Biden Pledges US Support for Syria, Its Neighbors After Collapse of Assad Regime

President Joe Biden spoke to the nation on December 8 from the White House, commending the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria while acknowledging the immediate uncertainty facing the country and the region.

Biden assured that his administration would collaborate with Syrian factions to help establish a new government for an independent and sovereign Syria.

“After years of brutality, torture, and mass killings, the Assad regime has finally fallen,” Biden declared. “This marks a significant moment of justice.”

The president described this event as both a “historic opportunity” and a “time of risk and uncertainty” for the Syrian people.

He emphasized that it would be up to the Syrian population to determine the formation of a new government.

“The United States stands ready to assist them, including providing humanitarian aid to aid in Syria’s recovery after more than a decade of conflict,” Biden promised.

Biden’s remarks followed Assad’s forced departure from Syria following a rapid rebel seizure of Damascus, with the rebels declaring victory on the morning of December 8.

Furthermore, Biden pledged support to Syria’s neighboring nations—Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel—in light of potential threats posed by the power shift in Syria.

He announced plans to dispatch senior U.S. officials to the region to address these concerns.

According to Russian state media, Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Moscow.

“Assad and his family have sought refuge in Moscow. Russia has granted them asylum for humanitarian reasons,” reported the Russian news agency TASS, citing a Kremlin source.

The end of Assad’s reign signifies the conclusion of his family’s rule over the country, which lasted more than fifty years.

Biden attributed the regime’s downfall to the withdrawal of support from Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah over the past week. He noted that all three entities are currently weaker than when he assumed office.

US Launches Strikes on ISIS Camps

The White House disclosed that Biden had convened a meeting with his national security team and authorized strikes on ISIS camps in Syria.

“The operation targeted over 75 sites using various U.S. Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s,” stated U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

CENTCOM confirmed that no civilian casualties were reported as a result of the strikes.

Nearly 140 munitions were deployed on these targets, as outlined by a senior administration official.

“We specifically targeted a significant gathering of ISIS fighters and leaders,” the official informed reporters on December 8.

The Pentagon revealed that close to 900 American forces are currently stationed in northeastern and eastern Syria to combat ISIS.

Biden assured that the U.S. would safeguard its troops from any threats while continuing the mission against ISIS in eastern Syria, including securing detention facilities holding ISIS combatants.

The president underscored that the U.S. would prevent ISIS from exploiting any power vacuum in Syria.

Biden’s Commitment to Austin Tice

Prior to concluding his address, Biden reiterated his commitment to bringing back Austin Tice, an American journalist abducted in Syria in 2012.

“We have reason to believe he is still alive,” Biden stated. “Our objective is to locate his whereabouts.”

Tice, a former Marine Corps officer and freelance journalist, was kidnapped near Damascus on August 14, 2012, while covering the Syrian civil war.

Five weeks after his abduction, a 43-second video surfaced on social media titled “Austin Tice is Alive,” featuring Tice visibly distressed and blindfolded in the presence of unidentified armed individuals.

The Assad regime consistently denied allegations of holding or abducting any American citizens on its territory.

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