Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed direct U.S. contact with Syria’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) rebels, signaling a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Syria’s governance. Despite HTS’s terrorist designation, discussions focus on supporting Syria’s transition away from Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that the U.S. has made direct contact with Syria’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) rebels, as they transition from a militant insurgency toward a more legitimate governing authority.