Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, led a coalition of forces in a swift and unexpected offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime last month.
HTS, under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a US-designated terrorist, capitalized on the weakened state of Assad's forces, which were demoralized and lacked support from their traditional allies like Russia and Iran. This transformed Sharaa from a terrorist to a liberator in the eyes of many.
Granger, the Syria Regional Platform Director at the US Department of State, laid out the rationale behind his country’s engagement with HTS and Sharaa, the acting president of Syria. In December, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf visited Damascus, announcing the removal of a $10 million bounty on Sharaa’s head after meeting him.
"From our perspective, it didn't make sense to have a bounty hanging over his head when in fact we were engaging with him in a diplomatic dialogue," said Granger, adding that the move does not alter his status as an "specially designated global terrorist" under Executive Order 13224, but it opens a channel for communication to influence the political landscape in Syria.
“The terrorist designation against HTS stays in place, and any decision on that designation will be a separate process,” he said in response to a question on whether the US is considering removing HTS from its list of foreign terrorist organizations.
Humanitarian and Economic Imperatives
Earlier this month, the US Department of Treasury temporarily eased sanctions on Syria in a decision called General License 24.
“The general license we issued last week was meant to provide immediate relief to the Syrian people,” Granger said, noting that the license facilitates the provision of essential services like electricity, water, and sanitation, ensuring that sanctions do not impede these critical areas.
“There are huge needs across the economy in Syria,” he stressed.
The general license is set for 6 months, allowing the US to monitor the situation on the ground and assess the impact of its policy shift.
Support for Inclusive Governance
Granger underscored Washington’s stance on the political transition in Syria, saying "we believe that all Syrians - Kurds, Arabs, whatever their identity - but all Syrians have a role to play in Syria's political and social life."
He emphasized the expectation for the interim authorities to follow through on commitments to inclusivity and representation.
"We have made it clear our expectation to the interim authorities and we will continue to be monitoring the situation very carefully throughout Syria to ensure that there is accountability for any attacks that happen,” he added.
Role of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
Granger also addressed the future of the SDF, a key ally in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), and said that Washington’s alliance with the Kurdish-led force is valued.
"We continue to value our partnership with the SDF, addressing threats by ISIS, guarding detention facilities, and securing camps in northeast Syria,” he said.
“This is something that will be important for the future Syrian state to be responsible for. It's important that the SDF and the interim authorities engage in serious dialogue on what the future for Syria looks like for all actors on the ground, ensuring they can work together to fight against ISIS.
Granger encouraged the Syrian authorities and SDF to engage in dialogue on the future of the multi-ethnic and multi-religious country.
“It's important that the SDF and the interim authorities engage in serious dialogue on what the future for Syria looks like for all actors on the ground, ensuring they can work together to fight against ISIS,” he stated.
He expressed cautious optimism about the future of Syria.
“We will continue to engage with the Syrian people, offer our support as they chart the course forward, and engage with the interim authorities to make clear our expectations that they will follow through on their words with concrete action.”
