The United States has recently announced that it will be scrapping a $10 million bounty for the arrest of Syria’s new leader, Faisal Mekdad. This decision comes as a surprise to many, as the US had previously offered the reward for information leading to the capture of the former leader, Bashar al-Assad.
Mekdad took over as Syria’s president following the death of al-Assad in a bombing attack earlier this year. The US had hoped that offering a large sum of money for his capture would incentivize individuals to come forward with information about his whereabouts.
However, the decision to scrap the bounty reflects a shift in US policy towards Syria. The Biden administration has expressed a desire to pursue diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict in the country, rather than resorting to military action or regime change.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the US State Department explained that the bounty had been cancelled in order to “support efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Syria.” The spokesperson also noted that the US remains committed to holding those responsible for human rights abuses in Syria accountable, but that the focus now is on finding a political solution to the crisis.
The decision to cancel the bounty has been met with mixed reactions. Some critics argue that it sends the wrong message to authoritarian leaders and could embolden them to continue committing human rights abuses. Others, however, see it as a positive step towards de-escalating tensions in the region and finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
It remains to be seen what impact the cancellation of the bounty will have on the situation in Syria. But for now, it appears that the US is willing to explore diplomatic avenues in search of a lasting peace in the war-torn country.