Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States has made “direct contact” with Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, despite the group’s designation as a terrorist organization. He emphasized the need for international solidarity toward a peaceful transition.
“We’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Mr. Blinken informed reporters following discussions on Syria in the Jordanian Red Sea resort of Aqaba.
While he did not elaborate on the specifics of the communication, he confirmed when asked if the United States had reached out directly: “Direct contact — yes.”
The contact was partially linked to the ongoing search for Austin Tice, the US journalist who was kidnapped in 2012 at the onset of the brutal civil war.
Mr. Blinken expressed that the United States might eventually consider easing sanctions on Syria, although it wasn’t the right time yet.
In discussions with HTS, the United States also “shared the principles” regarding Syria that he has publicly articulated.
Mr. Blinken indicated that while the United States is open to the idea of relaxing sanctions on Syria in the future, that moment had not yet arrived.
Commenting on the recent communications from HTS since their victory, he noted: “We appreciate some of the positive words we heard in recent days, but what matters is action – and sustained action.”
“This cannot hinge on the events of a single day,” he remarked.
If a transition progresses, “we in turn will examine various sanctions and other measures that we have imposed and respond accordingly.”
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Mr. Blinken concluded a regional tour aimed at discovering common grounds following HTS’s overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled oppressively for half a century.
In Aqaba, he participated in talks involving high-ranking Arab and European diplomats, along with representatives from Turkey, a key backer of rebel factions in Syria.
A joint statement from the participants urged a Syrian-led transition intended to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian, and representative government formed through a transparent process”.
The statement also emphasized the “respect for human rights,” the significance of combating “terrorism and extremism,” and called for “all parties” to halt hostilities in Syria.
“Syria finally has the opportunity to end decades of isolation,” stated the group.
UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen previously informed Mr. Blinken: “We need to ensure that state institutions do not collapse, and that humanitarian assistance is delivered as quickly as possible.”
The United States and other Western governments categorize HTS as a terrorist organization due to its connections with Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch.
This designation severely restricts the activities of businesses and aid workers who may inadvertently contravene US law enforcement by appearing to support a terrorist organization.
Since seizing control last weekend, rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani has expressed a desire to foster peace with the diverse elements of Syrian society.
Analysts suggest that HTS has not concentrated on targeting the US or other Western entities.
Syrians have flocked to prisons in search of relatives and friends long unaccounted for.
Few anticipate a swift move by the United States to lift the terrorist designation, especially with a political transition approaching next month following Donald Trump’s presidential election victory.
A senior minister in Britain indicated that the government would quickly determine whether to revoke the terrorist designation, although Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated it was still “far too early” for such action.
Mr. Blinken expressed optimism in the recent street celebrations across Syrian cities.
“No one underestimates the challenges ahead, but there’s also something incredibly powerful in the determination of the Syrian people to break from the past and forge a better future,” he stated.
He also commended the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces for adopting the new “independence” flag of the rebels after years of flying their own flag during their limited self-rule.
Mr. Blinken affirmed it is up to Syrians to decide how to integrate Kurds into the country but praised SDF fighters, who are opposed by Turkey, for their role in combatting the Islamic State group.
Tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.
Sunni Muslim HTS has links to Syria’s Al-Qaeda faction and is designated a terrorist group by many Western nations.
The group has attempted to moderate its public messaging, asserting that the interim government will protect the rights of all Syrians and uphold the rule of law.
The European Union is looking to “establish contacts” with the new leaders in the near future, according to an EU official speaking anonymously.
The UN refugee agency noted that the new government had signaled “constructive” intent, including a request for the organization to maintain its presence in the country.
Bashar al-Assad’s regime was supported by Russia, as well as Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.
Leaders of the G7 democratic nations met virtually yesterday and expressed hope for “a peaceful and orderly transition through the establishment of an inclusive political process” in Syria.
Across much of Syria, the focus is now shifting toward uncovering the truths of Mr. Assad’s dictatorship, particularly regarding the network of detention centers and suspected torture locations.
Syrians have been searching prisons, hospitals, and morgues for news of their long-missing relatives and friends.
“I turned the world upside down looking,” Abu Mohammed told AFP as he sought updates on three missing relatives from the Mazzeh airbase in Damascus.
“We just want a hint of their whereabouts,” he lamented.
The International Committee of the Red Cross reported over 35,000 disappearances during Mr. Assad’s rule, with the actual figure likely being much higher.
While Syrians celebrate the end of the regime, they still contend with a struggle for basic necessities within a nation ravaged by war, sanctions, and rampant inflation.
The EU announced the launch of an “air bridge” operation to deliver an initial 50 tonnes of health supplies via neighboring Turkey yesterday.
Mr. Assad was supported by Russia – where a senior official recently claimed he has fled – alongside Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told NTV television that his country has urged Russia and Iran to refrain from military intervention “to ensure minimal loss of life”.
The rebels initiated their offensive on November 27, coinciding with a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, during which Israel dealt significant blow to Mr. Assad’s Lebanese ally.
Both Israel and Turkey, which backs some rebel factions that deposed Mr. Assad, have since conducted strikes within Syria.
Israel’s latest operations targeted military sites in the Eastern Qalamun region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.
Israel has also deployed troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separates Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, a move the UN stated violates a 1974 armistice agreement.
The military has been instructed to be “prepared to remain” in that area throughout the winter, as per statements from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz’s office.
