Syria live updates: Blinken says US made direct contact with rebel group HTS

The leader of HTS, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, known previously by his “nom de guerre” Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani, gave an exclusive interview to Syria TV where he weighed in on the future for Syria, and addressed issues concerning Israel, Iran, and Russia. He did not mention the United States.

Addressing the future for Syria, he says the focus must now be on creating a state "based on law and institutions".

He says that Syria's priority is reconstruction and not being dragged into new conflicts. He calls on the international community to intervene in the situation with Israel, saying Israel's arguments for its military actions against Syria are now "weak.”

He says Iran used Syria in a way that endangered the country: "We were able to end the Iranian presence in Syria, but we do not hold enmity towards the Iranian people. Our problem was with the policies that harmed our country."

Finally, he stressed that Syria does not want to "provoke" Russia and that Syria is open to discussing a relationship with Russia that serves both countries.

-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule

During a press conference, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed for the first time that the U.S. has made direct contact with the group that overthrew the Assad regime -- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terror organization.

“So first, yes, we've been in contact with HTS and with other parties. We have impressed upon everyone we've been in contact with the importance of helping find Austin Tice and bringing him home. And we've also shared the principles that I just laid out for ongoing support, principles, again, that have now been adopted by countries throughout the region and well beyond,” Blinken said.

Tice, an American freelance journalist, was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012.

Previously, the administration has only said it was confident it was getting its messages across to HTS via its partners.

Although HTS is classified as a terror organization and U.S. officials aren’t signaling that’s going to change, the law doesn’t limit contact -- only support.

-ABC News’ Shannon Kingston

The United States and its partners in the region have agreed on shared principles to guide its support of Syria following the toppling of the Assad regime, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in remarks to the press during his trip to Jordan.

"Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we're prepared to help them do so," Blinken said. "Today's agreement sends a unified message to the new interim authority and parties in Syria on the principles crucial to securing much needed support and recognition, which we've reflected in the joint communique that should be issued very shortly. We agreed that the transition process should be Syrian led and Syrian owned and produce an inclusive and representative government."

"Syria should not be used as a base for terrorist groups or others who threaten Syria's people, its neighbors or the world," he added, later warning that ISIS will try to regroup and take advantage of the transition in Syria.

The U.S. has a clearer understanding of former Syrian President Bashar Assad's final moments in power and escape to Russia, a U.S. official told ABC News.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is believed to have been closely involved in orchestrating Assad’s escape and likely played a key role in convincing Assad to flee, according to the official.

Although Assad reportedly assured members of his inner circle that Russia and Iran would send in reinforcements before allowing the regime to fall, both Moscow and Tehran communicated to Assad that they were unwilling or unable to ramp up their support, the official said.

The U.S. assesses that Assad’s final decision was very sudden—and that he left in a plane with a disabled transponder, allowing him to escape undetected, the official said.

-ABC News' Shannon Kingston