President-elect Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the United States should avoid military engagement in Syria, following a major offensive by opposition forces that has reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus. In a post on his social media platform, Trump declared, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” while emphasizing that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to remain in power.
Trump’s comments came as he attended the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. The ongoing conflict in Syria, which began in 2011 as a peaceful uprising against Assad, has evolved into a brutal, 13-year war involving numerous foreign powers. Assad’s government, backed by Russian and Iranian military forces, along with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias, has been fighting opposition groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a militant faction with historical ties to al-Qaida. While the U.S. has designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization, the group has since severed ties with al-Qaida.
Trump’s remarks reflect his long-standing stance against U.S. military involvement in the region. He argued that the conflict, which has killed more than 500,000 people, is not America’s concern. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump wrote on Saturday.
The rebel advance toward Damascus, which has met little resistance from Assad’s forces, has prompted concern among U.S. officials, especially as the situation could potentially alter the balance of power in Syria. The Biden administration has acknowledged the growing insurgent momentum but has refrained from suggesting U.S. military intervention. Currently, around 900 U.S. troops remain stationed in Syria, primarily working with Kurdish allies in the northeast to counter the Islamic State group.
Syrian opposition activists have closely monitored the situation, keen to understand the stance of both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration on how the U.S. should respond. The United Nations’ special envoy for Syria also called for urgent peace talks in Geneva to facilitate an “orderly political transition” in Syria.
Trump also commented on Russia’s involvement in Syria, noting that Moscow is “so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria.” He speculated that the rebels could potentially force Assad from power.
Mouaz Moustafa, an influential Syrian opposition activist, responded emotionally to Trump’s comments, expressing that the best hope for the opposition is for the U.S. to remain uninvolved. Rebels have freed political prisoners as they advance, and Moustafa pledged to protect any U.S. citizens, including journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing for over a decade and is believed to be held by Assad’s forces.
Despite its history of extremism, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has sought to rebrand itself, emphasizing its protection of religious minorities. The group continues to be viewed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations.