The United States has confirmed it has made “direct contact” with the HTS rebels, who now control parts of Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently acknowledged this interaction, marking the first official recognition of US engagement with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which remains designated by the US as a terrorist organization.
Blinken revealed that the primary focus of this contact has been the case of Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria. He was speaking in Jordan after discussions with representatives from various Arab nations, Turkey, and Europe about Syria’s future. The officials reached a consensus to support a peaceful transition for Syria, with Jordan’s foreign minister emphasizing that regional powers wanted to prevent the country from descending into further chaos.
A joint statement issued at the meeting called for the formation of a new, inclusive Syrian government that respects the rights of all minorities and does not become a safe haven for terrorist organizations. The discussion, both within Syria and internationally, highlighted the critical need to establish a governance system that represents all Syrians in the wake of recent turmoil.
HTS was notably absent from the meeting in Jordan. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed regional concerns, citing fears of Syria becoming a failed state like Libya after the fall of Gaddafi. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the preservation and reform of Syria’s existing institutions, emphasizing the importance of preventing terrorism from exploiting the transition period.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its air strikes on Syria, claiming to target threats to its security, while the UN Secretary-General expressed concern about the growing number of Israeli military actions in the region.
HTS, originally formed in 2011 under the name Jabhat al-Nusra as an al-Qaeda affiliate, remains a controversial group despite distancing itself from al-Qaeda in 2016. While its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), has expressed tolerance for religious diversity, the group’s violent history raises doubts about its future actions.
Notably, Syria’s government was not part of the talks in Jordan, and key allies of Assad, including Russia and Iran, were also absent. The complex history of international intervention in Syria, combined with the country’s internal divisions, leaves the path ahead uncertain for Syria’s next phase of leadership and potential stability.
