Washington (AP) The Biden administration and the incoming Trump team are being forced to face growing concerns about the potential for more extensive wars throughout the Middle East as a result of the abrupt fall of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad.
President-elect Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Assad had left his nation, which his family had controlled for many years, because Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close ally, was no longer willing to defend him.
Trump made those remarks on his social media platform the day after he said, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” in another post criticizing the prospect of the United States sending troops into Syria to support the rebels. The national security adviser to President Joe Biden stated that the Biden administration had no plans to step in.
On Sunday, Biden was at the White House meeting with his national security staff. Later in the day, he was supposed to address the public.
In order to stop any comeback of the Islamic State organization, the United States has approximately 900 troops in Syria, including personnel collaborating with Kurdish partners in the opposition-held northeast.
The collapse of Assad exacerbates the already dangerous situation in many parts of the region, notably Israel’s battle with Hamas in Gaza and its precarious cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump, who assumes office on January 20, 2025, drew a parallel between the turmoil in Syria and Russia’s war in Ukraine, pointing out that Assad’s supporters in Moscow and Iran, the primary backer of Hamas and Hezbollah, are currently in a vulnerable position.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is the leader of the Syrian opposition that overthrew Assad. Although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham claims it has subsequently severed its ties with al-Qaida, the Biden administration has classified the group as a terrorist organization and claims it has ties to the organization.
Veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and vice president-elect JD Vance expressed doubt about the insurgents on his personal social media on Sunday.
A large number of the rebels are direct descendants of ISIS. Hopefully, they have moderated. “Time will tell,” he continued, referring to the group by another acronym.
According to Trump, the removal of Assad could improve the likelihood that the conflict in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February 2022, will end.
A day after meeting with French and Ukrainian officials in Paris, Trump claimed that Ukraine had caused Putin’s government to lose all interest in Syria and that the Republican party demanded a quick cease-fire.
The U.S. military will remain in eastern Syria, according to Daniel B. Shapiro, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, but only to guarantee the long-term defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other facets of the fight.
We urge all parties involved in Syria to safeguard civilians, especially members of Syria’s minority communities, adhere to international military standards, and seek a solution that incorporates the political settlement, Shapiro stated.
He said that a number of the parties involved in this battle have a dismal history, including the atrocities committed by ISIS, Assad’s heinous crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bombing, and Iranian-backed militia involvement.
But Shapiro was careful not to state outright that the insurgents had overthrown Assad.
He stated that, if verified, no one should be saddened by the Assad government.
Government jails held political prisoners were released by the opposition as they advanced on Damascus, the capital of Syria. Austin Ticerenewed, a missing American journalist, is being sought by his family.
“Please remind everyone in Syria that we’re waiting for Austin,” Tice’s mother, Debra, wrote in comments shared on social media by captive support groups. We are aware that he will be somewhat bewildered upon his release and will require a great deal of guidance and care. Please send him to his family!
As a civil war that lasted more than ten years grew more intense, Tice vanished in 2012 outside of Damascus.
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This report was written by Jon Gambrell of the Associated Press in Manama, Bahrain.
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