Syria’s Interim Government Agrees to Help US Locate Missing Citizens, Remains
Syria’s interim government has agreed to assist the United States in locating and repatriating missing American citizens or their remains, US Special Envoy Tom Barrack announced on Sunday. The agreement follows a meeting between Barrack and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul, marking a significant step in bilateral cooperation after Washington lifted sanctions on Damascus.
Key Developments:
US-Syria Cooperation: Barrack, who also serves as the US ambassador to Turkey, stated on social media platform X that the interim Syrian government would aid in the search for missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, psychologist Majd Kamalmaz, and aid worker Kayla Mueller.
A powerful step forward. The new Syrian government has agreed to assist the USA in locating and returning USA citizens or their remains. The families of Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller must have closure.
— Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) May 25, 2025
Humanitarian Priority: Barrack emphasized that President Trump has made repatriating US citizens or their remains a top priority, calling for closure for affected families.
Talks in Istanbul: The discussions between US and Syrian officials covered investment opportunities, security cooperation, and counterterrorism efforts.
Background on Missing Americans:
Austin Tice: A freelance journalist for AFP and The Washington Post, detained at a Syrian checkpoint in 2012.
Majd Kamalmaz: A Syrian-American psychologist who disappeared in 2017 after being stopped at a regime checkpoint.
Kayla Mueller: An aid worker kidnapped by ISIS in 2013; the group claimed she died in a 2015 Jordanian airstrike, though the US disputes the circumstances.
US Lifts Sanctions, Pushes for Reforms:
The US Treasury issued Syria General License (GL) 25 on Friday, effectively lifting all sanctions. The move comes after the interim government, which replaced the Bashar al-Assad regime in January, prioritized ending international sanctions.
During a recent Middle East trip, President Trump urged Syria to:
Normalize relations with Israel,
Expel foreign militants,
Cooperate with the US to prevent an ISIS resurgence.
The Riyadh Summit, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saw a remote attendance by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and an in-person meeting between Trump and Sharaa.
An informed Syrian source told AFP that 11 Americans are on Washington’s list for a search mission, particularly those killed by ISIS. The interim government’s cooperation could pave the way for broader diplomatic engagement, contingent on progress in governance and counterterrorism.
This development signals a potential thaw in US-Syria relations, though challenges remain in verifying the fate of missing individuals and ensuring long-term stability.
