US admits of having ‘direct contacts’ with Syrian rebel group HTS

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a US-designated terrorist group, following their overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Blinken emphasized conveying messages about governance during the transition, while HTS leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, hinted at contact with Western embassies.