US in ‘direct contact’ with jihadists in Damascus – Blinken — RT World Information
The opposition teams dominated by Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have seized energy in Syria final week
Washington is sustaining direct contact with the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group that was instrumental in overthrowing the federal government of President Bashar Assad in Syria, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has mentioned.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) led a unfastened coalition of armed opposition teams that captured Damascus on December 8, forcing Assad into exile in Russia. HTS was based as a merger of a number of jihadist teams, together with Al-Nusra Entrance, an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria. HTS chief Ahmed al-Shaara, higher referred to as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, beforehand led Al-Nusra.
HTS is listed as a terrorist group within the US, with an energetic $10 million bounty for the assist in capturing al-Julani.
Blinken acknowledged contacts with HTS throughout a press convention in Aqaba, Jordan on Saturday. Requested whether or not the US has been in communication with the group at the moment holding energy in Damascus, Blinken replied, “Sure, we’ve been involved with HTS and with different events.” He later clarified, “That’s direct contact, sure.”
Blinken reiterated that Washington hopes the brand new authorities will “produce an inclusive and consultant authorities,” the place “the rights of all Syrians – together with minorities and girls – ought to be revered.”
He added that every one events ought to stop the resurgence of Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS) and different terrorist teams, describing the American-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as “taking part in a essential function in pursuing that mission.”
Al-Julani has made efforts to rebrand his group as a extra reasonable pressure, claiming that his views have developed. Through the opposition’s lightning offensive towards the federal government military, he made guarantees to guard Syria’s ethnic and non secular minorities, together with Christians and Kurds. Nevertheless, a number of disturbing movies have since emerged on-line of varied anti-Assad teams executing POWs and civilians.
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