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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Guardian staff and agencies

Antony Blinken confirms ‘direct’ US contact with Syria’s rebel rulers HTS

Antony Blinken HTS United States Syria European Union Jordan Turkey
Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, speaks with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state during talks on Syria’s future in Aqaba, Jordan
Turkey's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, speaks with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state during talks on Syria’s future in Aqaba, Jordan. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Reuters

Antony Blinken said the US had made “direct contact” with Syria’s victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels as western and Arab states along with Turkey jointly voiced support for a united, peaceful Syria.

The US secretary of state’s comment is despite Washington having designated the HTS rebels as terrorists in 2018.

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