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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that “direct contact” with Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), along with other entities has been successfully established. This revelation was made during a media conference held this past Saturday in Aqaba, Jordan. HTS, known for the recent overthrowing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been in the spotlight.
The specific details of these discussions were not disclosed by Blinken, though he did mention the emphasis placed on finding Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared near Damascus 12 years ago. HTS has sought to cultivate a more moderate identity, even though it was linked to Al-Qaida and remains classified as a terrorist group by the U.S since May 2018.
During his visit to Jordan for discussions regarding Syria’s future, Blinken confirmed reaching an agreement on common principles to enhance support for Syria and its people. Key among these agreements was the belief that the evolution of the Syrian government should be directed by Syrians themselves and that Syrians should have unrestricted access to humanitarian aid and not be used for any form of terrorist activities.
Blinken further stressed that the happenings in Syria hold significant consequences globally, covering aspects like forced displacement and acts of terrorism. HTS leader, Ahmed al-Shara, quickly sought to reassure the world, claiming that Syria is averse to further conflict and is in need of reconstruction. Al-Shara also expressed his belief that the removal of Iranian militias, Hezbollah, and the current regime was the answer for Syria returning to peace and stability.
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