U.S. Has Been In Direct Contact With Syrian Rebel Group That Ousted Assad, Blinken Says

The United States is in direct communication with a Syrian rebel group aiming to oust President Bashar al-Assad, according to a top American diplomat. Antony Blinken, the Deputy National Security Advisor, revealed this in a recent interview. He specified that the US is not providing any military support to this group but is instead offering non-lethal aid, such as medical and food supplies. Blinken also emphasized that the US's primary focus remains on tackling the Islamic State, not on toppling the Assad regime.

Despite the US's reluctance to get involved militarily, it has provided training to moderate Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State. However, this program has been criticized for its lack of success, with only a handful of trained fighters actually in Syria. The US government is also facing criticism for not doing enough to help the Syrian people who are suffering due to the ongoing civil war.

While the US is in dialogue with the rebel group, Blinken stressed that a political solution is the only way to resolve the Syrian crisis. He reiterated that the US is committed to a political transition in Syria that will result in a government that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Syrian people. He also stated that the US continues to work with its allies and partners to increase pressure on the Assad regime.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime has been criticized internationally for its brutal crackdown on protests and reported use of chemical weapons against its own people. The civil war in Syria has been ongoing since 2011, with various rebel groups fighting against the government. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and forced millions of Syrians to flee their homes.

The US's decision to communicate directly with a Syrian rebel group indicates a possible shift in its approach to the Syrian crisis. However, Blinken's statements make it clear that the US's primary focus remains on defeating the Islamic State and that it is not planning to provide military support to the rebels.