The sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is forcing the Biden administration and the incoming Trump team to confront intensifying questions about the possibility of greater conflicts across the Middle East.
"Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, 'was not interested in protecting him any longer,'" said President-elect Donald Trump.
Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser.
Biden was meeting with his national security team at the White House on Sunday. He was expected to make public comments later in the day.
The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group.
Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, are in a weakened state right now," noted Trump.
The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated this group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham claims it has since broken ties with al-Qaida.
"Many of 'the rebels' are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they've moderated. Time will tell," expressed Vice President-elect JD Vance on social media.
Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine. He wrote that Putin's government "lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine" and called for an immediate cease-fire after meeting with French and Ukrainian leaders.
"The American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS," stated Daniel B. Shapiro from defense department.
"We call on all parties...to protect civilians...and work towards political settlement," Shapiro added while highlighting multiple actors' poor track records including Russia’s indiscriminate bombings and Iranian-backed militia involvement along with atrocities committed by ISIS."