On December 20, 2024, a diplomatic delegation from the United States met with representatives of the newly established regime in Syria, marking the first such engagement since the onset of the Arab Spring in 2011. The Pentagon disclosed that the number of US troops in Syria has increased to approximately 2,000, doubling previous estimates.
The recent departure of Bashar al-Assad from Damascus signals the end of over fifty years of totalitarian rule and the conclusion of the Syrian civil war. The victory of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and other armed opposition groups has surprised Western nations, prompting efforts to influence the formation of a new, more moderate and inclusive government in Damascus.
The US delegation included Barbara Leaf, a senior State Department official for the Middle East, and Daniel Rubinstein, a veteran diplomat with extensive experience in the Arab world. Also present was Roger Carstens, a US negotiator tasked with investigating the whereabouts of missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in August 2012.
Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited neighboring countries of Syria, where Western and Arab nations, along with Turkey, called for an 'inclusive, non-sectarian, and representative government' that respects the rights of all diverse Syrian communities during a meeting in Aqaba, Jordan.
Iran, which previously supported the Assad regime, echoed similar calls for participation from all Syrian groups in the new government, emphasizing respect for different beliefs and religions. This sentiment was also reflected in demonstrations by hundreds of Syrians in Damascus on December 19, who protested against a 'theocratic state' and demanded democracy and gender equality.
In northeastern Syria, thousands of Kurdish residents protested in Qamishli against Turkish military actions across the border, chanting slogans like 'the Syrian nation is one' and 'say no to war, reject military intervention by Turkey.'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for reconciliation and the restoration of 'territorial integrity and unity' in Syria, insisting on the need for a Syria free from terrorism. Turkey has intensified its operations against Kurdish militants in Syria, asserting that these operations will continue to disarm them.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the US has doubled its troop presence in Syria. Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder confirmed that the additional troops have been stationed there for several months, contradicting previous claims of a force of approximately 900. Ryder noted that the increase is temporary and aimed at bolstering US operations against ISIS.