US officials ‘in direct contact’ with victorious Syrian rebels

The most powerful rebel group, HTS, has said it is seeking an inclusive government. But the group’s violent jihadist past casts doubt on whether it will follow through on such promises.

Blinken said Washington is in direct contact with HTS, particularly regarding the fate of long-missing American journalist Austin Thies.

“We have been in contact with HTS and other parties,” Blinken told reporters in Jordan.

Any representatives from Syria are missing from the talks in Jordan. The foreign ministers of the eight Arab countries participating in the meeting said that they want to ensure that Syria is united and not divided according to sects.

Iran and Russia, the two countries that provided Assad with financial support that allowed him to stay in power for a long time, were also absent.

The shadow of all the foreign forces that have been fighting over Syria for a long time weighs heavily on the country’s future.

If there is to be any real hope of building on the taste of freedom the Syrian people have experienced over the past week, the emerging political institutions in Syria will need unity not only domestically but also abroad.