In a landmark development, a senior U.S. diplomat held discussions with leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Friday, marking a potential recalibration of Washington’s diplomatic approach following the sudden downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month.
Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf’s visit represented the highest-level U.S. engagement in Syria since the embassy’s closure in 2012. According to a statement shared on X by the U.S. Embassy, the talks aimed to advance an “inclusive” and Syrian-led political resolution to the ongoing crisis.
Good Neighbor
Leaf reiterated commitments made during U.S. and partner discussions in Aqaba, emphasizing the need for a representative government that safeguards the rights of all Syrians. Additional topics included regional stability, fostering Syria’s role as a “good neighbor,” and reinforcing counterterrorism initiatives.
The U.S. envoy also met with civil society leaders, activists, and local stakeholders to better understand their aspirations for Syria’s future. These discussions were framed as a step toward identifying how the United States could assist in facilitating a sustainable transition.
This high-stakes visit comes on the heels of unprecedented developments in Syria. On December 8, HTS, leading a coalition of anti-regime factions, swiftly seized Damascus in a military offensive that ended nearly 60 years of Baath Party rule. Assad, who had governed Syria for 25 years, fled to Russia shortly after the capital fell.
The power vacuum has plunged Syria into a delicate transitional phase, with various factions, including HTS, competing to shape the country’s post-Assad trajectory. This complex situation has prompted the U.S. to reconsider its role in Syria, having withdrawn its diplomatic presence during the early years of the conflict.
HTS remains a polarizing entity due to its militant roots, but the meeting signals Washington’s openness to engaging with emerging power structures to stabilize Syria and mitigate broader regional instability.
