US reaches out to Syrian rebel groups after Assad regime overthrow

(Dan Tri) - The administration of US President Joe Biden is seeking to reach out to opposition groups in Syria after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Rebel fighters hold guns in Aleppo, Syria on December 9 (Photo: Reuters).

Speaking at a US State Department press briefing on December 9, spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington has a number of ways to approach different opposition groups in Syria, one of which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.

“We have been engaged in those conversations over the last several days. The secretary himself has been engaged in conversations with countries that have influence in Syria and we will continue to do so,” Miller said.

Governments in the region as well as the West are trying to create new links with Syria's leading opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly allied with al Qaeda and designated a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union (EU), Türkiye, and the United Nations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in contact by phone and speaking with regional leaders. Over the past four days, Mr. Blinken has had two conversations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Türkiye has deployed troops in northwestern Syria and supports some rebels, including the Syrian National Army (SNA), although it considers HTS a terrorist group.

Asked whether the US had connections with HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Miller declined to answer, but he did not rule out the possibility.

“We believe we have the ability to engage in one way or another, directly or indirectly, with all the parties involved,” Mr. Miller said.

The fall of President Assad’s regime last weekend removed a bulwark on which Iran and Russia had sought to establish influence across the Arab world. Assad went to Russia, after 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family ruling Syria.

President Joe Biden and his top aides have described the moment as a historic opportunity for the Syrian people, who have lived under the rule of President Assad for decades, but have also warned that Syria is facing a period of risk and instability.

Syria policy under the Biden administration has largely been sidelined over the past four years, as Washington has focused on more pressing issues such as Russia's military campaign in Ukraine and the flare-up of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.

A senior US official said Washington was closely monitoring statements from HTS after the force overthrew President Assad's government and took control of Damascus.

The official said the US would work to secure chemical weapons stockpiles in Syria, but did not give details.

Another senior official said the US would likely keep about 900 troops in eastern Syria as a hedge against the Islamic State (IS).

In recent days, US forces have conducted a series of precision strikes in Syria targeting IS positions to prevent the group from resurging.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/my-tiep-can-cac-nhom-noi-day-o-syria-sau-khi-chinh-quyen-assad-bi-lat-do-20241210104013693.htm