US Secretary of Statehas called for an “inclusive” process to form Syria’s next government


AQABA (AFP): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Jordan on Thursday at the start of a crisis tour to address the aftermath of the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, an AFP journalist on his plane said.
The outgoing top US diplomat headed straight to a meeting in the Red Sea city of Aqaba with King Abdullah II and will travel later in the day to Turkiye.
Blinken has called for an “inclusive” process to form Syria’s next government that includes protections for minorities after rebels ended the iron-fisted rule of Assad, a member of the Alawite community.
Announcing his trip, the State Department said he would also call for a Syria that is not “a base of terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbours” – a nod to the concerns of Turkiye and Israel, which has ramped up strikes on its historic adversary since Assad’s fall.
It is Blinken’s 12th visit to the Middle East since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which has responded with a relentless military campaign in Gaza.
His previous trips have ended in disappointment as he sought a ceasefire between US ally Israel and Hamas.
President Joe Biden’s administration leaves office on January 20.
President-elect Donald Trump has described Syria as “a mess” and said that the United States should not get involved, although he has not elaborated on US policy since Assad’s ouster.

Woman dies after falling from Karachi building during drug raid
- 19 hours ago
Fire at Kochani nightclub kills 51, injures over 100
- 19 hours ago
New Zealand storms to nine-wicket win over Pakistan in first T20I
- 19 hours ago

FIA, IB receive praise from PM for dismantling human trafficking network
- 12 hours ago
33 killed, dozens injured as tornadoes hit Central US
- 19 hours ago

One down, three to go: Chelsea on course for quadruple after League Cup win
- 4 hours ago
Five killed as coaster plunges into ravine in Azad Kashmir
- 18 hours ago

Karachi's Soba Nagar transforms through collaborative WASH initiative
- 16 hours ago

Iran’s military vows retaliation in response to Trump’s threats
- 15 hours ago

Ration distribution turns tragic in Karachi as elderly woman dies in stampede
- 13 hours ago

Four killed, three injured in separate terrorist attacks on police stations in KP
- 20 hours ago

Byrd gets first ECU hit 3 years after amputation
- 4 hours ago