President Joe Biden called the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime a historic opportunity for Syria and potentially beneficial for the United States. Assad’s fall weakens Russian and Iranian influence in the region, provides a potential partner in containing ISIS, and opens the door for the release of missing journalist Austin Tice. The U.S. is ready to work with a new government in Syria, but there are risks involved, such as dealing with terrorist-designated groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Assad’s downfall was embarrassing for Russia, as they had supported him for years. The U.S. has been mostly focused on containing ISIS in the region and conducted airstrikes following Assad’s fall. The U.S. sees an opportunity to learn Tice’s fate now that Assad is out of the picture.
The Syrian Defense Forces and rebel groups that overthrew Assad have no interest in ISIS regaining strength, making it easier to contain the terrorist group. The U.S. aims to prevent ISIS from exploiting the power vacuum left by Assad’s fall. Overall, the collapse of Assad’s government presents new opportunities for the U.S. to secure its interests in Syria and the Middle East.
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