U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has firmly stated that the United States military should not intervene in Syria's rapidly escalating conflict. His comments followed a dramatic rebel offensive that reached Damascus, effectively ending the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“This is not our fight,” Trump asserted in a social media post, marking his first public response to the significant developments in Syria.
The rebel advance, which began late last month, has swiftly captured key Syrian cities and culminated in their entry into Damascus on Sunday. Opposition sources claim Assad has fled to an undisclosed location. The insurgency, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group previously linked to al-Qaida, has faced minimal resistance from Syrian forces, as well as their Russian and Iranian allies.
The offensive has raised international concerns over the balance of power in the Middle East. Despite its implications, Trump emphasized that the U.S. should remain uninvolved. “Syria is a mess but is not our friend, and the United States should have nothing to do with it. Let it play out. Do not get involved!” he wrote.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, speaking in California, reinforced the Biden administration's policy of avoiding direct involvement in Syria's civil war. “The United States is not going to militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war,” Sullivan stated. However, he noted that the U.S. would act to prevent extremist groups like ISIS from exploiting the chaos.
The Biden administration’s approach mirrors Trump’s sentiment, focusing on countering terrorism without engaging in broader conflict.
While distancing the U.S. from Syria’s civil war, Trump criticized Assad, declaring that the Syrian president does not deserve American support. He also pointed out Russia’s inability to contain the situation, attributing this to its heavy involvement in Ukraine. “Russia is so tied up in Ukraine that it seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria,” Trump noted, suggesting the rebel advance could permanently oust Assad.
The Syrian conflict, now in its 13th year, has devastated the country, claiming over 500,000 lives and displacing millions. Assad’s regime, bolstered by Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and allied militias, has relied on brutal tactics to suppress opposition forces. The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Assad’s government and shut down its embassy in Syria, condemning its actions during the war.
The international community continues to watch closely as the rebels consolidate their gains, potentially reshaping Syria’s future. However, Trump's clear non-interventionist stance signals a pivot in U.S. foreign policy as his presidency approaches.
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