Biden closely monitoring ‘extraordinary developments’ in Syria: WH
3 Min Read
The White House confirms that Biden is maintaining communication with regional partners as the situation unfolds.
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US President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference in Washington on July 11, 2024. (AFP)
Outgoing US President Joe Biden is closely monitoring developments in Syria, where the Assad government has fallen and new government forces have seized the capital city.
The White House confirmed on Saturday that Biden is maintaining communication with regional partners as the situation unfolds.
"President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett stated on social media.
President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor emphasized that the outgoing administration has no immediate plans for military intervention in Syria amid ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
“The United States is not going to ... militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war,” Jake Sullivan stated on Saturday during an annual gathering of national security officials, defense contractors, and lawmakers at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. He added, “None of them are prepared to provide the kind of support to Assad that they provided in the past.”
Meanwhile, incoming President-elect Donald Trump expressed his firm opposition to US involvement in the Syrian crisis.
US President-elect Donald #Trump commented on Sunday on news that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left the country.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 8, 2024
"Assad is gone," he said on his Truth Social platform. "His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any… pic.twitter.com/wRAJKNBXUL
During his re-election campaign, Trump pledged to “end the chaos in the Middle East” and reiterated this stance ahead of taking office in January after the holiday season. Writing from Paris, where he is attending the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, Trump remarked that Assad does not deserve U.S. support to remain in power.
Currently, the US maintains approximately 900 occupation troops in Syria, including forces working alongside Kurdish allies in northeastern regions.
Pentagon: US to maintain presence in Eastern Syria to prevent IS resurgence
In a related context, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro announced on Sunday that the United States will continue its presence in eastern Syria and "take all necessary steps to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State."
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, Shapiro acknowledged the risks posed by the volatile situation in Syria, stating, "We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities."
He further emphasized the US' commitment to ensuring the terrorist group's defeat, saying, "[We're determined] to ensure [the Islamic State's] enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons."
This comes after the Syrian transitional government forces said they were continuing work to complete the transfer of power in Syria to a "transitional governing body with full executive powers."
Syrian PM al-Jalali said that he is ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people, stressing that he will not leave his home until a "peaceful transition" is achieved, where he would have guaranteed the safety of Syrian public institutions and their continued work.
He urged all parties to think "rationally," adding that he extends his hand in cooperation to everyone, including members of the opposition.
