engage with the country’s new leadership, the State Department announced on Friday. The visit comes as international powers seek guarantees that the new government will adopt a moderate and inclusive approach.
The removal of former president Bashar al-Assad marked the end of decades of authoritarian rule and years of civil war. However, it has sparked concerns over minority and women’s rights, as well as the future status of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
In Qamishli, a city in northeast Syria, thousands gathered to show support for a U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led force facing increasing pressure from Turkey and allied rebel groups.
The rapid offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad was spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an organization with roots in Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch that has recently adopted a more moderate stance.
HTS’s unexpected takeover of the capital has left foreign governments scrambling to reassess their policies toward Syria, particularly in certain nations.
For the first time since the early days of the civil war—which began in 2011 after Assad’s violent suppression of anti-government protests—U.S. diplomats are formally returning to Damascus.
The delegation plans to meet with representatives from HTS, as well as activists, minority groups, and civil society organizations, according to the State Department.
Discussions will focus on Syrians’ aspirations for the country’s future and how the United States can provide support, a State Department spokesperson stated.
The delegation also includes the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, who is seeking information on missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in August 2012.
