“Trump Advocates Non-Intervention in Syria Amid opposition forces gaining momentum”

WASHINGTON – In a statement on social media, President-elect Donald Trump expressed his belief that the United States should refrain from getting involved militarily in Syria, particularly in light of the recent insurgent offensive creeping towards the outskirts of the capital. Trump firmly stated, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”

These remarks were Trump’s initial detailed comments on the ongoing rebel advancement, shared while he was attending the ceremony for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. He further contended that Syrian President Bashar Assad should not receive backing from the U.S. to maintain his position of power.

Considering Assad’s alliances with Russia and Iran, there have been implications that the ongoing conflicts in other regions, such as the war in Ukraine, have diverted the attention of these countries, evident in the swift progress of Syrian rebels towards Damascus, whom the Biden administration views as affiliated with terrorist factions.

The Biden administration also has said it is not backing the offensive and has not suggested the U.S. military will intervene. The U.S. has about 900 troops in the opposition-held northeast of Syria, working with Syrian Kurdish allies to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group.

Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have nonetheless been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration on how the U.S. would handle the sudden rebel advances against Assad.

Also Saturday, the United Nations’ special envoy for Syria called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition” in Syria.

In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power.

The president-elect also condemned the overall U.S. handling of what is a 13-year war in Syria, but spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces.

“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he wrote in Saturday’s post.

An influential Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a briefing to reporters to read Trump’s post and appeared to choke up. He said Trump’s declaration that the U.S. should stay out of the fight was the best outcome that the the Syrians aligned against Assad could hope for.

Rebels have been freeing political detainees of the Assad government from prisons as they advance across Syria, taking cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters Saturday that opposition forces would be alert for any U.S. detainees among them and do their utmost to protect them.

Moustafa said that includes Austin Tice, an American journalist missing for more than a decade and suspected to be held by Assad.