The Biden administration continued to signal this week it might recognize the rebel-led government that overthrew the Syrian dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday.
"The transition process and new government must also uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any chemical or biological weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday, apparently outlining normalization conditions for the newly appointed interim prime minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, who is tasked with managing the country’s civil affairs.
Blinken’s sentiments were shared by other White House officials, with spokespersons from the U.S. National Security Council and State Department also indicating that Washington could offer support if pro-Western criteria are met.
Recognition of the new leadership in Damascus could potentially lead to the removal of harsh U.S. economic sanctions imposed in various forms on Syria since 1979, when the Ba'athist regime was first labeled a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism.’ Additional restrictions followed over the years due to its ongoing support for terrorist groups, human rights abuses, and the use of chemical weapons on civilians during the nation's prolonged civil war.
Complicating matters is the leading insurgent contingent, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist faction previously associated with both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Since 2018, it has been classified by the State Department as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization.’ The group's commander and de facto ruler of Syria, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, fought U.S. soldiers in Iraq and has a $10 million reward for his capture.
Following al-Assad’s removal, al-Golani and his associates have reassured minority communities in the region of their safety, released political prisoners, granted amnesty to certain former military personnel, and committed to cooperating with international bodies regarding the management of the chemical weapons stockpile left behind by the dissolved armed forces.
During a December 6 interview with CNN, the 42-year-old was asked about his previous jihadist affiliations and asserted that he had transformed, stating, “A person in their twenties will have a different personality than someone in their thirties or forties, and certainly someone in their fifties. This is human nature.”
While the comments may offer reassurance to Western foreign ministries, Israel may be growing concerned after a recent video shared by Althawra Network Media on December 8, which purportedly shows al-Golani’s fighters proclaiming their goal of capturing the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem while celebrating their battlefield successes.
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