Aqaba: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said U.S. officials were in direct contact with Syrian rebel groups. Most recently in Syria, rebel groups overthrew the government of President Bashar Assad. However, the United States and other countries have declared the insurgent group a terrorist organization. Blinken is the first U.S. leader to publicly confirm contacts between Joe Biden’s administration and the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). An opposition coalition led by HTS recently ousted Assad from power.
U.S. message to the Syrian people
At a news conference in Aqaba, Jordan, Blinken did not discuss the details of the engagement but said it was important for the United States to convey information to the group about its conduct and governance during the transition. “Yes, we are in contact with HTS and other parties,” Blinken said. “Our message to the Syrian people is that we want them to succeed and we stand ready to help them do that.”
syrian rebels
Also know
HTS was once affiliated with Al Qaeda and has been declared a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department since 2018. Under this, organizations and the people associated with them are subject to many restrictions. However, the sanctions do not legally prohibit U.S. officials from communicating with specific groups. Since taking Damascus, HTS has worked to establish security and initiate regime change in Syria, as well as trying to reassure the public. Rebel leaders say the group has left its past behind and severed ties with terrorism. (Associated Press)
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