US President newly elected Donald Trump (Republican Party) said this Saturday (7 December 2024) that the country will stay out of the war in Syria. He declared that the country is a “mess,” but that it is not a friendly nation to Washington: “This is not our fight; let it go; don’t get involved.”
On his profile on Truth Social, Trump also wrote that the war in Ukraine has left Russia unable to stop rebels opposing Bashar al-Assad’s regime and that the possible fall of the Syrian president will be the “best thing” for the country.
Trump is currently in Paris, France. He attended the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday. Before the event, he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy posted two images of the meeting on his X profile. He praised the Republican: “President Trump is, as he has always been, resolute. I thank him (Trump). We agreed to continue working and maintain contact. Peace through strength is possible.”
Iran on Friday withdrew military chiefs and other officials from Syria after rebel groups opposed to al-Assad advanced in Homs, 160 km from the capital, Damascus. Control of the city, Syria’s third-largest, is considered crucial to both sides in the civil war because of its strategic and logistical importance in conflicts.
Jordan and Lebanon declared they were closing their borders with Syria in the wake of the offensives. However, Lebanon has kept open a highway linking the capital, Beirut, to Damascus, which is still under the control of Bashar al-Assad’s forces.
Prior to this, the unstable situation in Syria was reported by foreign authorities in the country. Representatives of the United States government told the NY Times that Damascus is in danger of being taken over by extremists. This would represent the fall of President Bashar al-Assad and the possible establishment of a new government in the country.
Also Read: South Korean President Yoon Seok apologized for martial law but did not resign
