In a significant shift in U.S. policy, American diplomats have removed a $10 million bounty on multiple Syrian leaders following recent diplomatic meetings in Damascus. The U.S. has confirmed direct contact with Syria’s new governance, including discussions with the Syrian rebel leader and other governing militias, marking the first high-level meetings in over a decade. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the U.S. has engaged with leaders from the rebel group that ousted Assad, seeking to navigate the complexities of rebuilding war-torn Syria while addressing security concerns regarding terror groups. This diplomatic outreach represents a potential turning point in U.S.-Syria relations as Washington seeks to understand the challenges ahead in establishing stability in the region.