Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide revealed that the Biden administration encouraged Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham to engage in a process for forming a transitional government rather than leading the country. U.S. contacts with the group are coordinated with Washington’s allies in the Middle East, including Turkey. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized U.S. support for a political transition that respects minority rights, asserting that the Syrian people will determine the future of Syria, and called for safe removal of chemical weapons.