President-elect Donald Trump attributes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s departure to Russia’s withdrawal of support amid its focus on Ukraine. Following rebel forces seizing Damascus, Trump highlighted Assad's weakened alliances with Russia and Iran, marking a turning point in Syria’s conflict.
US President-elect Donald Trump has attributed the fall of Syria to Russia’s diminished interest in supporting President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. His remarks followed reports of Syrian rebels seizing Damascus in a surprise offensive early Sunday, which led to Assad fleeing the country to an undisclosed location.
Speaking on Truth Social, Trump stated that Russia’s shifting priorities, particularly its focus on the war in Ukraine, led to Assad losing critical support. “Assad is gone. His protector, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, is no longer interested in Syria,” Trump declared, noting that Russia’s military is heavily strained, with hundreds of thousands of casualties in Ukraine.
Trump emphasized that the United States was not involved in the Syrian rebel offensive and advised against American intervention in the situation. He also highlighted the weakened states of Assad’s key allies, Russia and Iran, citing Russia's prolonged conflict in Ukraine and Iran's struggles against Israel’s military operations.
Syrian rebel forces described their rapid capture of Damascus as a “liberation,” marking a significant turn in the country’s prolonged civil war. Trump, who is set to take office on January 20, suggested that the collapse of Assad’s regime is a result of waning international support and broader geopolitical dynamics.
The developments signal a pivotal moment in Syria’s conflict, with uncertainties surrounding the country's future as rebel forces consolidate control.
