Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that the US has been in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a US-designated terror organization that grew out of al-Qaeda in Syria and recently led the offensive that overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken said on Saturday, confirming earlier reports that said the US was talking to HTS. “Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we’re prepared to help them do so.”
HTS and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, are overseeing the new “transitional” government in Syria. Blinken and other US officials have celebrated the ouster of Assad and made clear they’re willing to work with Julani despite his past as an ISIS and al-Qaeda leader.
Julani, who has been going by his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has been presenting himself as a moderate in an effort to gain support from the West and began a rebranding campaign in 2016 by claiming his former group, the al-Nusra Front, was cutting ties with al-Qaeda. At the time, he thanked the “commanders of al-Qaeda for having understood the need to break ties.”
In 2017, Julani merged his group with several other Islamist factions to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2018. The US also placed a $10 million bounty on Julani’s head.
The Biden administration is reportedly considering removing the terror designation from HTS, which would allow the US to provide significant aid to an HTS-led government. Blinken released a statement a few days ago outlining conditions for US support.
“The United States reaffirms its full support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition. This transition process should lead to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance that meets international standards of transparency and accountability,” Blinken said.
While the US is flexible with HTS’s designation, it frequently points to the terror designations of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah to justify Israeli attacks that slaughter huge numbers of civilians.
Just like the CIA brining the worlds terrorists together in Afghanistan and creating Al Quida. Imagine that blowback is a mother.
“Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we’re prepared to help them do so.”
That is code word for we don't want to be shut out of the process taking place in Syria. We want to be there to meddle, use American tax dollars to cause division in the country, promote corrupt democracy and make sure we are protecting Israel. That is why the US wants to take HTS off the terrorist list and Blinken is an obvious liar.
When I heard Blinken say this I would say to the Syrian people: "Run if America offers help. It means that they will either occupy or be engaged in another 20 year war to take as much from you as they can".
There’s everything in life but don’t loose hope…
What international aid do you accept for the reconstruction of Syria? For example:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158201 UN envoy calls for increased aid for Syria in Damascus visit
https://www.undp.org/syria
https://www.refworld.org/policy/countrypos/unhcr/2024/en/149254 Position on Returns to the Syrian Arab Republic
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/syria
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/iimp-statement-families-must-be-center-search-missing-enar
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/empowering-farmers-successful-wheat-season-srtf-delivers-key-agricultural-support-ar-raqqa-and-deir-ez-zor
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/wfp-syria-emergency-response-external-situation-report-01-15-december-2024
https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/syria
https://www.idos-research.de/en/development-finance-turning-point/
https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/380.html Syria
https://www.ndb.int/investor-relations/
I don't know. Let's see what the Syrians accept. The government said it will be putting out more information on this in the days ahead.
ISIS under any different name would smell as sweet.
Short, sweet and much to the point!
Significant insights from Alistair Crooke, most of which we have read here, but he also points out that there is a big difference between Anatolian Sunni outlook and Levant Sunni outlook which will be a source of conflict in the future. Also, the final point that Andrew asks, this neocon plan we have seen played out, not only due to geopolitic strategy, but now, because of huge debt in the west, the neocons see the necessity to have more control over the energy deposits and pipelines as a hard asset to offset the enourmous debt
Add this to Pepe Escobar's insight that this fall of Syria is the first stage of a Brics War
We are so nice.
Al-Sharaa's comments in response to the Israeli attacks on Syria are more disturbing than HTS' contacts with Blinken. The entire world is shocked by the hundreds of unprovoked Israeli attacks and occupation of Syrian territory following the fall of Assad. But al-Sharaa claims that the Syrian people are too exhausted to engage Israel. And the HTS leadership has yet to say anything about solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.
It is disappointing that HTS has not made any strong statements opposing the Israeli aggression or supporting the Palestinian resistance. It is still too early to completely write of HTS or the rest of the anti-Assad resistance as pawns of the US, Turkey and the Zionists. But the clock is ticking and the world will rightly judge the new regime by what it does, says, or does not say in response to Israeli aggression against Syria and Palestine.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/15/israel-intensifies-syria-attacks-but-hts-leader-says-doesnt-want-conflict
Give it a maximum of two years. He is right the Syrian people are exhausted. The priority is to rebuild the country and earn the right to kick out all unwelcome foreigners. Israel has already taken advantage of the situation. Given the situation in Gaza and the ceasefire in Lebanon and with Iran neutralized, the new government doesn't want to give Israel. a pretext for further destruction. The Israelis will come to rue the day they entered Syrian territory.
Do you also describe the Turkish Sunni troops in northern Syria as unwelcome foreigners?
https://www.mfa.gov.tr/relations-between-turkiye%E2%80%93syria.en.mfa
https://anfenglishmobile.com/rojava-syria/latest-situation-on-the-tishrin-front-76906
https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/815378/dr-abdul-hakim-bashar-the-vice-president
https://rojavainformationcenter.org/2024/12/translation-daanes-syrian-dialogue/
The foreign Turkish forces are the least of the worries compared to the Israeli, American and Russian intervention. Turkey is on Syria's border. If the country stabilizes they will have to leave as well. And obviously if they are asked to stay by the Syrian government it's still legitimate under international law. Whenever the Kurds are approached in Islamic terms it attracts them but when nationalism rears its ugly head everyone loses.
Kurdish federalism does not mean nationalism.
https://kurdistanchronicle.com/babat/3168 Genuine Federalism: The Only True Path Towards Prosperity in Iraq
https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/815373/president-barzani-welcomes-ahmed-al-sharaas-statement-about-kurds
https://kurdistanchronicle.com/babat/2532 In the Throes of New Federalism: Kurdistan’s and Puerto Rico’s Constitutional Designs
https://brill.com/edcollchap-oa/book/9789004706590/BP000015.xml Iraqi Federalism and the Kurds: Learning to Live Together
I am for any arrangement that doesn't violate Islamic principles and brings about justice, peace and prosperity for the Kurds and everyone in the ME.
I understand that Syria has a lot of reconstruction to do before they are ready for war with Israel. But still it is disappointing that HTS is not making stronger verbal condemnation of the Israeli aggression or expressing rhetorical support for the Palestinian resistance.
If HTS has made time to develop diplomatic contacts with the Americans, the UK, France, the EU, Russia, China, Qatar and KSA then why don't we hear reports of HTS engagement with Iran, Yemen or the Palestinian Resistance?
It will not take two years to determine whether HTS and the new Syrian government intend to resist or collaborate with US/NATO/Israel genocide in Gaza.
The entire world is shocked by the hundreds of unprovoked Israeli attacks and occupation of Syrian territory following the fall of Assad.
Please, speak for yourself. I would think there were plenty of us that expected EXACTLY that.
End all foreign aid, full stop.
Because that always ends well
When did we try it?
He's on the receiving end.
I assume the two of them have been sleeping together for quite a while.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/watch-overnight-israeli-strike-syria-so-large-it-caused-earthquake
Neither the terrorists nor the Turkish military will have access to Syria's military equipment.
This story implies the US can supply Israel and Ukraine without experiencing munition shortages. Trained personnel are the exception.
RDX/HMX explosives probably form the basis in radioactive steel of the ammunition casing of the observed explosion.
https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/rdx-and-hmx-market.html
https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/1849564217/low-background-metal-pure-unadulterated-treasure
Ahmad al-Sharaa is a US/Israeli puppet who is asking Palestinian support groups in Syria to disarm. Giving legitimacy for a terrorist group if they capitulate to Israel's demands. Also Israel is deploying military robotic killing machines against Palestinians. In order to try to take away the genocide stigma from their military forces. NUTS
Turkey's Syrian Jihadists Take Over Syria: Kurds, Half a Million Christians Under Intolerable Threat.
"A former branch of Al Qaeda, in 2018, HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] was officially designated a terrorist organization by the US government. HTS, which cooperates with the Turkish military and Turkish-backed groups in Syria, is committed to establishing an Islamist state across Syria, at least for a start.
"Due to their public visibility, the leaders of historical church communities are particularly targeted for attacks or kidnapping in areas where Islamic militants are active… In areas controlled by radical Islamic groups, most of the church buildings belonging to the historical church communities have either been demolished or used as Islamic centers. Public expressions of Christian faith are prohibited, and church buildings or monasteries cannot be repaired or restored, regardless of whether the damage was collateral or intentional.
"Men in particular face the threat of abduction and killing, particularly if they are in a position of church leadership. Women also risk abduction, as well as the threat of sexual harassment and rape."
READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE. IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE CHRISTIANS THERE AS WELL AS IN PALESTINE. Remember this is what your taxes are being used for.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21215/turkey-syria-jihadists
The Biden-Harris administration is not ashamed dealing with a US-designated terrorist organization because it has no moral standing. It would deal with the Devil if this would serve Israel interests, in the Middle East. It has completely abandoned Syria's Christians to Islamists.
Unfortunately, this will likely be the same with the 'dealing' Donald.
Bibi and Donald already spoke about Greater Israel. Bibi in his arrogance already said that the Middle East of today looks different because of Israel's power for peace in the Middle East. And Donald and his son in law like new real estate holdings.
It would deal with the Devil if this would serve Israel interests, in the Middle East.
Or it would deal with Israel if it would serve the interests of the devil. They're interchangeable.
“Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we’re prepared to help them do so.”
Our previous message was "fuck you, die".
Because Iranian weapons can't be transferred via ground transportation to southern Lebanon through Syria, will the Houthis escalate missile launches against Israeli and US military and civilian ships within the Red Sea?
What about Israel's strategic land targets?
If the US attempted to overthrow Turkish President Erdogan in 2016, what's to stop Trump and Netanyahu from doing it again?
“Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we’re prepared to help them do so.”
Did the Syrian people vote on this? Is "success" getting your nation bombed to the Stone Ages? Your nation terrorized by a war criminal? Your nation overrun by "terrorist" proxy fighters of the USA, Israel and Turkey? The Syrian people soundly reject whatever is brought to their nation under the guise of "fighting for Syrian freedom" because they just LOST their freedom, courtesy of the USA and Israel! The USA and Israel just stepped on a rake, and the handle is on it's way up to their heads!
Correct Title:
Blinken Confirms the US Is in BED With al-Qaeda-Linked HTS…!
I thought it was implicit that the US was in contact right from the beginning. How else can we believe any of this was possible?
Now for Mr. Blinken, and as he was quoted w.r.t. Gaza a while back, is he in Syria “as a Jew” or an American?