US Eyes Ground Delegation to Syria Amid Positive Signals from Rebel Group
Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed Thursday that the United States is considering sending officials to Syria for the first time in years following positive signals from the rebel group that ousted President Bashar al-Assad, Bloomberg reports.
Blinken said that the US is in direct contact with the rebel group and is actively exploring deploying a ground delegation to the country.
“We’ve been in direct contact, and we’re also looking at getting people on the ground in Syria,” Blinken said. “We need to see concrete action, not simply positive declarations.”
He emphasized that any further engagement would depend on verifiable progress toward a smooth political transition. The details of the potential deployment, including the size of the delegation and its timeline, remain undisclosed.
Blinken’s comments mark a significant development in US policy towards Syria, suggesting a potential shift toward greater engagement with the rebel-controlled areas. The lack of direct US presence on the ground in Syria for an extended period has been a significant impediment to influencing the political landscape.
Separately, Blinken expressed optimism regarding a potential cease-fire in the Gaza Strip conflict. He attributed this increased likelihood to the recent weakening of Iran and Hezbollah, key backers of Hamas. “We’ve all been fanning out, working with all of the different partners who can make a difference,” Blinken said in reference to ongoing diplomatic efforts. He did not elaborate on specifics of these efforts but alluded to broad-based international collaboration.
