US diplomats in Damascus, Syria for the first time in 10+ years since the ouster of Assad

A group of US officials are inside The capital of Syria For the first time in more than 10 years, it is seeking information about American citizens who disappeared under the Assad regime.

A State Department spokeswoman told Fox News Digital that the team to Damascus included US Special Envoy for Hostages Roger Carstens, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs Barbara Leaf and NEA Senior Counsel Daniel Rubinstein.

Rubinstein, who previously served as the US special envoy for Syria and has decades of foreign affairs experience, will lead the diplomatic effort, the spokesman confirmed.

Its mission is to connect with the Syrian people and the main parties within the country. It is also trying to coordinate with allies to advance the principles put forward at a meeting of world leaders in Aqaba, Jordan, earlier this month.

BIDEN SAYS WE KNOW FOR SURE AMERICAN JOURNALIST AUSTIN TICE IS HELD BY SYRIA

US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs (NEA) Barbara Leaf (left), US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens (center) and NEA Senior Advisor Daniel Rubinstein (right) are in Damascus, Syria for a diplomatic meeting. A department spokesperson told Fox News Digital (Alex Wong/Getty Images; Mehmet Serkan afak/Anadolu via Getty Images; Gali Tibbon-Pool/Getty Images)

The trio will meet with the Syrian people to express their views on their country since the ousting of the Assad regime earlier this month amid the ongoing civil war. They will also ask how the United States can support them in their desired future.

“They will engage directly with the Syrian people, including members of civil society, activists, members of various communities and other Syrian voices,” the spokesman said in part.

He will also meet with the representatives of the three authorities Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), The State Department said the US-designated terrorist group was to “discuss transitional principles” approved by the US and its regional partners in Aqaba, Jordan.

Abu Muhammad al-Jolani heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a US-designated terrorist organization that took over Syria after the ouster of the Assad regime. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

THE ISLAMIST GROUP RULING IN SYRIA has broken the record of governance in the Province ruled by “Iron Fist”.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken previously noted that world leaders discussed “the need for an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition” during the December 14 Aqaba meeting on Syria in Jordan.

“The United States supports the future government in Syria chosen by all Syrians and their representatives,” Blinken X.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on December 13 in Turkey to discuss creating greater stability between competing rebel factions in Syria. (Getty Images)

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Another goal of the trip is to determine what happened to American citizens who disappeared under the Assad regime, including former Marine and freelance journalist Austin Tice. He was kidnapped while preparing a report in Syria In 2012.

Carstens is leading the search for Tice and recently said the Justice Awards offered $10 million for information on his whereabouts.

The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering $10 million for information on Austin Tice. (Department of State Justice Award)

“In light of recent events in Syria, the FBI is renewing our appeal for information that may lead to safe placement, recovery and return. Austin Bennett Tice, He was detained in Damascus in August 2012,” the FBI said in a statement.