US to work with partners in helping manage the risk

9/12/2024 6:12

The United States will

work with partners and stakeholders in Syria to help seize an

opportunity and manage the risk, U.S. President Joe Biden said

on Sunday after rebel fighters overthrew Syrian President Bashar

al-Assad.



In remarks at the White House, Biden said the United States

will support Syria's neighbors through the period of transition

and will assess the words and actions of rebel groups.



Biden said the United States does not officially know of

Assad's whereabouts but noted reports that he fled to Moscow. He

said Assad "should be held accountable."



Biden said Syria is in a period of risk and uncertainty and

that it is the first time in years that neither Russia nor Iran

nor the Hezbollah militant organization held an influential role

in Syria.



"For years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran,

Hezbollah and Russia. But over the last week, their support

collapsed - all three of them - because all three of them are

far weaker today than they were when I took office," said Biden,

who became president in 2021.



Biden said U.S. forces on Sunday conducted a dozen precision

strikes within Syria targeting camps and operatives of the

militant group Islamic State.



"It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long

suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their

proud country. It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty,"

Biden said.



"As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the

United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders

in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,"

Biden added.