Syria’s new authorities have agreed to assist the United States in locating and returning missing Americans, marking an improvement in bilateral relations following the lifting of US sanctions. This cooperation, highlighted by US envoy Tom Barrack, aims to provide closure for families of missing individuals such as Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller. The sanctions relief is linked to Syria’s commitment to combat terrorism and improve security for minorities, while also facilitating reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country.