• West has classified HTS as ‘terrorist group’
• Global powers discuss post-Assad scenario in Jordan talks

AQABA: The United States has made “direct contact” with Syria’s victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels despite designating the group as terrorists, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday, as he sought international unity on a peaceful transition.

“We’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken told reporters after talks on Syria in the Jordanian Red Sea resort of Aqaba.

He did not give details on how the contact took place but when asked if the United States reached out directly, he said: “Direct contact — yes.”

Blinken said that the contact was partly related to the search for Austin Tice, the US journalist kidnapped in 2012 near the start of the brutal civil war.

“We have pressed upon everyone we’ve been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home,” Blinken said.

He said that in the dialogue with HTS the United States also “shared the principles” on Syria that he has publicly laid out.

Blinken indicated the United States was open eventually to easing sanctions on Syria but not yet.

Referring to HTS statements since their victory, Blinken said: “We appreciate some of the positive words we heard in recent days, but what matters is action — and sustained action.

“This can’t be a decision on the events of one day,” he said. If a transition moves forward, “we in turn will look at various sanctions and other measures that we have taken and respond in kind.”

In Aqaba, Blinken took part in talks that brought together top Arab and European diplomats as well as Turkiye, the main supporter of rebel groups in Syria.

In a joint statement, the participants called for a Syrian-led transition to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process”.

The statement also stressed “respect for human rights”, the importance of combating “terrorism and extremism” and demanded “all parties” cease hostilities in Syria.

“Syria finally has the chance to end decades of isolation,” the group said.

UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen earlier told Blinken: “We need to make sure that state institutions do not collapse, and that we get in humanitarian assistance as quickly as possible.”

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2024