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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump expressed on Saturday that the United States should refrain from military involvement in Syria, amidst a significant insurgent offensive nearing the capital. He conveyed this sentiment through a social media message, asserting, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”
These remarks marked Trump’s first comprehensive commentary regarding the recent rebel advances while he was in Paris attending the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame cathedral. He emphasized that Syrian President Bashar Assad should not receive support from the United States to maintain his position of power.
Assad has close ties with Russia and Iran, and the Biden administration views the Syrian rebels, who are currently leading the offensive, as being associated with terrorist groups. The administration has indicated that the rapid military actions toward Damascus demonstrate a diversion of attention and resources from Russia and Iran due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other crises.
Furthermore, the Biden administration has clarified that it is not endorsing the current offensive and has not indicated any potential military intervention. Presently, approximately 900 U.S. troops remain stationed in the northeast region of Syria, collaborating with Kurdish allies to deter the resurgence of the Islamic State extremist faction.
Despite the absence of explicit support from the U.S. government, Syrian opposition activists and regional leaders are closely monitoring both the Biden administration’s actions and those of Trump’s incoming team regarding the recent escalation against Assad.
On the same day, the United Nations’ special envoy for Syria advocated for urgent negotiations in Geneva, aimed at establishing a structured political transition within the nation.
In his statement, Trump remarked that Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He suggested that there is a possibility the rebels could succeed in ousting Assad from power.
The president-elect criticized the overall U.S. strategy concerning Syria, a conflict that has endured for over a decade, while expressing a positive outlook on the setbacks faced by Assad and Russian forces.
“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!” he declared in his social media post.
Mouaz Moustafa, a prominent Syrian opposition figure based in Washington, paused a media briefing to read Trump’s message and appeared emotionally affected. He conveyed that Trump’s assertion for the U.S. to avoid involvement was perhaps the most favorable scenario that the anti-Assad contingent could have anticipated.
As the rebel forces continue their advance, they have begun liberating political prisoners detained by the Assad regime. Moustafa assured reporters that opposition fighters would remain vigilant for any U.S. detainees and would strive to ensure their safety.
He specifically referenced Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing for over ten years and is believed to be in Assad’s custody.
Source
abcnews.go.com