Syrian Rebel Group
Aqaba: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that US officials are in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group. Recently in Syria, the rebel group ousted the government of President Bashar al-Assad. However, the US and other countries have declared the rebel group a terrorist organization. Blinken is the first US leader to publicly confirm contacts between the Joe Biden administration and the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS led the coalition of opposition groups that recently ousted Assad from power.
America’s message to the Syrian people
At a news conference in Aqaba, Jordan, Blinken did not discuss details of the contacts, but said it was important for the US to send a message 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, we want them to succeed and we stand ready to help them do that.”
Syrian Rebel Group
Also know
HTS, once affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has been declared a terrorist organization by the US State Department since 2018. Under this, there are many restrictions on the organization and the people associated with it. However, the sanctions do not legally bar US officials from communicating with specified groups. HTS has worked to establish security and initiate regime change in Syria since capturing Damascus and has sought to reassure the public. Rebel leaders say the group has left its past behind and broken ties with terrorism. (AP)
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