US initiates contact with HTS: Coordination efforts for new leadership in Syria

While reports have surfaced in the press that the Joe Biden administration in the US sent messages to jihadist groups via Turkey during the process in which jihadist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of the capital Damascus on December 8 and President Bashar al-Assad fled the country to take refuge in Russia, it has been claimed that the Washington administration has begun making initial contacts with HTS. Two US officials who spoke to the Reuters news agency and a Congressional staffer said to be informed about the initial contacts with HTS explained that the Biden administration called on HTS to conduct an inclusive process for establishing a transitional government instead of automatically taking over the country's leadership.

The transfer of power in Syria took place yesterday, and Mohammed al-Bashir announced to the public that he would serve as prime minister of the transitional government in Syria until March 1, 2025. 

US ADMINISTRATION ALSO IN CONTACT WITH TRUMP

According to the report, communication with HTS, which is on the US 'terrorist organization' list, is being conducted in coordination with US allies in the Middle East, including Turkey. One of the officials speaking to the agency provided information that the Washington administration is also in contact with President-elect Donald Trump. It was stated that the contacts, which reportedly took place over the last few days, are part of the Washington administration's efforts to coordinate with various groups within Syria. An official who spoke on condition of anonymity stated that the US sent messages to HTS to help guide the initial efforts to establish a formal government structure in Syria. 

On the other hand, sources refused to comment on whether the messages in question were sent directly or through an intermediary. According to the officials, the Washington administration believes that the transitional government in Syria should represent the desires of the Syrian people. The officials also noted that the US administration does not support HTS taking control without a formal process being conducted for the selection of new leaders. The US National Security Council declined to comment on the matter. 

WHAT WILL BE THE FATE OF AL-JOLANI?

The US designated HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani (Ahmed al-Sharaa) as a 'terrorist' in 2013. The official who spoke to Reuters stated that the US is not clear about al-Jolani's role in a future Syrian government or whether he still holds 'extremist ideologies'.

According to information shared with Reuters by a Congressional staffer, some lawmakers are currently pressuring the US administration to lift sanctions on Syria; it is stated that this includes sanctions linked to HTS. Accordingly, these lawmakers want the sanctions to be lifted on the condition that HTS meets certain US demands. 

The Congressional staffer stated that there is a growing sentiment among some members of Congress that the US should help the transitional government in Syria connect with the global economy and assist in the reconstruction of the country. One of the US officials speaking to the agency added that the US is in communication with HTS and other actors on the ground regarding battlefield operations.

WILL THE US REMOVE HTS FROM THE 'TERRORIST ORGANIZATION' LIST?

Meanwhile, reports in the US press have claimed that the US administration is evaluating ways to remove Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is still on the 'foreign terrorist organizations' list, from the 'terror list' in order to work with the 'new administration in Syria'.

According to the report based on two senior US officials who spoke to NBC News and were not named, the Joe Biden administration is working on possible scenarios regarding the status of HTS. According to the report, the US administration is conducting the necessary evaluations for the removal of HTS, which is still on the foreign terrorist organizations list, from this list.

While one of the officials who made a statement expressed that HTS could be removed from the terror list 'soon', the other official stated that they are still in the early stages of the evaluation process. The officials stated that the purpose of this step is to facilitate the ability of the US and other countries to work comfortably with the 'new administration in Syria'. The officials stated that in this context, the 10 million dollar reward placed on al-Jolani's head could also be removed.

The US Department of State, in its latest statement on the matter, had noted that there is currently no policy change regarding the removal of HTS from the 'terror list'.

News Source: 12punto