US official Barbara Leaf reportedly set to visit Damascus

Barbara Leaf, U.S. assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, is reportedly set to visit Syria’s capital, Damascus, “in the coming days.”

According to a report by U.S.-based media outlet Axios, Leaf is expected to travel to Damascus for discussions. This would mark a significant move in the U.S.’ efforts to diplomatically engage with Syria’s transitional government following the downfall of the Assad regime.

Citing two unnamed U.S. officials, the report provided no additional details regarding Leaf’s agenda during her visit.

First US official to visit Syria since Assad’s fall

Leaf will be the first U.S. official to visit Damascus since the Baath regime fell on Dec. 8.

As of now, there has been no official statement from the U.S. administration regarding the Axios report.

Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that Washington is monitoring positive signals from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and expressed the U.S.’ interest in seeing concrete actions. Blinken noted that Washington may consider sending officials for direct talks in Syria if such steps are taken.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s regime leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.