The United States announced Friday the removal of a $10 million bounty on Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Syria’s jihadist movement.
The decision came after Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf met Sharaa in Damascus, following his emergence as Syria’s de facto leader after President Bashar Assad’s ousting. "We discussed the critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the U.S. and our partners in the region," Leaf said. "Based on our discussion, I told him that we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offered."
Leaf emphasized the importance of unity and sovereignty, saying, "We fully support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that results in an inclusive and representative government which respects the rights of all Syrians, including women, and Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.” She added that U.S. policy seeks to stabilize Syria economically and politically, free from Iranian and Russian interference.