Assistant Secretary Barbara A. Leaf, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, and Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein have traveled to Damascus, Syria. Their visit aims to engage with the Syrian populace, including civil society members and humanitarians, discussing their aspirations for Syria's future and exploring how the United States can provide support.
The delegation also met with representatives of HTS to discuss transition principles aligned with those of the United States and regional partners. A significant focus of these meetings was the importance of locating missing U.S. citizens, such as Austin Tice, and ensuring their return home.
Assistant Secretary Leaf emphasized the United States' commitment to a political transition led and owned by Syrians. This transition should lead to governance that is credible, inclusive, representative, non-sectarian, and meets international standards for transparency and accountability in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 2254.
