Following the visit of British officials to Syria and the European Union’s announcement of resuming “full operations” at its embassy in Damascus, the United States is also preparing to send its own diplomatic delegation to meet with leaders of the Syrian opposition, demonstrating Washington’s determination to maintain a foothold in Syria.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday (December 19) that the US is considering dispatching American officials to Syria to urge for a stable political transition.
“We have been in direct contact, and we are also considering sending personnel to Syria for on-the-ground assessment,” Blinken expressed. “We need to see concrete actions, not just positive declarations.”
After the successful overthrow of the Syrian Assad regime by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leading the rebel forces, it has indicated its intention to support a transition in Syria towards an “inclusive and non-sectarian” government.
However, the HTS is currently designated as a terrorist organization by the US government, and the US and other countries have yet to lift the stringent sanctions imposed on Syria during the Assad rule.
“Direct communication is crucial,” Blinken said. “It’s important that we clearly articulate our views, listen to theirs, and ensure that we do our best to understand their direction and thoughts. Therefore, we are considering achieving this goal in the coming days.”
On the same day Blinken made the above remarks, the Pentagon announced that it has doubled the number of US troops stationed in northeastern Syria from about 900 to 2,000.
The Pentagon did not provide a specific date for the operation but stated that the additional troops were deployed before the fall of the Assad regime.
Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder explained during a briefing that the disclosure of these numbers at this time was due to “sensitivity from a diplomatic and operational security standpoint.”
He stated that the additional 1,100 personnel are considered “temporary rotational forces,” usually staying in the conflict zone for 30 to 90 days, and their deployment aims to fulfill missions in the US Central Command’s area of responsibility.
In contrast, the other 900 personnel are regarded as “core” military assets, conducting long-term deployments typically lasting around 9 to 12 months.
In a statement released by the United States last week, it was mentioned that if the new Syrian government meets certain conditions, the US is prepared to recognize this regime. Conditions include forming an inclusive, non-sectarian leadership; respecting minorities and women; destroying all remaining chemical weapons; and ensuring that Syria does not support terrorism.
In Thursday’s discussion, Blinken also emphasized that the national security teams of the outgoing and incoming administrations maintain “very close contact.” He has already met with his designated successor Senator Marco Rubio, and President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has also held talks with Congressman Mike Waltz, the successor of Trump’s administration.
“We not only engage in good conversations, we also strive to work together as much as possible,” he said.
“Countries around the world are eager to hear the opinions of the incoming government, and that’s quite normal,” Blinken said. “They want to know what might happen so they can be prepared.”