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The Syrian rebel group that overthrew the Assad regime has had “diplomatic contact” with the British government, according to Foreign Secretary David Lammy. He clarified that while Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is still considered a proscribed terrorist organisation, diplomatic contacts with them are still possible. The US has also made direct contact with the HTS rebels, revealed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this month.
The foreign secretary’s announcement coincided with the UK government’s decision to provide £50m humanitarian aid for vulnerable Syrians. In a statement made on Sunday, Lammy said that the UK hopes to see a representative and inclusive government in Syria, the preservation of chemical weapons stockpiles, and an end to violence in the region.
Lammy emphasised that the government planned to use all channels of diplomacy, including intelligence-led channels, where they needed to engage with HTS. However, it does not mean that Lammy himself had interacted with the rebel group.
The issue of how to deal with the HTS is contentious, as the group is still viewed as a terrorist entity by some nations. Nevertheless, the UK and US appear to have taken a more flexible approach in interacting with the guerrilla group since their recent ascendancy to power
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