Top diplomats from the United States, the Arab League, and Turkey convened in Jordan on Saturday to discuss aiding Syria’s transition following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s government a week prior. No representatives from Syria were present.
The Assad regime’s downfall, ending over 50 years of family rule, has raised fresh concerns about regional instability amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite a fragile ceasefire.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that American officials have directly engaged with the Syrian insurgent group responsible for toppling Assad, despite its classification as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. and others.
In a Syrian TV interview, the insurgent leader did not confirm contact with U.S. officials but issued a warning to Israel regarding the hundreds of airstrikes it conducted in Syria in the past week.
The United States is also intensifying efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, where over 2 million Palestinians are facing a dire humanitarian crisis.
Syria Meeting Calls for Peace and Political Transition
A joint statement from a ministerial meeting on Syria’s future urged all parties to cease hostilities and endorsed a locally driven political transition.
The statement, issued after the Jordan meeting attended by Arab nations, the U.S., Turkey, and the European Union, emphasized preventing extremist groups’ resurgence in Syria and ensuring chemical weapons stockpiles are safely dismantled. It also reaffirmed Syria’s territorial integrity.
Arab foreign ministers separately called for U.N.-supervised elections based on a new Syrian constitution while condemning recent Israeli incursions into the buffer zone with Syria, labeling them a “heinous occupation” and demanding Israeli troop withdrawal.
Hezbollah Supply Line Disrupted by Assad’s Fall
BEIRUT — Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Kassem, stated that the fall of Bashar Assad severed a crucial supply line, but he expressed confidence in finding alternative methods for weapon delivery.
Hezbollah, which sent thousands of fighters to support Assad, had long relied on Syria for arms transported from Iran. In a televised speech, Kassem said Syria’s new leadership might reopen supply routes or force Hezbollah to seek alternatives. He also urged the new authorities in Damascus to maintain enmity toward Israel.
Syrian Rebel Leader Issues Israel Warning Amid Airstrikes
DAMASCUS — Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that led the Syrian uprising, stated that his faction does not seek conflict with Israel. However, in a televised statement, he criticized Israel for surpassing “rules of engagement” by launching approximately 400 airstrikes, severely damaging Syrian military assets.
Al-Sharaa noted the new Syrian leadership’s engagement with Western embassies and its plans for reconstruction and development, without offering specifics. He urged Russia, Assad’s former ally, to reexamine relations with the Syrian people and emphasized that the authorities hold no hostility toward the Iranian people.
U.S. Acknowledges Contact With Syrian Rebels
AQABA, Jordan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed direct contact between American officials and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, despite the group’s longstanding designation as a foreign terrorist organization. Speaking in Jordan, Blinken stressed the importance of communicating with HTS about governance during the transitional period but withheld detailed discussions.
Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 in Gaza
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian medical sources reported at least 10 fatalities from an Israeli airstrike that struck a municipal meeting in central Gaza. The attack targeted Deir al-Balah’s municipal complex as officials prepared to coordinate the delivery of UAE-provided vehicles.
Victims included a mother, her 5-year-old daughter, and Diab al-Garu, head of the municipality, according to the local hospital. The complex housed a Hamas-run interior ministry building and a bustling market at the time of the strike.
Turkey Reopens Embassy in Damascus
ISTANBUL — Turkey reopened its Syrian embassy on Saturday, marking the first diplomatic mission to resume operations since Assad’s fall. Previously a critical backer of Syrian insurgents, Turkey restored its presence in Damascus after a 12-year hiatus that began during the civil war.
Blinken Concludes Middle East Tour
AQABA, Jordan — Wrapping up his regional tour, Blinken stressed the necessity of an inclusive Syrian government that upholds women’s and minority rights while eradicating Assad-era chemical weapons stockpiles. After meeting U.N. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, Blinken underscored the importance of a U.N.-led political process ensuring institutional stability and timely humanitarian aid delivery.
Pedersen echoed Blinken’s remarks, emphasizing a “credible and inclusive political process” to unify Syrian communities and safeguard state institutions. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry reiterated support for reconstructing Syria while preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity.