By Simon Lewis (JO:)
AQABA, Jordan (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah on Thursday as President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration pushes for an inclusive transition in neighboring Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
The highest U.S. diplomat, who will head to Turkey afterward Thursday, is within the area to hunt help and set up a unified method for ideas that Washington hopes will information the political transition in Syria following the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.
“It should be inclusive, non-sectarian,” Blinken informed reporters in Aqaba moments earlier than departing for Ankara, describing the factors for the transition course of. “It’s got to uphold and protect the rights of all Syrians, including minorities, including women,” he stated.
He additionally warned in opposition to Syria getting used as a base for terrorism and extremism by teams like ISIS, whereas reiterating the significance of making certain the nation’s chemical weapons stockpiles are secured and destroyed.
These ideas, Blinken stated, are important to success.
“(They are) also critical to unlocking international recognition, international support that Syria very much needs after decades of dictatorship, conflict, corruption, isolation,” Blinken stated.
Insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is enjoying a key function in Damascus after it led the overthrow of Assad, ending greater than 50 years of rule by the Assad household in a swift takeover after 13 years of civil warfare.
HTS was previously allied with al Qaeda and is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., European Union, Turkey and the U.N.
In Aqaba, Blinken and Abdullah additionally mentioned the necessity for a ceasefire deal in Israel’s warfare in Gaza that sees hostages launched, State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller stated.
Biden’s group is pushing for a deal between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas within the remaining weeks earlier than former President Donald Trump returns to the White Home on Jan. 20. However it’s unclear whether or not Biden has sufficient leverage within the area to safe main agreements earlier than he leaves workplace.
Biden administration officers have saved Trump’s aides up to date on their diplomatic efforts, however say they aren’t straight coordinating with the incoming administration.
Following the collapse of the Assad authorities, Israeli navy jets have performed a whole bunch of strikes on targets in southern Syria together with anti-aircraft batteries, navy airfields, weapons manufacturing websites, fight plane and missiles.
Blinken stated Israel was involved about any energy vacuum that may very well be stuffed by extremists however that Washington was chatting with the Israelis about the way in which forward.
“It’s also really important at this time that we all try to make sure that we’re not sparking any additional conflicts,” Blinken stated.
