Amidst the escalating Syrian civil war, with opposition forces gaining ground against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, former President Donald Trump has voiced his opinion on the matter. The Islamist rebels' advance has reached the outskirts of Damascus, prompting Trump to declare on Truth Social that the U.S. should avoid involvement in the conflict.
Trump criticized former President Obama's inaction following Assad's 2013 chemical weapons attack, which killed over 1,400 civilians. He argued that Obama's failure to enforce his "red line" emboldened Russia's intervention in Syria. Trump suggested that Russia's current struggles in Ukraine might prevent them from effectively supporting Assad's regime.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported an attack on a UN post in Syria and announced the deployment of reinforcements to the Golan Heights to safeguard Israel's security. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the Syrian crisis with his Turkish counterpart, emphasizing the need to protect civilians and pursue a political resolution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, is reportedly a major force within the rebel coalition gaining territory. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Syria and Iranian-backed groups at the Atlantic Council, described Trump's stance as consistent with his previous views, reflecting a realistic assessment of the situation. He interpreted Trump's message to both Assad and the HTS coalition as one of non-intervention. Smyth acknowledged the possibility of Assad using chemical weapons again and anticipated further instability in the fight for Damascus.
The swift fall of key Syrian cities like Aleppo and Hama suggests a potential turning point in the conflict, highlighting the Assad regime's apparent vulnerabilities despite its past displays of strength.
