Qatar initiates talks with Syria's HTS group, sparking regional discussions

Photo : AP

Qatar has started talking with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a big rebel group in Syria. HTS recently took control in Syria, causing the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. Qatar’s leaders spoke with HTS on Monday as many countries in the region try to deal with Syria’s changes.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel  

Qatar plans to meet Mohamed al-Bashir, the new leader of Syria, on Tuesday. He was chosen just one day earlier. Qatar wants to help keep peace in Syria and make sure important services like schools and hospitals keep working. Qatar is asking HTS to stay calm and protect these services during this big change.

Other countries are also trying to connect with HTS and other rebel groups now in charge of Syria. Assad left Syria and went to Russia, ending over 50 years of his family’s rule, including 13 years of war. Iran, which supported Assad, has also started talks with Syria’s new leaders. It’s not clear if Iran is talking to HTS or another group.

Qatar’s foreign ministry hasn’t made an official comment yet. But Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a top Qatari official, said Qatar is speaking with several groups in Syria. He said on Al Jazeera that Qatar is always open to talking with everyone to help bring peace. He didn’t say which groups Qatar is talking to.

This comes after a big meeting in Qatar. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Russia came together to talk about Syria’s new situation and how to handle the changes.

HTS was once linked to Al Qaeda. Many countries, like the US, EU, Turkey, and the UN, still call HTS a terrorist group. But Qatar and others believe they need to work with HTS to keep peace and stability in Syria.

Qatar’s goal is to help Syria stay peaceful and support its new leadership. By talking with everyone involved, Qatar hopes that important services will keep running and the change will happen without problems.