2 hours ago Sebastian Usher BBC Middle East regional editor Ian Casey BBC News The US has made “direct contact” with the HTS rebels who now control Syria after toppling the Assad regime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.
It is the first acknowledgement of direct American contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US currently still designates as a terrorist organisation.
Blinken was speaking in Jordan after talks with representatives from several Arab countries, Turkey and Europe to discuss the future of Syria.
Blinken has said that Washington has been in direct contact with HTS – in particular over the fate of the long missing American journalist, Austin Tice.
“We’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken told reporters in Jordan.
two hours prior.
Usher Sebastian.
Regional Editor, BBC Middle East.
Casey Ian.
NBC News.
Since overthrowing the Assad regime, the HTS rebels have taken control of Syria, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the US has established “direct contact” with them.
It marks the first time that direct American contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—which the US still considers a terrorist organization—has been acknowledged.
Following discussions on Syria’s future with representatives from Turkey, Europe, and a number of Arab nations, Blinken was speaking in Jordan.
Regional powers did not want the country to “descend into chaos,” according to Jordan’s foreign minister, and officials agreed to support a peaceful transition process.
A joint statement demanded an inclusive Syrian government that does not provide a haven for “terrorist groups” and upholds the rights of minorities.
The crucial necessity of establishing new governance that represents all Syrians has been discussed both inside and outside of Syria following the turbulent events of the past few weeks.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein voiced worries about Syria’s future and its implications for the Middle East and beyond during the meeting in Jordan.
In reference to the chaos that followed Colonel Gaddafi’s overthrow, he stated that regional players did not want to witness another Libya.
The current Syrian institutions need to be maintained and reformed, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
“Never give terrorism the opportunity to exploit the transition period. Additionally, according to the Reuters news agency, Fidan stated, “We must coordinate our efforts and learn from the mistakes of the past.”.
A war monitor reports that Israel has launched dozens more airstrikes against Syria in spite of regional condemnation.
Before, Israel declared that it was acting to “destroy strategic capabilities” that posed a threat to it.
According to HTS, the most potent rebel organization, it wants an inclusive government. However, some are skeptical of the group’s ability to fulfill these promises due to its violent jihadist past.
Washington has been in direct communication with HTS, according to Blinken, especially regarding the whereabouts of Austin Tice, the long-missing American journalist.
Reporters in Jordan were informed by Blinken that “we’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties.”.
No Syrian representative attended the negotiations in Jordan. During the meeting, the foreign ministers of eight Arab nations expressed their desire to see Syria remain united rather than divided along sectarian lines.
The two nations that provided Assad with the financial backing that allowed him to hold onto power for so long—Iran and Russia—were also missing.
The future of Syria is clouded by the shadow of all the foreign powers that fought over it for so long.
If there is to be any genuine hope for the Syrian people to build on the heady taste of freedom they have had over the past week, the new political entities in Syria will need to be cohesive both inside and outside the nation.
Bashar al-Assad’s 24 years in power came to an end on December 8 when opposition forces captured the capital and drove the president to flee to Russia.
A 13-year civil war that began when Assad put down pro-democracy demonstrations was followed by the overthrow. Over half a million people were killed in the fighting, millions more were displaced, and international powers and their proxies became involved.
The world is now observing how Syria’s political landscape develops following the end of the Assad family’s 50-year rule. Mohammed al-Bashir was named Syria’s interim prime minister by HTS rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.
Established in 2011 as a direct affiliate of al-Qaeda, HTS was renamed Jabhat al-Nusra. It was regarded as one of the most potent and lethal organizations fighting President Assad.
The US, Turkey, the UN, and other nations have all declared it a terrorist organization, and they still do.
HTS’s recent messaging has been inclusive and has rejected violence and retaliation, while al-Sharaa has openly split from al-Qaeda.
