WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump mentioned Saturday that the US ought to keep away from partaking militarily in Syria amid an rebel offensive that has reached the suburbs of the capital, declaring in a social media publish, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”
Trump’s first in depth feedback on the dramatic rebel push got here whereas he was in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral. He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad didn’t deserve U.S. help to remain in energy.
Assad is allied with Russia and Iran, and the Biden administration, which considers the Syrian rebels main the offensive to be aligned with terrorist organizations, has recommended that their fast-moving advances towards Damascus reveal simply how distracted these nations are by the war in Ukraine and different conflicts.
The Biden administration additionally has mentioned it’s not backing the offensive and has not recommended the U.S. navy will intervene. The U.S. has about 900 troops within the opposition-held northeast of Syria, working with Syrian Kurdish allies to stop any resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group.
Syrian opposition activists and regional officers have nonetheless been watching carefully for any indication from each the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration on how the U.S. would deal with the sudden insurgent advances in opposition to Assad.
Additionally Saturday, the United Nations’ particular envoy for Syria referred to as for pressing talks in Geneva to make sure an “orderly political transition” in Syria.
In his publish, Trump mentioned Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “appears incapable of stopping this literal march via Syria, a rustic they’ve protected for years.” He mentioned rebels may presumably drive Assad from energy.
The president-elect additionally condemned the general U.S. dealing with of what’s a 13-year battle in Syria, however spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces.
“Syria is a multitude, however will not be our pal, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote in Saturday’s publish.
An influential Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a briefing to reporters to learn Trump’s publish and appeared to choke up. He mentioned Trump’s declaration that the U.S. ought to keep out of the combat was the perfect consequence that the the Syrians aligned in opposition to Assad may hope for.
Rebels have been releasing political detainees of the Assad authorities from prisons as they advance throughout Syria, taking cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters Saturday that opposition forces could be alert for any U.S. detainees amongst them and do their utmost to guard them.
Moustafa mentioned that features Austin Tice, an American journalist lacking for greater than a decade and suspected to be held by Assad.
Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
