ALWAGHT- A senior White House official stated that US military forces will remain in Syria following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government, citing their ongoing counter-terrorism mission.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer emphasized that the presence of US troops in Syria is focused on a specific and crucial mission, particularly to combat ISIS (Daesh). He confirmed that the US military has been stationed in Syria for over a decade, with the goal of fighting terrorism, and reaffirmed the US commitment to this mission. The US troops are particularly stationed in northeastern Syria, where their presence is also claimed to prevent ISIS from taking control of the region's oilfields.
The US regularly conducts airstrikes in Syria, citing terrorism as the reason for these actions. However, the Syrian government has consistently argued that the presence of US forces in the country is aimed at exploiting Syria’s natural resources, particularly oil. Former US president Donald Trump even acknowledged the US interest in Syria's oil wealth during his tenure, further fueling these claims.
In another development, the Biden administration is considering removing the terrorist designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a militant group operating in Syria. This move is being discussed as a way to facilitate international engagement with Syria's new government, although discussions are still in the early stages. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that the US is monitoring HTS's actions closely and has not yet made a decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, militants launched a surprise attack on Syria’s Aleppo and surrounding areas on November 27, advancing southward and seizing several major cities, including Hama, Homs, Dara’a, and Suwayda. The militants eventually captured the capital, Damascus, on December 8, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Syria.
