Blinken Kicks Off Syria Crisis Tour with Arrival in Jordan

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan on Thursday to begin a diplomatic mission in the wake of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s removal from power. Blinken’s first stop was Aqaba, where he met with King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss the rapidly changing situation in Syria. He is also scheduled to travel to Turkey on Friday for further talks with Turkish officials. While the main focus of these discussions will be Syria, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has caused significant destruction since October 2023, will also be addressed.

Blinken’s visit follows a series of high-level U.S. engagements in the region in response to Assad’s ouster. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and a senior military commander have already visited the Middle East in recent days. This comes amid ongoing airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel aimed at countering the Islamic State group and securing chemical weapons to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

During his meetings, Blinken is expected to emphasize the importance of a peaceful transition in Syria that respects the rights of minority groups, facilitates humanitarian aid, and ensures Syria does not become a haven for terrorism or pose a threat to neighboring countries. The U.S. has expressed its willingness to support a new Syrian government that meets these criteria, particularly if it can secure and eliminate chemical weapons stockpiles.

Despite the ongoing shifts, U.S. officials clarified that they are not actively reconsidering the terrorist designation of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian rebel group with historical ties to al-Qaida. However, they remain open to dialogue with its members, even as they stress that HTS is still considered a foreign terrorist organization.