The United States is determined to prevent the Islamic State (IS) from reestablishing a safe haven in Syria, as well as from fragmenting the country, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday. TASR informs about it according to the report of the AFP agency.
“ISIS will seek to use this period to rebuild its capabilities and establish safe havens. As evidenced by our accurate strikes over the weekend, we are determined not to let that happen,” declared the head of American diplomacy. The Central Command of the US Armed Forces said on Sunday that it had carried out airstrikes against IS targets in central Syria, writes Reuters.
Blinken also stated that the US has multiple interests in Syria, including its preservation. “We have a clear interest in doing everything in our power to prevent the fragmentation of Syria, mass migration from Syria, and of course, the spread of terrorism and extremism,” he added. According to Blinken, the US has “a clear interest in ensuring that any weapons of mass destruction or their components that remain in Syria did not fall into the wrong hands“.
Blinken also stated that the Syrian people must decide their future and said that The rebel leaders’ claims of building an inclusive government are welcome, but the real indicator will be their actions, writes Reuters. Syrian rebels seized Damascus on Sunday and toppled President Bashar al-Assad. The end of his reign came after 13 years of civil war, which claimed more than 500,000 lives.
“The end of this regime is a defeat for all those who enabled its barbarism and corruption, especially Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. This moment represents a historic opportunity, but it also carries significant risks,” Blinken said. In 2014, the Islamic State seized large swaths of Syria and Iraq and established an Islamic caliphate. A US-led coalition overthrew him in 2019. Blinken added that the United States will continue to protect its personnel from any threats.
