AQABA, Jordan — On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that American officials have established direct communication with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a crucial role in the recent ousting of President Bashar Assad’s regime. Notably, HTS is classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and several other countries.
Blinken became the first high-ranking U.S. official to publicly acknowledge these communications between the Biden administration and HTS, which has been at the forefront of the coalition that removed Assad from power last Sunday.
During a press briefing in Aqaba, Blinken refrained from divulging specifics about the discussions but emphasized the necessity for the U.S. to relay important messages to HTS regarding its future governance and behavior during this transitional phase.
“Indeed, we have been in touch with HTS and other stakeholders,” Blinken stated. He further conveyed the U.S. message to the Syrian populace: “We are invested in their success and ready to assist them in achieving it.”
HTS, which was previously linked to al-Qaida, has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 2018. This classification entails severe sanctions, which include prohibiting any “material support” to the group or its affiliates. However, such designations do not legally prevent U.S. officials from engaging in dialogue with recognized terrorist organizations.
In a Saturday interview with Syrian television, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, did not confirm any direct interaction with the U.S. Yet, he indicated that the new authorities in Damascus are maintaining communication with Western embassies.
Following the takeover of Damascus, HTS has focused on establishing security and initiating a political transition while addressing public concerns about extremist elements within the rebel factions. Group leaders assert that HTS has distanced itself from its radical origins.
In a video message released on Friday, al-Sharaa congratulated “the great Syrian people on the victory of the blessed revolution.”
U.S. officials have noted that al-Sharaa has made positive remarks regarding the protection of minority and women’s rights, although there is skepticism about his commitment to uphold these promises in the long term.
On Friday, the rebel factions and the unarmed Syrian opposition collaborated to facilitate the safe handover of an American citizen previously imprisoned by Assad’s regime to U.S. officials.
U.S. authorities are also actively pursuing leads to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing near Damascus twelve years ago.
“We have stressed to everyone we’ve contacted the critical importance of assisting in the search for Austin Tice and ensuring his safe return,” Blinken remarked.
