Washington Reminds Golani that he Remains a Terrorist

American journalist Martin Smith with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Idlib. Twitter account of Martin Smith
American journalist Martin Smith with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Idlib. Twitter account of Martin Smith
TT

Washington Reminds Golani that he Remains a Terrorist

American journalist Martin Smith with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Idlib. Twitter account of Martin Smith
American journalist Martin Smith with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Idlib. Twitter account of Martin Smith

The US Department of Justice published a photo of the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Golani, to remind the public of a USD10 million award to anyone who provides information about him.

On its Arabic Rewards for Justice page, the Department said that Golani can wear a suit and try to look handsome, but he remains a terrorist.

It called for information about Golani to obtain a reward of up to USD10 million via Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp.

This followed a photo published by American journalist Martin Smith on Twitter saying he met Golani during a three-day visit to Idlib in Syria.

The US, western countries, Turkey, and the UN have designated HTS as a terrorist organization.



Trump’s Middle East Envoy Says Progress Being Made on Israeli Hostages in Gaza

Smoke billows as buildings lie in ruin in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Smoke billows as buildings lie in ruin in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Trump’s Middle East Envoy Says Progress Being Made on Israeli Hostages in Gaza

Smoke billows as buildings lie in ruin in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Smoke billows as buildings lie in ruin in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from southern Israel, January 7, 2025. (Reuters)

President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday he hopes to have good things to report about Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza by the time Trump is sworn in as president on Jan. 20.

Witkoff, at a press conference held by Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, said: "I'm really hopeful that by the inaugural we'll have some good things to announce on behalf of the President."

Republican Trump said of the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the Oct. 7 2024 attack on Israel: "If the hostages are not back by the time I'm in office, all hell will break out in the Middle East, and it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone."