U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the United States has made “direct contact” with the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The statement, made during a press conference in Aqaba, Jordan, on Saturday, comes days after HTS-led rebel forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
HTS, which stems from extremist Islamist factions, is still recognized as a terrorist group internationally. In 2018, the U.S. offered a $10 million reward for the capture of its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
Blinken did not disclose details of the discussions but emphasized that the U.S. has also used these talks to press for locating American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared near Damascus in 2012.
“We’ve been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken said after meeting with regional diplomats in Jordan. He reiterated that finding Tice remains a priority for the United States, particularly as thousands of prisoners were recently released following HTS’s advances into Damascus. Despite ongoing efforts, Tice’s whereabouts remain unknown.
HTS’s military success has prompted debate among Western officials over whether to engage with the group as a potential governing authority.
Blinken underscored the importance of “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned” political solutions, stressing that humanitarian aid must be accessible and that Syria “should not be used as a base for terrorist groups or others.”
In a joint statement following the Jordan meeting, representatives from the United States, Turkey, the European Union, and Arab nations affirmed their commitment to fostering “a more hopeful, secure, and peaceful future” for Syria. The statement emphasized the need for an “inclusive, non-sectarian, and representative government” as part of the transitional process.
