US: Syria to Assist in Search for Missing Americans

The Syrian interim government has agreed to assist the United States in locating and recovering American citizens who went missing during Syria’s prolonged civil conflict. This development marks a significant shift in bilateral relations, following the December 2024 ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad and the subsequent rise of a new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, who also serves as the ambassador to Turkey, announced the agreement on May 25, 2025. He emphasized the importance of providing closure to the families of missing Americans, including journalist Austin Tice, psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, and aid worker Kayla Mueller. Barrack described the Syrian government’s commitment as a significant step forward in U.S.-Syria relations.

Austin Tice, a former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist, disappeared in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war. Majd Kamalmaz, a Syrian-American psychotherapist, vanished in 2017 after being detained in Damascus. Kayla Mueller, an American humanitarian aid worker, was abducted by the Islamic State in 2013 and was reported dead in 2015 under disputed circumstances.

In addition to these cases, a Syrian official familiar with the discussions disclosed that the United States has provided a list of 11 other missing individuals, all of whom are Syrian-Americans. The Syrian government’s cooperation includes efforts to locate these individuals or their remains.

This agreement coincides with the U.S. government’s decision to lift broad sanctions on Syria. On May 24, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license easing restrictions on financial transactions with Syrian entities, including banks and energy companies. A six-month waiver was also granted on sanctions imposed under the 2020 Caesar Act, facilitating Syria’s access to international aid and reconstruction efforts.

The Syrian government has established the National Commission for the Missing, tasked with investigating cases of enforced disappearances and providing support to affected families. This initiative aims to address the humanitarian crisis stemming from the civil war, during which over 100,000 individuals were reported missing.