US Official Has ‘Good, Productive’ Meeting with al-Qaeda-Linked Julani in Damascus

Abu Mohammad al-Julani leads a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department.

America’s top diplomat for the Middle East traveled to Syria to meet with Abu Mohammad al-Julani. Julani leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, Barbara Leaf, met with Julani in Damascus on Friday. One official described the meeting as “good and productive.”

Leaf announced after the meeting that Washington would be dropping a $10 million award for Julani’s capture. “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years,” Leaf told reporters.

Julani fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq against American soldiers during the Iraq War. He then founded al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, the al-Nusra Front. In recent years, he has attempted to soften his image by giving friendly interviews to Western journalists, often appearing in a suit and with a trimmed beard to obscure his jihadist ideology.

Leaf said of Julani after the meeting, who is also going by Ahmad al-Sharaa, “I heard him on his priorities, which are very much rooted in getting Syria on the road to economic recovery.”

“We’ve been hearing this for some time, some very pragmatic and moderate statements on various issues, from women’s rights to protection to equal rights for all communities,” she added. “It was a good first meeting. We will judge by deeds, not just by words.”

However, one of Julani’s spokesmen explained that women’s role in Syria will be limited by their “nature.” “A woman is an important and honored element of society, but her tasks should be in line with roles she can perform.” He continued, “For example, if we say a woman becomes responsible for the defense ministry, is this in accordance with her being and her psychological and biological nature? There is no doubt that it is not in accordance.”

In one of his first addresses to the Syrian people, he declared the institution of Sharia law, according to Israel National News. He said that the morality police should enforce Islamic law through education rather than force. Julani noted violence was still an option, saying, “The jihad is obligatory for this reason.”

Leaf also said that Julani led her to believe that Syria would not be used as a staging area by terrorist groups. Still, Julani’s HTS is on the US foreign terrorist organizations list. Although, the positive meeting with Leaf, could signal the White House is prepared to remove the designation and sanctions on Syria.

Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute. He hosts The Kyle Anzalone Show and is co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Connor Freeman.