U.S. officials, congressional aide disclose details about first American contacts with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group

(MENAFN) Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide recently disclosed details about the first American contacts with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which played a significant role in the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Biden administration has urged the group to avoid taking control of Syria directly, and instead focus on facilitating an inclusive process to form a transitional government. These contacts, which were coordinated with Washington's Middle Eastern allies, including Turkey, come despite HTS's designation by the U.S. as a terrorist organization. Originally an offshoot of al-Qaeda, HTS is classified by the U.S. as a terrorist group. One official mentioned that the Biden administration is also reaching out to former President Donald Trump’s team regarding this matter.

The U.S. efforts are part of a broader strategy to engage with various groups within Syria following the unexpected collapse of Assad’s regime on Sunday. According to the official, the United States has sent letters to HTS to help guide initial efforts toward establishing a formal governance structure for the country. However, the sources did not clarify whether the messages were sent directly or through intermediaries. Washington has made it clear that any transitional government in Syria must represent the will of the Syrian people and will not support HTS controlling the country without a legitimate process for selecting new leaders. The U.S. National Security Council declined to comment on the matter.

HTS’s leader, Ahmad al-Shara (also known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani), was placed on U.S. terrorist lists in 2013, with the U.S. accusing him of seeking to overthrow Assad’s regime and establish a state based on Islamic law in Syria. HTS, formed from the remnants of the al-Nusra Front, has been linked to attacks that killed civilians and embraced a violent, sectarian ideology. The Biden administration remains unclear on al-Julani’s role in Syria’s future government and whether he still holds extremist views. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday that Washington will only recognize a future Syrian government that is inclusive, reliable, and non-sectarian.

Meanwhile, some lawmakers in Congress are urging the administration to consider lifting sanctions on Syria, including those specifically targeting HTS, in exchange for the group fulfilling certain U.S. demands. There is growing sentiment among some Congress members that U.S. assistance may be needed to help Syria reconnect to the global economy and rebuild, though current sanctions stand in the way. The U.S. also continues to engage with HTS and other key actors on the ground concerning military operations. U.S. officials emphasized that American forces will remain active in northeastern Syria to counter ISIS and prevent the group from regaining power in the ongoing power vacuum. U.S. forces are also focused on preventing Iranian-backed groups from gaining ground in the region.

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