‘Historic alternative for individuals’: Joe Biden on fall of Assad regime in Syria

Biden made the remarks on the White Home shortly after insurgent teams took management of the nation, ending greater than a dozen years of violent civil battle and many years of rule by Bashar Assad and his household.

“After 13 years of civil battle in Syria and greater than half a century of brutal authoritarian rule by Bashar Assad and his father earlier than him, insurgent forces have pressured Assad to resign his workplace and flee the nation. We’re undecided the place he’s, however there’s phrase that he is in Moscow. In the end, the Assad regime has fallen,” Biden mentioned.

“This regime brutalised, tortured and killed a whole lot of 1000’s of harmless Syrians. The autumn of the regime is a basic act of justice. It is a second of historic alternative for the long-suffering individuals of Syria to construct a greater future for his or her proud nation,” he mentioned.

Biden additionally described the scenario as a second of danger and uncertainty, saying that in latest weeks, assist for the Assad regime from Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia had collapsed. He noticed this as a brand new alternative for the individuals of Syria.

The Syrian opposition that toppled Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the US labels a terrorist organisation with ties to al-Qaida. Nevertheless, the group claims it has severed its hyperlinks with al-Qaida.

“Trying forward, the USA will do the next. First, we’ll assist Syria’s neighbours, together with Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel, ought to any risk come up from Syria throughout this era of transition. I’ll converse with leaders of the area within the coming days. I had lengthy discussions with all of our individuals earlier this morning. I will ship senior officers from my administration to the area as effectively,” he mentioned.

“Second, we’ll assist guarantee stability in japanese Syria, defending our personnel in opposition to any threats, and our mission in opposition to ISIS can be maintained, together with safety of detention services, the place ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners. We’re clear-eyed about the truth that ISIS will attempt to benefit from any vacuum to reestablish its capabilities and create a haven. We is not going to let that occur,” he mentioned.

“Simply right now, US forces performed a dozen precision strikes, airstrikes, inside Syria, focusing on ISIS camps and operatives. Third, we’ll interact with all Syrian teams, together with inside the course of led by the United Nations to ascertain a transition away from the Assad regime in the direction of unbiased and sovereign Syria, with a brand new structure, and a brand new authorities that serves all Syrians. And this course of can be decided by the Syrian individuals themselves,” Biden mentioned.

US Secretary of State Tony Blinken mentioned the US would carefully monitor developments as they unfold and have interaction with our companions within the area. “We are going to assist worldwide efforts to carry the Assad regime and its backers accountable for atrocities and abuses perpetrated in opposition to the Syrian individuals, together with the usage of chemical weapons and the unjust detention of civilians comparable to Austin Tice,” he mentioned.