UK contacts Syrian rebels, pledges £50million aid

The United Kingdom (UK) has resolved to provide £50million in international aid to help Syrians.

This was disclosed by David Lammy Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom.

According to SkyNews, the UK also had “diplomatic contact” with the rebel group in Syria that ousted Bashar al Assad,

Asked if the government had been in contact with the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Mr Lammy said:

“HTS remains a proscribed organisation, but we can have diplomatic contact and so we do have diplomatic contact, as you would expect.”

He added that the UK wants to see a “representative government, an inclusive government” running the country.

“We want to see chemical weapons stockpiles secured and not used. And we want to ensure that there is not continuing violence,” he said.

“And so for all of those reasons, using all the channels that we have available and those of diplomatic and, of course, intelligence led channels, we seek to deal with HTS where we have to.”

HTS is a former affiliate of al Qaeda, known then as the Nusra Front.

Its founder, Ahmad al Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, broke away from al Qaeda in 2016 to appear more moderate.

The UK, US, Russia, and Turkey all classify it as a terrorist group.

Recall that the administration of President Joe Biden had also acknowledged contact with the terrorist group.

Saturday’s statement, delivered by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was the first time the Biden administration has publicly confirmed talks with the group.

Such talks are sensitive. HTS has been designated as a “foreign terrorist organisation” in the US since 2018, and the US largely avoids negotiations with such groups.

The Assad overthrow…

The removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria occurred on December 8, 2024, after a rapid rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus.

The Syrian president fled the country, reportedly departing from Damascus International Airport, as opposition forces secured key facilities, including the state-media General Organization of Radio and TV building and Damascus International Airport.

This marked the end of Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule and the collapse of his regime.

The fall of Assad’s regime was met with widespread celebrations in Damascus, particularly in Umayyad Square, a symbolic center of government authority.

The Syrian National Coalition hailed the development as a “new era” for Syria, while HTS declared the country “liberated” and promised a “new Syria” where “everyone lives in peace and justice prevails”.

The international community, including the United States, Turkey, and Qatar, has reacted to the development, with some expressing hope for peace and stability in Syria after 13 years of conflict

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