U.S. President Joe Biden stated on the 8th (local time) that the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime, following the Syrian rebels' capture of the capital, represents a "historic moment of opportunity for the long-suffering Syrian people to build a better future." It is reported that President al-Assad fled Syria and arrived in Moscow with his family.
At a press conference at the White House that day, President Biden said, "Finally, the Assad regime has fallen," adding, "This regime literally tortured and killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians brutally. The fall of the Assad regime is an act of fundamental justice."
He said, "While we all question what will happen next, this is also a moment of risk and uncertainty," and added, "The United States will work with partners and Syrian stakeholders to help them seize the opportunity to manage those risks." He further pledged to cooperate in building an independent new government that serves all Syrian people.
President Biden also pointed out that the power of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, which had supported the Assad regime amid U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel, has weakened. Specifically, regarding measures the U.S. will take, he explained, "If any threats arise from Syria during the transitional period, the United States will support Syria's neighboring countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel," and said he would communicate with regional leaders and dispatch senior U.S. officials within days.
He also mentioned the possibility that the Islamic State (IS) might attempt to rebuild its capabilities amid the power vacuum, stating, "We will not allow that to happen. Our mission against IS will continue." He noted that the U.S. prioritizes efforts to prevent IS from rebuilding. On the same day, the U.S. conducted 12 precision airstrikes targeting IS camps within Syria. He added, "We will cooperate with all Syrian groups, including the United Nations, to establish a transition to an independent and sovereign Syria through a new constitution and a new government."
That day, President Biden also addressed the Syrian rebels, saying, "We will not let our guard down," and pointed out, "Clearly, some rebel groups have a terrible record of human rights abuses and terrorism." He emphasized, "They are currently saying the right things, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will judge them by their actions, not their words." The Syrian rebels are led by the Islamic Sunni armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Regarding President al-Assad's whereabouts, he said, "It is not certain where he is," but stressed, "Al-Assad must be held accountable." Russian news agency TASS cited sources that day reporting that President al-Assad arrived in Moscow with his family, and that Russia supported his asylum for "humanitarian reasons." There has been no official confirmation from the Russian side regarding this report.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stated after the fall of the Assad regime, "Al-Assad is gone. He left his country. His protector, Russia, was no longer interested in protecting him." United Nations Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres welcomed the development in a statement, saying, "Following 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the Syrian people have a historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future." It is reported that Russia has requested a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council in relation to this.
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