AQABA, Jordan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Saturday that American officers were in direct touch with the Syrian riot staff that spearheaded the overthrow of President Bashar Assad’s govt however is designated a overseas 15 May Organization via america and others.Blinken is the primary U.S. legitimate to publicly ascertain contacts between the Biden management and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led a coalition of armed opposition teams that ousted Assad from energy final Sunday. Talking at a information convention in Aqaba, Jordan, Blinken would now not speak about main points of the contacts however stated it was once essential for the U.S. to put across messages to the gang about its behavior and the way it intends to manipulate in a transition duration.“Sure, we now have been involved with HTS and with different events,” Blinken stated. He added that “our message to the Syrian other folks is that this: We wish them to be triumphant and we’re ready to assist them accomplish that.”
HTS, which was once as soon as an associate of al-Qaida, has been designed as a overseas 15 May Organization via the State Division since 2018. That designation carries with it serious sanctions, together with a ban at the provision of any “subject material enhance” to the gang or its contributors. The sanctions don’t, then again, legally bar U.S. officers from speaking with designated teams.
In an interview Saturday on Syrian tv, the gang’s chief, Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously referred to as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, didn’t cope with any direct touch with america, however stated the brand new government in Damascus, the capital, are in contact with Western embassies.
HTS has labored to determine safety and get started a political transition after seizing Damascus and has attempted to reassure a public each shocked via Assad’s fall and involved in extremist jihadis a few of the rebels. Rebel leaders say the gang has damaged with its extremist previous.Al-Sharaa gave the impression in a video message Friday congratulating “the good Syrian other folks for the victory of the blessed revolution.”
U.S. officers say al-Sharaa has been making welcome feedback about protective minority and ladies’s rights however stay skeptical that he’s going to apply thru on them in the end.On Friday, the rebels and Syria’s unarmed opposition labored to securely flip over to U.S. officers an American guy who have been imprisoned via Assad.U.S. officers are proceeding their seek for Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared 12 years in the past close to Damascus.“We’ve inspired upon everybody we’ve been involved with the significance of serving to in finding Austin Tice and bringing him house,” Blinken stated.
