Britain has reached out to the Syrian rebels who introduced down Bashir-al Assad’s regime, David Lammy confirmed final night time.
The International Secretary mentioned the UK has had ‘diplomatic contact’ with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which spearheaded the overthrowing of the Syrian president this month.
It comes following days of confusion about whether or not Britain can and may have significant contact with HTS whereas it stays a banned terrorist group.
However chatting with Sky Information final night time, Mr Lammy mentioned: ‘HTS stays a proscribed organisation, however we will have diplomatic contact and so we do have diplomatic contact as you’ll count on.’
Relating to what ought to substitute the Assad regime, he added: ‘We need to see a consultant, an inclusive [new] authorities.
‘We need to see chemical weapons stockpiles secured and never used and we need to guarantee that there’s not persevering with violence.
‘And so for all of these causes, utilizing all of the channels that we’ve out there…we search to cope with HTS the place we’ve to.’
Requested whether or not the UK might quickly take away them from the banned terror record, he mentioned: ‘This was an organisation that got here out of Al-Qaeda.
Syrians purchase bread within the city of Douma on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on December 15, 2024
An aerial image exhibits protesters dragging a toppled statue of late president Hafez al-Assad on the road throughout a scholar rally close to the campus of the Damascus College within the Syrian capital on December 15, 2024
£30 million shall be channelled inside Syria for meals, shelter and emergency healthcare, whereas £10 million will go to the World Meals Programme (WFP) in Lebanon and £10 million to WFP and the UN’s refugee company
Since then, Western governments have debated how one can cope with HTS, which is a proscribed organisation within the UK due to its closeness to al Qaida.
Its present chief Ahmad al-Sharaa, who had used the alias Mohammed al-Golani earlier than taking energy, has tried to distance his motion from the terrorist group.
There’s additionally concern {that a} energy vacuum in Syria might exacerbate regional tensions and create situations for the so-called Islamic State group to regain floor.
International Secretary David Lammy mentioned: ‘The autumn of the horrific Assad regime gives a once-in-a-generation likelihood for the folks of Syria.
‘We’re dedicated to supporting the Syrian folks as they chart a brand new course, first by offering £50 million in new meals, healthcare and help to assist the humanitarian wants of susceptible Syrians. Second, by working diplomatically to assist safe higher governance in Syria’s future.
‘This weekend the UK and its companions got here collectively to agree the ideas required to assist a Syrian-led transitional political course of. It’s vital that the long run Syrian authorities brings collectively all teams to ascertain the steadiness and respect the Syrian folks deserve.’
Sir Keir Starmer on Friday advised a digital assembly of the G7 leaders that ‘the autumn of (Bashar) Assad’s brutal regime ought to be welcomed however we have to be cautious about what comes subsequent’.
In an announcement on Thursday, the leaders mentioned they had been dedicated to ‘work with and totally assist’ a future Syrian authorities that agreed to make sure ‘respect for the rule of regulation, common human rights, together with girls’s rights, the safety of all Syrians, together with spiritual and ethnic minorities, transparency and accountability’.
‘Al-Qaeda is answerable for an incredible lack of life on British soil. We’ll decide them by their actions. I gained’t touch upon future proscription however after all we recognise that this is a vital second for Syria.
Syrian Air Drive helicopter munitions (these bins labelled warhead) and Russian-made rockets saved on the Mezzeh Army Airport close to the capital stay untouched by greater than 500 Israeli strikes towards navy targets throughout Syria because the fall of the Assad regime, on December 15, 2024 in Damascus, Syria
Discarded previous Syrian Air Drive planes are left beside the tarmac on the Mezzeh Army Airport, as Israel mounts greater than 500 Israeli strikes towards navy targets throughout Syria because the fall of the Assad regime, on December 15, 2024 in Damascus, Syria
A view of Port of Latakia as elimination of wreckage of Syrian navy vessels destroyed by Israeli airstrikes accomplished and port is about to reopened to function in Latakia, Syria on December 15, 2024
‘There’s enormous hope on the streets of Syria…we’re signing as much as an inclusive alternative that’s Syrian-led and Syrian-owned.’
It comes after it emerged that the US additionally held direct talks with HTS.
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, mentioned on the weekend after the talks that Syria’s new authorities should reject terrorism and destroy the previous dictator’s chemical weapons stockpiles.
It should additionally respect girls and minority rights, he mentioned, including that his message to the Syrian folks was that ‘we wish them to succeed and we’re ready to assist them accomplish that’.
The rebel leaders of HTS, which was as soon as an affiliate of Al Qaeda, say the group has damaged with its extremist previous.
It comes after the UK introduced £50 million of humanitarian help for susceptible Syrians throughout the Center East after the overthrow of Bashar Assad’s regime.
The emergency assist shall be delivered by the UN and NGO companies to folks within the nation, in addition to to refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, the International Workplace mentioned.
Britain on Saturday joined talks in Aqaba, hosted by Jordan and attended by ministers and delegates from the US, France, Germany, the Arab Contact Group, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the EU and UN.
They agreed on the significance of a ‘non-sectarian and consultant authorities’, defending human rights, unfettered entry for humanitarian help, the protected destruction of chemical weapons, and combatting terrorism.
‘The UK urges the transitional authorities to stick to those ideas to construct a extra hopeful, safe and peaceable Syria,’ the International Workplace mentioned on Sunday.
Some £120,000 of UK funding has additionally been made out there to the Organisation of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the division mentioned.
One other £30 million shall be channelled inside Syria for meals, shelter and emergency healthcare, whereas £10 million will go to the World Meals Programme (WFP) in Lebanon and £10 million to WFP and the UN’s refugee company, UNHCR in Jordan.
The intervention comes every week after the collapse of the Assad regime following a lightning offensive by insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
