The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that American diplomats have arrived in Syria to meet with the new Syrian authorities in an unprecedented diplomatic mission between Washington and Damascus during the 13-year civil war.

This is the first official diplomatic mission sent to Damascus since the beginning of the civil war in 2011, which ended with a swift offensive by opposition factions leading to the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8th and his flight to Russia.

The diplomats will meet with representatives of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, an organization classified by Washington as terrorist, and civil society to discuss "their vision for the future of their country and how the United States can support them," according to a State Department spokesperson.

The spokesperson noted that the delegation includes Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf and an Arab world specialist, Daniel Rubinstein, who has become responsible for communication with Syria.

Also present will be Roger Carstens, responsible for gathering evidence about missing Americans in Syria, such as journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in August 2012.

The visit comes as Western governments are gradually opening channels of communication with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and its leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, discussing the possibility of removing the group's terrorist designation. The American delegation's visit follows French and British contacts with the new Syrian authorities in recent days.

The State Department spokesperson stated that American officials will discuss with representatives of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham principles such as inclusivity and minority rights that Washington wants to include in Syria's political transition.

The delegation will also seek new information about American journalist Austin Tice, who was captured during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012, and other Americans who went missing under the Assad regime.

The spokesperson added that the delegation will communicate directly with the Syrian people, including civil society members, activists, community representatives, and other Syrian voices, to understand their vision for their country's future and how the United States can help support them.

Additionally, they plan to meet with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham representatives to discuss the transition principles agreed upon by the United States and regional partners in Aqaba, Jordan.