US Removes Bounty on Syria's New Leader Amid Diplomatic Progress

In a significant development, the United States has removed the $10 million bounty on Ahmed al-Sharaa, the head of the Syrian opposition group HTS, citing productive diplomatic talks. This move comes after al-Sharaa engaged with US foreign delegations since assuming power, marking a shift in the US approach towards the new Syrian administration. Al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, was designated as a terrorist in 2013. The US assistant secretary of state, Barbara Leaf, participated in the talks, which aimed to address the country's reconstruction and economic development. The new administration has also appointed a new foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, with the goal of building international relations. This development is seen as a positive step towards normalizing relations between the US and Syria, and could have significant implications for the region.