London seeks diplomatic routes: Contact with Syrian group HTS

In a remarkable diplomatic development, the United Kingdom has made contact with the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which succeeded in toppling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last week. This was announced by British Foreign Minister David Lammy on Sunday. Despite the fact that HTS is still considered a banned organization, Lammy emphasizes the necessity of diplomatic interaction: "We are using all available channels, whether diplomatic or intelligence-based, to negotiate with HTS where necessary." The British government appears to be taking a pragmatic approach in handling the politically sensitive situation in Syria. The United States has also established direct contacts with HTS, as confirmed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday. These initiatives show that both countries are prepared to use unconventional means to respond to the new realities in the Syrian power structure. The international reactions to these contacts remain to be seen; however, the developments could have far-reaching effects on the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.