The United States has been in direct contact with Syrian rebel groups including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is now the country’s dominant force following the collapse of the long-ruling Assad regime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday.
This marks the first public confirmation of direct interaction between the United States and designated terror group HTS, and comes at the conclusion of Blinken’s diplomatic trip in the region amid Syria’s rapid political upheaval.
“Yes, we’ve been in contact with HTS and other parties,” Blinken said at a press conference in Jordan. The communication, he said, was part of renewed efforts to locate American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria 12 years ago.
Blinken did not provide specific details, such as when the contact was made, at what level, or whether those discussions extended beyond the search for Tice.
Tice, a Houston native, is 43 years old if he is still alive. According to a website maintained by his family, Tice graduated from Georgetown University, served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, and later returned to Georgetown to pursue a law degree. […]
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