Hostage envoy Roger Carstens traveled to Syria Friday, making the first known U.S. in-person contact with the caretaker government, and seeking help in finding missing American Austin Tice.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been on perhaps his last Middle East diplomatic mission as America’s top diplomat this week.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the United States was communicating directly with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant rebel faction, despite its designation as a terrorist group.

In Jordan to meet regional counterparts, US top diplomat doesn't go into detail about contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group that ousted Assad

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. government is communicating with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which remains on a State Department terrorism list.

Western and Arab states along with Turkey jointly voiced support for a united, peaceful Syria. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Top diplomats from the United States, the Arab League and Turkey have met in Jordan to discuss Syria’s transition after the fall of Bashar Assad's government last weekend.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously noted that world leaders discussed "the need for an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition" during the Aqaba Meetings on Syria in Jordan on Dec. 14.

As a rebel alliance with a tenuous hold on power struggles to assert control of the fractured country, Israel, Turkey and the United States are trying to influence what Syria will become.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi affirmed Saturday Amman’s support for Syria during its rebuilding phase after years of killing, destruction and displacement. Safadi condemned Israel's incursions into Syria, warning that they would "will only complicate matters."

King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan received Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Arab and foreign ministers and international officials participating in the Aqaba ministerial meetings on Syria held today in Aqaba.