In a significant development in the Syrian conflict, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that US officials are in direct contact with the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a critical role in ousting President Bashar al-Assad. This interaction marks a shift in US diplomatic strategy as Washington engages with the new de facto authority in Syria, previously designated a terrorist organization. Blinken acknowledged that the US has pressed Syrian rebels to support the establishment of an inclusive government and hinted at discussions regarding the potential removal of HTS from terror lists. These contacts come amidst broader considerations by the US and UK on how to navigate their relations with the newly established leadership in Syria, raising questions about the future of HTS and its classification in the international community.