STORY: :: Blinken says the U.S. is supporting the search for thousands who disappeared in Syria under Bashar al-Assad's regime
:: December 12, 2024
:: Aqaba, Jordan
:: Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State
:: "We also want to make sure that we're doing everything possible to support those people, those organizations that are working to find the thousands of disappeared people, children, women and men during the Assad regime. That includes, of course, the American journalist, Austin Tice. We're determined to find him and bring him home to his family and loved ones.
"Also critical to unlocking international recognition, international support that Syria very much needs after decades of dictatorship, conflict, corruption, isolation. I've had many calls over the last days with partners in the region and everyone has agreed on the need to have a unified approach to advance many of our shared interests. And so here on the ground in the region, we're working to build up and build out that unified approach."
Blinken met Jordan's King Abdullah on Thursday as President Joe Biden's outgoing administration pushes for an "inclusive transition" in neighboring Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
Blinken, who will head to Turkey later on Thursday, is in the region to seek support for principles that Washington hopes will guide what happens next in Syria.
Rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is playing a key role in Damascus after it led the overthrow of Assad, ending more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family in a swift takeover after 13 years of civil war.
