Syria: The US sent a delegation for the first time in more than ten years to meet with the leader of the rebels

Diplomats of USA They met this Friday at Syria with the group authorities Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The objective was to promote the reunification of the country after more than 13 years of civil war and the result of the meeting was “positive”, according to what was stated by the new Syrian interim government. The delegation was traveling in a convoy of 4×4 vehicles registered in Jordan and flying the American flag.

The meeting was with the new leader of Syria, Abu Mohamed al-Golanias well as “positive,” according to an official from the new Syrian interim government told the AFP agency. It is about the first contact between the United States and the new Syrian leaderswho took power after the fall of President Bashar Al Assad, on December 8.

Now, the head of the radical Sunni group HTS heads the coalition that took power in Syria.

The American envoys arrived on Friday at the headquarters of Al-Golani’s interim government and they also plan to meet with representatives of civil society to discuss “in their future vision for the country and how the United States can help them”, according to the State Department.

The American delegation is led by Barbara Leaf, the person responsible for Middle East at the State Department, and Daniel Rubinsteina diplomat specializing in the Arab world who is now in charge of contacts with Syria.

The jihadist past of HTS, considered “terrorist” by the United States, generates concern in the international community, which fears for respect for human rights, minorities in the country and the future of the semi-autonomous Kurdish regions in the north.

Women are “absolutely indispensable” to rebuilding Syria, he said Friday Amy Popegeneral director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)a UN agency. Returning from Syria, Pope also called for “reevaluating” international sanctions to allow the reconstruction of the country. On Thursday, hundreds of people demonstrated in Damascus for democracy and women’s rights.

The Western powers seek to establish relations with the transitional authorities, aware of the risk of fragmentation of the country and the resurgence of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). Washington supports the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)dominated by the Kurds.

Syria: the Islamist group HTS will dissolve its armed wing after taking power in Damascus

The HTS group currently leads the coalition that took power in Syria, after overthrowing Bashir Al Assad. Its military chief said this Tuesday that “the next stage” would be the dissolution of the armed groupsstarting with yours, and integrate them into the Army.

In an interview in the coastal city of Latakiahe leader Murhaf Abu Qasraknown by the nom de guerre of Abu Hasan al Hamawifurther stated that the new power wants to extend its authority to the Kurdish areas of northeastern Syria and that “rejects federalism”.