The U.S. will keep HTS on the list of terrorist organizations for the remainder of President Joe Biden’s tenure, leaving the decision to Donald Trump, officials say.

Europe may move faster. On January 3rd the French and German foreign ministers met Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto ruler, in Damascus. Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, said it was premature to lift sanctions. In private, though, German diplomats are circulating a proposal which would do just that.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told The Associated Press that the U.S. needs to keep troops deployed in Syria to prevent the Islamic State group from reconstituting as a major threat.

The US has eased sanctions on Syria in a bid to meet needs of the country’s people after the December ouster of Bashar al-Assad. But the Janet Yellen-led Treasury Department kept many restrictions still in place,

President Joe Biden has visited a makeshift memorial at the site of the deadly New Year’s attack in New Orleans as he visits the city to meet with grieving families.

A driver behind the wheel of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd of New Orleans revelers on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people in what the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.

Fierce clashes continue in northern Syria between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed groups, resulting in around 40 deaths. Despite U.S. efforts to ease tensions, Turkey views the YPG as a PKK-linked terrorist group.

Whatever restraints once existed on Israel’s behavior are long gone. Benjamin Netanyahu is now setting his sights on Iran — the question is to what extent President Donald Trump will back him.

Asia can teach the world about adapting to Trump.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is heading to Syria to encourage the transition in the country following the ouster of President Bashar Assad by Islamist insurgents.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading on Thursday to Rome for talks with European counterparts on bringing stability to Syria in the face of flare-ups with Turkey, capping what is likely his final trip.

Analysts say priorities extend beyond anti-ISIL mission and include keeping leverage as Syria’s future takes shape.