By Eric Vandenbroeck and co-workers

The Syria of Today

In the early hours of Dec. 8, the Assad dynasty’s more than half a century of brutal rule in Syria came to an end.

The US has made "direct contact" with the HTS rebels who now control Syria after toppling the Assad regime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

It is the first acknowledgment of direct American contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US currently still designates as a terrorist organization.

Blinken was speaking in Jordan after talks with representatives from several Arab countries, Turkey, and Europe to discuss the future of Syria.

Officials agreed to support a peaceful transition process in the country, with Jordan's foreign minister saying that regional powers did not want to see it "descend into chaos".

The new administration in Syria should be given a chance to govern following their constructive messages, and Turkey stands ready to provide military training if such help is requested, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said.

NATO member Turkey backed the Syrian rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad last weekend, ending a 13-year civil war. Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, two days after its intelligence chief visited the Syrian capital.

"In their first statement, the new administration that toppled Assad announced that it would respect all government institutions, the United Nations, and other international organizations," Guler told reporters in Ankara in comments authorized for publication on Sunday.

"We think that we need to see what the new administration will do and to give them a chance."

When asked whether Turkey was considering military cooperation with the new Syrian government, Guler said Ankara already had military cooperation and training agreements with many countries.

"(Turkey) is ready to provide the necessary support if the new administration requests it," he added.

Since 2016, Turkey has mounted four military operations across growing swathes of northern Syria, citing threats to its national security.

Turkey is estimated to maintain a few thousand troops in towns including Afrin, Azez, and Jarablus in northwestern Syria and Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad in the northeast.

Many are busy declaring winners and losers of this pivotal moment. Drawing a list of losers at this stage is relatively easy. The regime itself, Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah are among them. However, drawing a list of winners is not as straightforward. Although Assad’s fall has significantly boosted Turkey’s influence and stature in Syria and in broader regional geopolitics, HTS, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel faction that led the offensive that toppled him, is not a Turkish proxy. That said, Ankara remained committed to the Syrian opposition groups during difficult times and now has significant influence over HTS and the ability to affect its actions and decisions.

A joint communique called for an inclusive Syrian government that respects the rights of minorities and does not offer a base for "terrorist groups".

The talk both inside and outside Syria after the tumultuous events of recent weeks has been of the vital importance of setting up new governance that represents all Syrians.

At the meeting in Jordan, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed concern over Syria's future shared across the Middle East and beyond.

He said regional players did not want to see another Libya - referring to the chaos that ensued after Colonel Gaddafi's removal from power.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said existing Syrian institutions must be preserved and reformed.

"Never allow terrorism to take advantage of the transition period. And we have to coordinate our efforts and learn from the mistakes of the past," Fidan said according to Reuters news agency.

 

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