Trump urges US to stay out of Syrian civil war, blaming Obama for failure as Islamists close in on capital

President-elect Donald Trump commented for the first time on the Syrian Islamist revolt against Bashar al-Assad, the country’s dictator who is currently in his palace in Damascus.

The radical Islamist movement has now reached the suburbs of Damascus, with preparations underway to attack Assad’s main stronghold.

Using the social media platform Truth Social, Trump issued a warning stating, “Syria is facing turmoil, however, it is not our ally, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD STAY AWAY. THIS IS NOT OUR BATTLE. LET IT UNFOLD ON ITS OWN. DO NOT INTERFERE!”

He took former President Obama to task for failing to enforce his “red line” in 2013 to launch military strikes against Assad after the Syrian strongman executed a shocking mass chemical weapons strike on civilians, in which more than 1,400 people were killed.

A Syrian opposition fighter takes a picture of a comrade stepping on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Aleppo, early on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian opposition fighter takes a picture of a comrade stepping on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Aleppo, early on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

The IDF added that it has deployed “reinforced forces in the Golan Heights area and will continue to operate in order to protect the State of Israel and its citizens.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Turkish counterpart on the situation in Syria. Turkey is the principal backer of the Islamist coalition seeking to topple the Assad regime. 

The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist former Al-Qaeda affiliate that is part of the rebel forces, is the key force that has secured large swaths of Syrian territory over the last few days.

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that “Blinken spoke today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss developments in Syria. Secretary Blinken emphasized the importance of protecting civilians, including members of minority groups, across Syria.”

An anti-government fighter covers his ears as a multi-barrel rocket launcher fires against regime forces in the northern outskirts of Syria's west-central city of Hama on December 4, 2024. Syrian government forces pressed a counterattack against Islamist-led rebels around the key city of Hama on December 4 after suffering a string of staggering losses further north, a war monitor said. 

An anti-government fighter covers his ears as a multi-barrel rocket launcher fires against regime forces in the northern outskirts of Syria’s west-central city of Hama on December 4, 2024. Syrian government forces pressed a counterattack against Islamist-led rebels around the key city of Hama on December 4 after suffering a string of staggering losses further north, a war monitor said.  (Bakr al Kassem/AFP via Getty Images)

Miller added, “The Secretary discussed the need for a political solution to the conflict, consistent with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. Secretary Blinken also extended his congratulations to Foreign Minister Fidan on the selection of Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu as the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation] Secretary General and looks forward to continued cooperation in the region.”

The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2254 in 2015, which called for a cease-fire, UN-run elections and a new constitution. Assad rejected the resolution’s implementation. 

Aug. 31, 2013: President Obama with Vice President Biden as he makes a statement about Syria in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington.

Aug. 31, 2013: President Obama with Vice President Biden as he makes a statement about Syria in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP)

The State Department has classified Assad’s regime as a state-sponsor of terrorism. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian regime proxy groups and Syria, who is with the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital regarding Trump’s comment, “I do not see a huge deviation from his previous policy points. He is staying the course. Realism with what is going on.”

Trump’s message to [the] Assad regime and the HTS coalition is “I wish them both luck. It is essentially that,” said Smyth. He termed Trump’s post a “statement of the reality” about the Syrian civil war.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013 citizen journalism file image provided by the United Media office of Arbeen, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, members of a chemical weapons investigation team take samples from sand near a part of a missile that is likely to be one of the chemical rockets, according to activists, in the Damascus countryside of Ain Terma, Syria. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, for working to eliminate the scourge that has haunted generations from World War I to the battlefields of Syria. (AP Photo/United Media office of Arbeen, File)

FILE – In this Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013 citizen journalism file image provided by the United Media office of Arbeen, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, members of a chemical weapons investigation team take samples from sand near a part of a missile that is likely to be one of the chemical rockets, according to activists, in the Damascus countryside of Ain Terma, Syria. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, for working to eliminate the scourge that has haunted generations from World War I to the battlefields of Syria. (AP Photo/United Media office of Arbeen, File) (The Associated Press)

When asked whether he thought Assad would use chemical weapons on the Islamist rebels, Smyth said, “It would not surprise me if he did. There is risk of it.” Smyth expects a bit more anarchy in the battle of Damascus. “You will have different factions wrestling for control.”

Given the lightening seizure of major Syrian cities such as Aleppo and Hama over the last week, Smyth said, “I think the writing is on the wall. His mobilization attempts have not been successful. There is this lackadaisical haze over the Assad regime. You can see internal corruption on full display in how they are mobilizing and acting. The rapid collapse says everything. There is a lot of paper tiger posture. There was no expectation that there would be an advance like this.”

.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Alex Murdaugh lawyers file appeal alleging ousted South Carolina court clerk swayed jury

Appeal Filed by Alex Murdaugh’s Lawyers, Claiming Ousted South Carolina Court Clerk Influenced Jury

Lawyers representing Alex Murdaugh, a former lawyer now convicted felon, have submitted…
Hannah Kobayashi found after Mexico border crossing in month-long disappearance, family says

Family of Missing Woman, Hannah Kobayashi, Discovers Her Following Month-Long Absence at Mexico Border

Hannah Kobayashi, who had been missing in Hawaii, has been confirmed to…
Former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo to testify in ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan federal corruption trial

Eddie Acevedo, Former State Representative, to Give Testimony in Trial for Corruption of Ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan

CHICAGO (WLS) — The federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker…
Mystery drone invasion sparks 'state of emergency' in New Jersey with warning Iranian mothership lurks offshore

Mysterious Drone Incursion Triggers ‘State of Emergency’ in New Jersey amid Claims of Iranian Mothership Sighting

Calls for a ‘state of emergency’ have arisen in New Jersey due…
Hundreds of tractors block central London streets as farmers protest tax change

Farmers protest tax change with hundreds of tractors blocking central London streets

Hundreds of tractors blocked streets in central London on Wednesday, the latest…
Wisconsin kayaker accused of faking his own death, fleeing country charged with obstruction

Wisconsin kayaker charged with obstruction for pretending to die and running away from the country

A kayaker from Wisconsin, who is accused of staging his own drowning…
Elon Musk slams Justin Trudeau after prime minister calls Trump's victory a setback for women's progress

Elon Musk criticizes Justin Trudeau for referring to Trump’s win as a setback for women’s advancement

Elon Musk criticized Justin Trudeau, calling him an ‘insufferable tool’ in response…
Aftermath of small plane crash onto Texas roadway caught on camera with split fuselage, damaged vehicles

Footage captures aftermath of small plane crash on Texas road with split fuselage and damaged vehicles

A small plane split in two after crashing onto a busy Texas…
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad flees into exile as Islamist rebels conquer country

Bashar Assad, the Syrian dictator, escapes to another country as Islamist rebels take control of the nation.

Syrian President Bashar Assad, known for using chemical weapons against his own…
‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’: Sutton Stracke Was Thirsting After Captain Theo, But Did He Ever Text Her Back? Sutton Answers!

Sutton Stracke’s Interest in Captain Theo on ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’: Did He Ever Respond to Her Messages? Sutton Reveals!

For years, Sutton Stracke has been touting Jennifer Tilly as the ideal…
Friends, acquaintances defend Mangione family as media descends on alleged CEO killer's hometown

People close to Mangione family support them as the media focuses on the hometown of the accused CEO murderer.

“I didn’t hear anything about that, but it would really surprise me…
New Taliban decree bans women from medical training: 'devastating decision'

“Taliban bans women from medical training in new decree, sparking widespread concerns”

The Taliban has reportedly prohibited women in Afghanistan from participating in nursing…