US maintains $10 million (CAD 14 million) bounty on Syrian militant leader
The US State Department confirms the ongoing reward for information about Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader, Muhammad al-Jolani. Spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed hope to avoid a Turkish offensive against the Kurds in Syria.
The US State Department confirmed that the $10 (CAD 14) million reward for information on the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Muhammad al-Jolani, remains active.
Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized that because of Jolani's public appearances, the US administration does not require information on his location. He also joked, stating he doesn't believe any US officials would attempt to claim the reward.
The reward was announced in 2017 and involves the leader of the most powerful rebel group opposing Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government. HTS, designated by the US as a terrorist organization, emerged from the merger of the al-Nusra Front and other Islamist groups. Under Jolani's leadership, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda carried out multiple terrorist attacks, including the massacre of 20 residents in a Druze village in Idlib province.
Relations with Turkey
During the briefing, Miller also addressed the potential Turkish offensive against the Kurds in Syria. According to the "Wall Street Journal," the US is worried about the buildup of forces at the Syrian border and Turkey's planned attack on areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Miller noted that the US is holding delicate talks with Turkey, attempting to prolong the ceasefire in the city of Manbij.
"We don't want to see any party take advantage of the current unstable situation to advance their own narrow interests at the expense of the broader Syrian national interest," said Miller. However, he acknowledged that Turkey has "legitimate concerns" in addressing terrorism, viewing the SDF as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), also recognized by the US as a terrorist organization.
