Syria wants to contribute to "regional peace,” the country's new authorities said in a statement after a meeting between leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and a US diplomatic delegation.
"The Syrian side indicated that the Syrian people stand at an equal distance from all countries and parties in the region and that Syria rejects any polarization," the statement said.
In their first in-person meeting with the leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham since it overthrew Syria's long-time President Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, al-Sharaa "came across as pragmatic,” Barbara Leaf, top Middle East diplomat at the State Department, told reporters.
"It was a good first meeting. We will judge by the deeds, not just by words," Leaf, who was the head of the US delegation, said in a briefing and added that the US officials reiterated that Syria's new government should be inclusive. It should also ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat, she said.
