Overview

• The Syrian government, led by Ahmad al-Chareh, has committed to helping the US locate and repatriate American citizens who went missing during the Syrian civil war.
• This agreement comes shortly after the US formally lifted sanctions on Syria, a move tied to the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
• The US is seeking information on individuals including journalist Austin Tice, humanitarian worker Kayla Mueller, and psychologist Majd Kamalmaz, whose fates remain unresolved.
• Qatar has also begun efforts to search for remains of Americans killed by ISIS in northern Syria, with coordination from the FBI and Syrian authorities.
• Ahmad al-Chareh, the interim leader of Syria, previously led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, which disbanded following Assad's removal.