While the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad has positive elements to it, the fact is that several elements of the forces, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, that will replace his oppressive rule are not much better. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, otherwise known as HTS, is a U.S. and UN designated terrorist organization.
Al-Qaeda, of course, was founded by the terrorist leader behind the 9/11 assault, Osama bib Laden. ISIS has been behind terrorist activities worldwide.
President Biden spoke on December 9 with King Abdullah II of Jordan. The President emphasized his full support for a Syrian-led transition process under the auspices of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. He also discussed the situation in eastern Syria to include the U.S. commitment to the D-ISIS mission, including the strikes conducted…against a concentration of ISIS fighters and leaders.
Secretary of Defense Austin spoke with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler to discuss the developments in Syria. During the call, Austin emphasized that the U.S. is watching closely the various Syrian opposition groups’ statements and actions in the wake of Assad’s overthrow.
Both leaders agreed that the opposition groups must take steps to protect civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and follow international humanitarian norms, according to a summary of the discussion provided by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
They also reaffirmed the importance of close coordination between the United States and Turkey to prevent further escalation of an already volatile situation, as well as to avoid any risk to U.S. forces and partners, and the Defeat-ISIS Mission
During the Obama Administration, the precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area allowed the ISIS Caliphate to gain power. Subsequently, the Trump Administration was able to fairly expeditiously make up for the errors of its predecessor and defeat the terrorist organization, but ISIS survived in a much-weakened state.
The United States continues to battle ISIS, notes the Pentagon. According to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, the U.S. Central Command will continue to work to prevent the militant group from reestablishing a foothold in the country following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime over the weekend. “Centcom, together with allies and partners in the region, will continue to carry out operations to degrade ISIS capabilities, even during this dynamic period in Syria,” Singh said.
In pursuit of its goal to prevent ISIS’ return to power, U.S. forces conducted precision airstrikes against seventy-five targets in central Syria on December 7 against known ISIS camps and operatives. U.S. Air Force fighter and bomber aircraft struck more than 75 targets.
Russia has suffered a major loss with Assad’s (who is now in Moscow) fall from power. According to the Moscow Times, “At least 543 Russian soldiers and mercenaries were killed during Russia’s almost decade-long military intervention in Syria’s civil war, according to a tally by BBC Russia.” The Kremlin has a major air base in Khmeimim, and a key naval base in Tartus.
Andrew Neil, writing for the Daily Mail, reports that “The biggest losers, by far, from the collapse of the Syrian dictatorship yesterday — other than the brutal Assad family and its thuggish acolytes — are the ruling mullahs of Iran. Their dreams of Middle East hegemony are now in ruins, their genocidal aim of wiping Israel off the map now mission impossible, their ability to supply their murderous proxies across the region with weapons and boots on the ground now crippled.”
Assad had amassed an arsenal of chemical weapons and long range rockets which Israel’s defense forces have now attacked and secured. secured.