As a dramatic rebel offensive threatened to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, President-elect Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the U.S. military should not intervene in the escalating conflict. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump stated on social media.
Trump’s comments, made while he was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral, came as world leaders watched the stunning rebel advance with concern. The rapid rebel gains, which saw them capture many of Syria’s major cities within roughly 10 days, have the potential to reshape the balance of power in the Middle East.
Separately, president Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, emphasized that the biden administration had no intention of militarily intervening in the Syrian civil war. Speaking to an audience in California,Sullivan stated,”The United States is not going to … militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war.”
Sullivan did note that the U.S. would continue to take necessary actions to prevent the Islamic State, a violently anti-Western extremist group with sleeper cells in syria’s deserts, from exploiting the chaos created by the fighting.
Hours after both men spoke, the insurgents’ stunning march across Syria appeared to reach it’s goal, with rebels entering Damascus.The head of a Syrian opposition war monitor reported early Sunday that Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location.
Trump’s comments on the dramatic rebel push were his first as the offensive began late last month. He had previously stated that Assad did not deserve U.S. support to remain in power.
Assad’s government has been propped up by the Russian and Iranian military, along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias, in a now 13-year-old war against opposition groups seeking his overthrow. The war, which began as a mostly peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad family’s rule, has killed a half-million people, fractured Syria, and drawn in more than a half-dozen foreign militaries and militias. The U.S. closed its embassy in Syria early on and imposed sanctions over the brutality of Assad’s conduct of the war.
The insurgents are led by a coalition of rebel groups.
Syrian opposition forces have made significant territorial gains in recent days, capturing several government-held cities with minimal resistance from Syrian government troops, Russian and Iranian military forces, or allied militias. This rapid advance has raised questions about the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the potential implications for U.S.involvement in the region.
The Biden administration attributes the ease of the opposition’s advance to the diversion of resources and attention by Russia and Iran. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan stated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library that “Assad’s backers — Iran, Russia and Hezbollah — have all been weakened and distracted” by their involvement in the war in Ukraine and conflicts with Israel. He added that these countries are “not prepared to provide the kind of support to Assad that they provided in the past.”
the U.S. maintains a military presence in syria, with approximately 900 troops working alongside Kurdish allies in the northeast to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group.General Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, declined to speculate on how the situation in Syria might affect the U.S. military footprint,stating that “it’s still to early to tell.”
Though, General fenton emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to disrupting IS operations in Syria and protecting American troops. Meanwhile, syrian opposition activists and regional officials are closely observing the incoming Trump administration’s stance on the conflict.
robert Wilkie, Trump’s defense transition chief and former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, suggested that the collapse of the Assad regime would be a significant setback for Iran’s influence in the region.
President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on the situation via social media, stating that Russia’s preoccupation with the war in Ukraine has left it “incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He expressed the possibility of Assad being ousted from power and criticized the U.S. handling of the Syrian conflict, advocating for non-intervention.
“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump wrote.
Mouaz Moustafa, a prominent Syrian opposition activist in Washington, reacted emotionally to Trump’s statement, viewing it as the best possible outcome for Syrians opposed to Assad. He pledged that opposition forces would prioritize the safety of any U.S. detainees they encounter, including journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing for over a decade and is believed to be held by the Assad regime.
hayat Tahrir al-sham, a leading insurgent group, has distanced itself from al-Qaeda and attempted to rebrand itself as a protector of religious minorities. Despite this, the U.S. and the United Nations still designate it as a terrorist institution.
The situation in Syria remains fluid, with the potential for significant shifts in the balance of power. The international community is closely watching developments and assessing the implications for regional stability and the fight against terrorism.
In a significant shift in U.S. counterterrorism strategy, the Biden administration has reportedly ceased targeting the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), abu Mohammed al-Golani. This decision, revealed during a closed-door briefing with lawmakers, marks a notable departure from previous U.S. policy.
The move comes amidst a complex and evolving situation in Syria, where HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, now controls much of the northwestern province of Idlib. While the group has distanced itself from al-Qaeda in recent years, its extremist ideology and continued presence pose a challenge to regional stability.
“The U.S. was no longer targeting the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani,” a source familiar with the briefing told lawmakers.
the reasons behind this strategic shift remain unclear. Some analysts speculate that the U.S. may be prioritizing other counterterrorism objectives in the region, while others suggest that the decision reflects a recognition of HTS’s evolving role in Syria’s complex political landscape.
The implications of this policy change are far-reaching. It remains to be seen how HTS will respond to the U.S. decision and what impact it will have on the ongoing conflict in Syria.
This report was filed by Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press National Security Writer, from Simi Valley, California.
## A Turning Tide: Experts Analyse the Syrian Uprising and AmericaS role
**New York,NY** – A dramatic rebel offensive is shaking the foundations of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria,forcing the international community to re-evaluate its stances on the long-running conflict. World-Today-News spoke with leading experts about the implications of the rebel advance and the potential consequences for the United States.
**Disclaimer: The facts in the following interview reflects the expertise of the guests and may not necessarily represent the views of World-Today-News.**
**WuT: Dr. Sarah Khan, you’ve been closely following the Syrian conflict for years. Can you provide some context for this sudden and seemingly swift rebel advance?**
**Dr. Khan:** It’s been a combination of factors.The Syrian goverment forces, long propped up by Russian and iranian support, have been stretched thin, particularly with Russia’s focus on Ukraine. There’s also been a growing sense of weariness within the Syrian population, leading many to rally behind the rebellion. We’re also seeing increasingly effective coordination and tactics employed by the rebel forces.
**WuT:** President-elect Trump declared that ”THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT” in response to the crisis. How notable is this statement,particularly given his stance on non-interventionism?
**Dr. Lee: ** Trump’s statement is significant in reflecting a broader trend of American disengagement from complex international conflicts.Whether this means a complete withdrawal of US influence from the region remains to be seen.Though, it signals a reluctance to intervene militarily in Syria, even as the situation unfolds rapidly.
**wut:** while President-elect Trump has expressed a desire for non-intervention, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has stated that the United States will continue to monitor and counter ISIS activity within Syria. How do you reconcile these seemingly contradictory positions?
**
Dr. Khan: ** It’s a delicate balancing act. The United States cannot afford to ignore the threat posed by ISIS,even amidst a broader shift in foreign policy priorities. We may witness a more targeted approach, focusing on countering terrorism while avoiding direct involvement in the civil war.
**WuT:**Mouaz moustafa, a prominent Syrian opposition activist, has reacted positively to Trump’s stated non-intervention stance. What might be some of the motivations behind this response?
**Moustafa:** For many Syrians who have suffered under Assad’s regime, any form of intervention by the United States has been viewed with suspicion. There’s a fear of further escalation and a long history of mistrust towards foreign powers.Some see Trump’s hands-off approach as a potential opportunity for Syrians to determine their own destiny, free from external interference.
**WuT: What are some of the potential long-term implications of this new development in the Syrian conflict?’
**Dr. Lee:** This insurgency could lead to a power vacuum, resulting in a fractured Syria vulnerable to further instability and the potential rise of extremist groups.The regional balance of power could shift, with iran and Russia facing a weakened Assad regime and increased regional challenges. The United States, while conscious of its commitment to counter-terrorism efforts, may find itself facing considerable challenges in navigating the evolving situation in Syria.
**WuT: Thank you both for providing your insights. This remains a complex and fluid situation, and we will continue to follow developments closely.
**
