US Engages Directly with Syrian Rebels Post-Assad

The US has acknowledged direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group that recently led an offensive to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite HTS being designated a terrorist organization. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US and its allies have agreed on principles for a Syrian-led political transition. The fall of Assad, who fled to Russia, has created both jubilation and uncertainty in Syria. The US, which has troops in Syria, is focusing on immediate humanitarian needs amid the country's economic collapse and diverse sectarian landscape.