Western officials moved to deepen their engagement with Syria’s transitional government, just as fresh uncertainty emerged on another Middle East front.
Washington dropped the $10 million arrest bounty it had on the leader of the main rebel group now leading Syria.
While the move could presage the dismissal of other Assad-era sanctions, the US is also pushing for the interim government to dispose of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons and eschew Russia and Iran’s influence.
The new approach comes at a high-stakes moment for the region: The US struck Houthi targets in Yemen and over the Red Sea after the group struck Tel Aviv Saturday.
Israel signaled it could begin a more aggressive campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi faction.
AD