{"id":2380087,"date":"2024-12-14T13:54:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T18:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-officials-have-been-in-direct-contact-with-the-syrian-rebel-group-that-ousted-assad-blinken-says-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-12-14T13:55:13","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T18:55:13","slug":"us-officials-have-been-in-direct-contact-with-the-syrian-rebel-group-that-ousted-assad-blinken-says-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-officials-have-been-in-direct-contact-with-the-syrian-rebel-group-that-ousted-assad-blinken-says-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"US officials have been in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad, Blinken says &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">40<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fus-officials-have-been-in-direct-contact-with-the-syrian-rebel-group-that-ousted-assad-blinken-says-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2380087&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>U.S. Secretary of State Antony \u200cBlinken announced that American officials have directly engaged with the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-officials-blame-iran-for-drone-strikes-in-syria\/\" title=\"Report: Officials blame Iran for drone strikes in Syria\">syrian rebel group<\/a> responsible<\/a> for the ousting of President Bashar Assad&#8217;s government. This group, however, has\u2063 been\u2062 designated\u200c as\u200c a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kentucky-ag-slams-state-department-for-failing-to-halt-fentanyl-crisis\/\" title=\"KY AG criticizes State Dept. for not stopping fentanyl crisis.\">foreign \u200cterrorist organization<\/a> by the U.S.and several other countries. Blinken&#8217;s confirmation marks the first instance of a U.S. official\u2062 acknowledging \u2063such contact publicly. The statement was made during\u2064 an event in Aqaba, Jordan.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">US officials have been in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad, Blinken says<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1908001\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>AQABA, Jordan (AP) &mdash;<\/strong> U.S. Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Antony-Blinken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Antony Blinken<\/a> said Saturday that American officials have been in direct contact with the Syrian rebel group that spearheaded the overthrow of President Bashar Assad&rsquo;s government but is designated a foreign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/terrorism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">terrorist<\/a> organization by the United States and others.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Blinken is the first U.S. official to publicly confirm contacts between the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Biden-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Biden administration<\/a> and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led a coalition of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/syrian-civil-war-reignites-after-four-years-with-surprise-rebel-offensive-drawing-russia-in-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Syrian Civil War reignites after four years with surprise rebel offensive, drawing Russia in - Washington Examiner\">armed opposition groups<\/a> that ousted Assad from power last Sunday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3191374\/dates-2024-presidential-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Speaking at a news conference in Aqaba, Jordan, Blinken would not discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the U.S. to convey messages to the group about its conduct and how it intends to govern in a transition period.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties,&rdquo; Blinken said. He added that &ldquo;our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed and we&rsquo;re prepared to help them do so.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>HTS, which was once an affiliate of al-Qaida, has been designed as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 2018. That designation carries with it severe sanctions, including a ban on the provision of any &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/terrorgram-leaders-indicted-over-plotting-assassinations-of-public-officials-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"\u2018Terrorgram\u2019 leaders indicted over plotting assassinations of public officials - Washington Examiner\">material support&#038;rdquo<\/a>; to the group or its members. The sanctions do not, however, legally bar U.S. officials from communicating with designated groups.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3240974\/meet-new-congress-house-senate-freshmen-119th\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>MEET THE NEW CONGRESS: THE HOUSE AND SENATE FRESHMEN ELECTED TO SERVE NEXT YEAR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In an interview Saturday on Syrian television, the group&rsquo;s leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, did not address any direct contact with the United States, but said the new authorities in Damascus, the capital, are in touch with Western embassies.<\/p>\n<p>HTS has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus and has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad&rsquo;s fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past.<\/p>\n<p>Al-Sharaa appeared in a video message Friday congratulating &ldquo;the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>U.S. officials say al-Sharaa has been making welcome comments about protecting minority and women&rsquo;s rights but remain skeptical that he will follow through on them in the long run.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the rebels and Syria&rsquo;s unarmed opposition worked to safely turn over to U.S. officials an American man who had been imprisoned by Assad.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/?d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>U.S. officials are continuing their search for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/syria-biden-austin-tice-bee5a5547a63e95eea5b75366d208f16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Austin Tice,<\/a>&nbsp;an American journalist who disappeared 12 years ago near Damascus.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have impressed upon everyone we&rsquo;ve been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home,&rdquo; Blinken said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1908001\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1908001\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US officials have contacted the Syrian rebel group that ousted Assad, Blinken states<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2380089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ap-antony-blinken-nato-press-conference-112224.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[46797,4636,46796,37777,32076],"class_list":["post-2380087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-assad-ouster","tag-blinken","tag-syrian-rebel-group","tag-us-officials","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/ap-antony-blinken-nato-press-conference-112224.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2380087"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2380091,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2380087\/revisions\/2380091"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2380089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2380087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2380087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2380087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}