Blinken confirms US contact with Syrian rebel group

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that U.S. officials have been in “direct contact” with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian opposition group that effectively led to the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in the country, the Associated Press reported. “Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken said Saturday…