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State Department says it has raised death of U.S. citizen Hassan Suraya with Syria and called for immediate investigation
Summary
The State Department said it has had direct discussions with Syrian authorities and has called for an immediate investigation into the death of a U.S. citizen identified as Hassan Suraya; officials said they had no new public confirmation on circumstances of death.
The State Department spokesperson said officials "have had direct discussions with the Syrian government on this issue and have called for an immediate investigation into the matter" after questions about the death of a U.S. citizen identified in the briefing as Hassan Suraya. The spokesperson said, "I have nothing to confirm on this front" regarding the circumstances of the death, and added that "Hosam and his family deserve justice, and those responsible for this atrocity must be held accountable."
Reporters asked for further details; the Department said it had pressed Syrian authorities for information but provided no forensic or investigative findings at the briefing. Officials did not identify next steps or provide a timeline for the requested investigation.
Separately, the briefing included broader questions about Syria policy and potential changes to sanctions; the spokesperson reiterated the administration's public posture that Syrian authorities must take steps to lead to stability and that earlier announcements on sanctions relief were part of a broader policy framework.
