U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Sunday night that after 14 years of war, the Syrian people finally have a reason to hope.
Blinken emphasized that the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government was due to its unwillingness to participate in a credible political process and its reliance on military support from Russia and the Iranian regime.
The U.S. Secretary of State also announced that the United States supports a peaceful transfer of power to a responsible Syrian government through a Syrian-led political process.
Blinken said, “The Syrian people have the right during this transitional period to demand the preservation of state institutions, the resumption of essential services, and the protection of vulnerable groups and communities.”
He also stated that the United States would closely monitor future developments and, alongside its regional partners, work to hold Assad’s government and its supporters accountable for crimes and human rights violations, including the use of chemical weapons and illegal detentions, such as the detention of American journalist Austin Tice.
In his statement, the U.S. Secretary of State referred to recent comments by Assad’s opposition leaders and emphasized that the U.S. would evaluate not only their words but also their actions.
Antony Blinken called on all parties to respect human rights, take necessary measures to protect civilians, and adhere to international humanitarian laws.
