Blinken publicly confirms that American officials were in direct contact with the Syrian opposition group that overthrew Assad

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Saturday that US officials were in direct contact with the Syrian opposition group that led the attack on Syria. Overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad government but has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and others.

Blinken is the first US official to publicly confirm contacts between the Biden administration and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which led a coalition of armed opposition groups that took power. He removed Assad from power Last Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Aqaba, Jordan, Blinken did not discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the United States to convey messages to the group about its behavior and how it intends to govern in a transitional period.

Blinken said: “Yes, we have been in contact with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and other parties.” He added, “Our message to the Syrian people is: We want them to succeed and we are ready to help them achieve that.”

Blinken also said that officials “are also communicating directly with those in positions of authority in Syria.”

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, formerly an affiliate of al-Qaeda, has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 2018. This designation carries with it severe penalties, including a ban on providing any “material support” to the group. or its members. However, the sanctions do not legally prevent US officials from communicating with the designated groups.

In an interview Saturday on Syrian television, the group’s leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, did not mention any direct contact with the United States, but he said that the new authorities in Syria DamascusThe capital is in contact with Western embassies.

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham worked to establish security and begin a political transition After the capture of Damascus It tried to reassure a public stunned by Assad’s fall and concerned about radicalized jihadists among the rebels. Rebel leaders say the group has broken away from its extremist past.

Al-Sharaa appeared in a video message on Friday, congratulating “the great Syrian people on the victory of the blessed revolution.”

US officials say Sharaa has been making welcome comments about protecting the rights of minorities and women, but they remain skeptical he will follow through on them in the long term.

Blinken said on Saturday: “We know that what is happening inside Syria could have dire consequences outside its borders, from mass displacement to terrorism, and we know that we cannot underestimate the challenges of this moment and in the coming weeks and months.” .

On Friday, rebels and unarmed Syrian opposition worked to hand over an American man imprisoned by Assad to American officials.

Blinken said US officials are continuing our “tireless and determined efforts” as they investigate Austin Ticean American journalist who disappeared 12 years ago near Damascus.

“We have impressed upon everyone we have reached out to the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bring him home,” Blinken said.

Travis Timmerman, American Who said he was released from a Syrian prison After Assad was overthrown, he was removed from the country by the US military, CBS News reported I reported earlier this week.