BURSTSecretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday outlined some of the Biden administration's requirements for supporting a new government in Syria, after a rebel military alliance ousted longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad from power in recent days.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who has been designated a terrorist by the U.S., has emerged as the leading figure in Syria’s liberation, as the charismatic head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS), an Islamist group that split from al Qaeda years ago. HTS has tapped Mohammed al-Bashir, who led its de facto government in Idlib province, to lead the country until March 1.
Blinken in a statement said the U.S. "reaffirms its full support for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition."
“This transition process should lead to credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance that meets international standards of transparency and accountability, consistent with the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254,” Blinken wrote.
Blinken said the shift in power marks a critical time for the nation, which has been in civil war for over a decade.
“The transition process and new government must also uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need, prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbors, and ensure that any chemical or biological weapons stockpiles are secured and safely destroyed,” Blinken said.
“The Syrian people will decide the future of Syria.”
It's unclear how a permanent government will be formed, or whether factions within the rebel alliance will cooperate now that Assad is out of the picture.
Blinken's statement comes as regional powers scramble to defend their interests in Syria, amid uncertainty about the country's future.
The U.S. launched “dozens of precision airstrikes” on more than 75 targets in central Syria on Sunday, including ISIS camps, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“The strikes against the ISIS leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria,” CENTCOM’s statement said.
Israel has also deployed troops into the demilitarized buffer zone on Syria's border, which its defense minister has now declared a “sterile defensive zone,” according to Reuters.
"We are not involved in what's happening in Syria internally, we are not a side in this conflict and we do not have any interest other than protecting our borders and the security of our citizens," Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told the outlet.
In his statement, Blinken called on other countries to support a Syrian government formed through an "inclusive and transparent process."
“All nations should pledge to support an inclusive and transparent process and refrain from external interference. The United States will recognize and fully support a future Syria government that results from this process,” Blinken said.
“We stand prepared to lend all appropriate support to all of Syria’s diverse communities and constituencies.”