The President-elect, Donald Trump, has issued a stern warning against the United States' involvement in the Syrian civil war, taking the opportunity to criticize former President Obama's handling of the situation.
The escalation of conflict in Syria has seen rebel forces seizing control of several key cities, marking a significant shift in the ongoing war.
According to the Daily Mail, the insurgents have successfully claimed Aleppo and a series of other towns and cities across the northwest of Syria. They are now seemingly on the brink of capturing the capital, Damascus, in their determined effort to overthrow the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad. However, Trump has cautioned that the United States should steer clear of the conflict, pointing fingers at Obama for his alleged failure to uphold his commitment to assist Syria during his presidency.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump attributed the rebels' victories to Russia's preoccupation with the war in Ukraine. Russia, a staunch ally of President Assad, has been unable to prevent the rebels' advance through Syria. "Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years," Trump stated.
The president-elect further criticized Obama's handling of the situation, stating, "This is where former President Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND, and all hell broke out, with Russia stepping in." He suggested that the current state of affairs might be beneficial for Russia and possibly even Assad, as they are being forced out of Syria.
Trump's remarks reflect his opposition to the presence of approximately 900 U.S. troops in Syria, primarily stationed in the northeast. These troops have been supporting a Syrian Kurd-led alliance in their efforts to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State militants.
The Syrian civil war has been raging for over a decade, with little progress made by either side for a significant portion of that time. Assad's regime was last under serious threat a decade ago when rebel forces seized parts of Aleppo and were closing in on Damascus. Russia and Iran, Assad's primary international and regional allies, intervened, tipping the balance of the war in his favor.
However, Russia's current involvement in the war in Ukraine and Hezbollah's weakened state due to a yearlong conflict with Israel have left Assad's regime more vulnerable. Iran's proxies across the region have also been degraded by Israeli airstrikes.
Trump's comments precede his scheduled visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, where he will commemorate the reopening of the iconic church, which suffered a devastating fire in 2019. His stance on the Syrian conflict underscores his commitment to a conservative perspective, emphasizing limited government intervention and individual freedom.
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