The US made “direct contact” with the Syrian rebel group HTS, which led to the attack that overthrew it. Assad’s regimesaid Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
It was the first time the U.S. acknowledged direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization.
Blinken was speaking in Jordan after talks with representatives of several Arab countries, Turkey and Europe to discuss the future of Syria.
Officials agreed to support the peaceful transition process in the country. Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, said that regional governments do not want Syria to “descend into chaos”.
The joint meeting called for an inclusive Syrian government that respects the rights of minorities and does not provide a base for “terrorist groups”.
The discourse inside and outside of Syria after the events of recent weeks has been critical to the establishment of a new governance that represents all Syrians.
At the meeting in Jordan, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed concern about Syria’s shared future in the Middle East and beyond.
He said regional players did not want to see another Libya – referring to the chaos that occurred after Colonel Gaddafi was removed from office.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that existing Syrian institutions must be preserved and repaired.
“Never let terrorism take advantage of the moment of change. And we must combine our efforts and learn from the mistakes of the past,” Fidan said according to Reuters news agency.
The most powerful rebel group, HTS, has expressed its desire for an inclusive government. But the jihadist group’s violent past has left doubts that it will deliver on these promises.
Blinken said Washington has been in direct contact with HTS – particularly regarding the fate of long-lost US journalist Austin Tice.
“We have been in contact with HTS and other groups,” Blinken told reporters in Jordan.
Absent from the Jordanian talks was any representative from Syria. Foreign ministers from eight Arab countries who came to the meeting said they want to make sure that Syria is united and not divided between sects.
Also absent were the two countries that supported Assad financially which enabled him to continue in power for a long time – Iran and Russia.
The reputation of all foreign forces fighting for Syria for a long time hangs heavily on the country’s future.
The emerging political parties in Syria will need to unite not only within the country but also abroad, if there is to be any real hope for the Syrian people to build on the hot taste of freedom they experienced last week.
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