Blinken confirms US has been in contact with Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Saturday that Washington has had direct contact with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group which led Syrian factions in the overthrow of the Baath regime.

The announcement came during a news conference in southern Jordan, where Blinken participated in international ministerial meetings to discuss developments in Syria. The meetings were the first since the Bashar Assad regime was ousted Dec. 8.

Blinken said the US and regional powers have agreed on a set of principles they hope interim Syrian leaders will adhere to in exchange for "support and recognition" of a future Syrian government.​​​​​​​

When asked by reporters whether there had been recent contact with the HTS, Blinken responded: "Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties.” He added. “Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed and we're prepared to help them do so."

Blinken said officials are "also communicating directly with those in positions of authority in Syria."

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.