US confirms direct contact with HTS rebels after Assad’s fall, Blinken says

US confirms direct contact with HTS rebels after Assad’s fall, Blinken says

Picture Supply : AP U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

In a big growth, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Saturday that American officers have straight communicated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian insurgent group that led the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad final week. HTS, which is designated a overseas terrorist group by the U.S. and others, was as soon as affiliated with al-Qaida however now claims to have distanced itself from its extremist roots.

Blinken, talking at a press convention in Aqaba, Jordan, acknowledged the contact however avoided offering specifics, emphasising that the U.S. goals to make sure stability throughout Syria’s transitional interval. “Sure, now we have been involved with HTS and different events,” Blinken acknowledged, including that the U.S. desires to assist the Syrian folks throughout this crucial part. “We would like them to succeed and we’re ready to assist them accomplish that.”

HTS has confronted scepticism from the worldwide neighborhood because of its historical past, however its latest actions point out an effort to ascertain governance and stability in Damascus following Assad’s ousting. Ahmad al-Sharaa, also called Abu Mohammed al-Golani, HTS’s chief, has sought to reassure the Syrian public by pledging to guard minority and girls’s rights. In a video message on Friday, he hailed the revolution’s success and known as it a “victory for the good Syrian folks.”

Regardless of al-Sharaa’s statements, U.S. officers stay cautious, doubting whether or not HTS’s guarantees of moderation will materialise. The group has reportedly been participating with Western embassies and dealing with different opposition factions to handle Syria’s transition.

The U.S. has additionally prioritised humanitarian considerations and efforts to find lacking Individuals, together with journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years in the past close to Damascus. Blinken emphasised the significance of cooperation in these efforts, noting that the U.S. lately facilitated the protected switch of an American man beforehand imprisoned by Assad’s regime.

The autumn of Assad has shocked Syria, elevating each hopes and considerations. As HTS assumes a management function, the worldwide neighborhood will intently monitor its governance strategy and adherence to its acknowledged commitments. 

(Inputs from AP)



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