US officials told the British newspaper, the Financial Times, that removing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from the terrorist lists is linked to ensuring the fate of chemical weapons and providing guarantees to combat terrorism.

In turn, the New York Times quoted analysts and former advisers to the US administration as saying that "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has recently shown some pragmatism, and that it is a conservative Islamic group that enjoys broad support inside Syria, but it cannot rule the country as a terrorist organization."

The newspaper added - quoting those sources - that "it will be difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to remain a mere observer as the features of Syria are formed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and Trump will have to consider the continued presence of about 900 American soldiers in eastern Syria."

For its part, the US State Department said that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will discuss with the leaders of Turkey and Jordan developments in Syria, Israel, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and the region.

Comprehensive transition

The ministry added that Blinken will affirm Washington's support for a comprehensive Syrian-led transition to a responsible government that represents all Syrians, and will also discuss the need for the new Syrian government to respect the rights of minorities and prevent terrorism on its territory.

Blinken will also discuss with the leaders of Türkiye and Jordan the need to secure and destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, and will emphasize Washington's support for Syria's neighbors during the transitional period and the need for protection for displaced Syrians.

In this context, the Wall Street Journal quoted an American administration official as saying that Washington exploited the overthrow of Assad to strike the remnants of the Islamic State organization, and also issued a threat that “organizations in Syria will be held accountable if they join the Islamic State organization.”

On November 27, the Syrian armed opposition factions launched their “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, starting from Idlib and Aleppo, then Hama and Homs, arriving in Damascus, which they entered at dawn last Sunday, announcing the fall of the Assad regime.