A Qatar-led mission has started in Syria to recover the remains of U.S. hostages tragically killed by ISIL. The team mainly focuses on finding Peter Kassig’s body. The mission also coincides with President Trump’s upcoming visit to Qatar and Syria’s efforts to seek relief from U.S. sanctions.

The Search Begins

On Wednesday, the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group launched its mission in Syria. They are working with a few U.S. nationals, who wish to remain anonymous, to recover the remains of U.S. hostages killed by ISIL nearly 10 years ago. These efforts are especially significant because the hostages’ families have waited a long time for this moment.

Some Remains Have Been Found

So far, the team has discovered the remains of three unidentified people. However, the main goal remains to find Peter Kassig, the American aid worker whom ISIL executed in 2014 in Dabiq. Other Western hostages killed by ISIL include U.S. aid worker Kayla Mueller and journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. Foley and Sotloff’s deaths were confirmed in 2014, while Mueller’s was verified in 2015.

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Mission Runs Parallel to Visit

This Qatar-led mission started just before President Trump’s visit to Qatar and other Gulf countries. The timing is crucial as it aligns with Syria’s ongoing efforts to seek relief from U.S. sanctions. The Qatar mission also grew out of a trip to Washington in April by Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and State Minister Mohammed Al Khulaifi. They used the visit to lay the groundwork for President Trump’s upcoming trip to Qatar, according to Reuters.

A Long-standing Commitment

Successive U.S. administrations have committed for years to finding the remains of U.S. nationals murdered by ISIL. U.S. officials have worked on the ground in Syria to locate these remains. U.S. troops still stay in northeastern Syria, continuing their efforts to track down ISIL remnants.