President-elect Donald Trump stated that a withdrawal from the troubled region of Syria might “be the best thing that can happen” for Russia, while emphasizing that U.S. troops should not become involved in the conflict.
As rebel forces opposing President Bashar Al-Assad regained control of several Syrian cities, Trump shared his thoughts on their progress in a post on his Truth Social platform, which included a clear message in all caps: “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.”
He noted that Russia “seems incapable” of halting the rebel advances in Syria due to their commitments in Ukraine. Trump remarked, “But now they are, like possibly Assad himself, being forced out, and it may actually be the best thing that can happen to them.”
According to the Pentagon, around 900 U.S. troops are stationed in Syria, mainly in the eastern and northeastern regions, as part of an effort to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. Assad has managed to maintain his position with support from Russia and Iran; however, nearly three years into the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not provided any clear signals regarding support or troop deployments to assist Assad.
Russia became involved in the Syrian civil war in 2015, collaborating with Iran-backed militias to support Assad's regime, which is a shared ally.