Acting US President Joe Biden warned Syria's main rebel group not to work with Islamic State terrorists in secret messages exchanged during the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The US president, using the Turkish government as a mediator, was assured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that it had no intention of allowing ISIS into their movement, according to Turkish and US officials.
HTS, which led the rebel uprising across Syria that toppled the Assad regime on Sunday, was once linked to al-Qaeda but claims to have become more moderate in recent years. HTS is designated a terrorist group by the US, UK and UN.
Biden is now discussing the extent to which the US should directly engage with Islamist-led rebel groups amid concerns that they could still join forces with jihadists, The New York Times reported.
In a televised address on Sunday, the outgoing president noted that some of the rebel groups had their own "dismal record of terrorism and human rights abuses."
"We have considered the statements of the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days, and they are saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibilities, we will evaluate not only their words but their actions," Biden said.
US officials have also discussed lifting a $10 million bounty on Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of HTS, a senior Arab official told Middle East Eye.
Biden's warning came as the US carried out precision airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria on Sunday and overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia pledged to hold talks with Syria's future leaders about the future of its military bases in the Middle East region.
The Kremlin said on Monday that it was too early to predict what stance HTS would take toward Russian military bases and facilities, including the Khmeimim air base in Latakia province and its naval base in the coastal city of Tartus.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that "it is premature to talk about this. All this is a topic for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria."
Western countries have widely welcomed the fall of Assad's brutal regime, but have been wary of HTS given its past terrorist ties.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was too soon to cooperate with HTS.
A senior cabinet minister has welcomed calls to remove the Syrian rebel group from the UK's terrorist list.
Pat McFadden, who oversees the cabinet office, said the government would consider designating HTS as a terrorist group.
A joint statement issued by the European Union called for a peaceful transition of power that is "Syrian-led."
Germany, meanwhile, said HTS would be judged based on how it treats Syrian minorities. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said that “in recent months and years, HTS has tried to distance itself from its jihadist origins and build civilian structures.”
HTS has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. A message sent by the group's central command on Monday told fighters not to "interfere with women's clothing."
