Earlier this month, HTS, Syria’s main rebel group, seized Damascus and toppled the Assad regime, effectively ending the Syria civil war which had erupted in 2011.
(File)
Syria civil war: In a major development in the ongoing situation in Syria after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, the United States has decided to double its troops in the war-torn country and is also mulling to engage in talks with Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel outfit which is seemingly at the helm of affairs in Damascus after the toppling of Assad.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who appeared on Bloomberg’s Surveillance show that the Biden administration has increased the US presence in Syria by deploying more troops. According to reports, the number of US forces in northeastern Syria has been increased from 900 to 2,000.
US mulls talks with al-Julani
In a surprising move, the US is considering engaging in talks with HTS chief Abu Mohammad al-Julani– a former al-Qaeda and Islamic State operative who is wanted by America and carries a $10 million bounty on his head. Blinken confirmed that the US had contacted HTS, a Turkey-backed rebel group which it has tagged as a terrorist organization.
In a statement last week, the US asserted that it is ready to recognize the new government in Syria, “if certain conditions are me”. Some of these conditions outlined by the US and its allies include the formation of non-sectarian leadership, respect for minorities and women and elimination of chemical weapons.
Notably, al-Julani has dropped hints of trying to get in the US’ good books. In a recent interview with The Times, the HTS leader told the UK-based newspaper that Syria will not pose a threat to Israel. Julani said has the HTS has “no intention to engage in a conflict with Israel”, and the Jewish nation, “no longer has any reason” to continue its attacks or intervene in Syria’s affairs.
Experts believe that Julani’s statement is an attempt to gain recognition from the US because he realizes that attacking Israel would mean a confrontation with Tel Aviv’s powerful Western ally.
Will Todman, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, termed the recent development in Syria as “unexpected”. “Now, there are definitely a lot of questions about the direction the new government in Syria will take. It would be too early to say anything at this point, we will have to look towards Damascus right now.”
Why US strengthened its position in Syria?
Syria turned in to a literal free-for-all, almost immediately after the fall of Assad regime, with Israel, Turkey, and the US moving swiftly to achieve their respective goals in the region. While Israel launching a massive operation to wipe out Syria’s military infrastructure and occupied the Mount Hermon peak, Turkey launched attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rebel group in the northeast, a move which irked the US.
The US has now more than doubled the number of its troops in northeastern Syria, which now stand at 2,000 from the previous 900. It also fears the Turkey may use the current situation in Syria to its advantage and try to occupy Syrian areas around its border.
The US wants to prevent Turkey from becoming stronger in the region and to that end, the Biden administration is now mulling to build some sort of relationship with Syria’s future government by initiating talks with the HTS.
Earlier this month, HTS, Syria’s main rebel group, seized Damascus and toppled the Assad regime, effectively ending the Syria civil war which had erupted in 2011.