Outgoing US President Joe Biden described the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime as a “historic alternative” for the Syrian individuals, following many years of authoritarian rule and 13 years of civil warfare.
Biden’s remarks got here shortly after Syrian insurgent forces seized management of the nation, forcing Assad to resign and reportedly flee to Moscow.
Talking on the White Home, Biden mentioned, “After greater than half a century of brutal rule by Bashar Assad and his father, the Assad regime has lastly fallen. This marks a elementary act of justice and a historic alternative for the long-suffering individuals of Syria to construct a brighter future.”
Biden acknowledged the challenges forward, highlighting the collapse of help for Assad from allies resembling Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia in latest weeks. He additionally famous the management of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) within the Syrian opposition, a gaggle beforehand linked to al-Qaida however claiming to have severed ties with the organisation.
Outlining the US response, Biden acknowledged, “The US will take the next steps: First, we are going to help Syria’s neighbours, together with Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel, to handle any potential threats arising from Syria throughout this transitional interval. Second, we are going to guarantee stability in japanese Syria, defending our personnel and sustaining the mission towards ISIS, together with securing detention amenities holding ISIS fighters.”
Biden emphasised the chance of ISIS exploiting the ability vacuum, noting, “In the present day, US forces performed a dozen precision airstrikes focusing on ISIS camps and operatives. We won’t enable ISIS to reconstitute its capabilities.”
The President additionally pledged to interact with Syrian teams and help UN-led efforts to transition Syria to a sovereign, inclusive authorities. “This course of shall be decided by the Syrian individuals themselves,” he mentioned.
In distinction, former President Donald Trump argued towards US involvement, declaring on Reality Social, “Syria is a large number and never our pal. The US ought to don’t have anything to do with it. This isn’t your battle.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated American help for a peaceable transition, stating, “We are going to work with worldwide companions to carry the Assad regime accountable for atrocities and abuses, together with the usage of chemical weapons and the detention of civilians like Austin Tice.”
In the meantime, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Syrian opposition teams to guard civilians, together with ethnic and spiritual minorities, throughout discussions with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler. He affirmed that US forces would proceed focusing on ISIS to forestall its resurgence, with over 75 targets struck in a latest operation utilizing property resembling B-52 bombers and F-15 fighter jets.
(with inputs from PTI)
