Donald Trump described the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government by opposition forces in Syria as a "forcible takeover" orchestrated by Turkey.
In his first comments on Turkey’s role in Syria following Assad’s ouster, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on December 16 characterized Turkey as a "large military force unscathed by war."
He claimed that Turkey had conducted "a forcible takeover without significant loss of life" by supporting opposition forces in the overthrow.
"They’ve wanted this for thousands of years, and they got it. Those now in power are under Turkey’s control, but that’s okay—it’s one way to fight," Trump added, seemingly referring to Turkey’s predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, which once ruled the territory that is modern-day Syria. He remarked that the situation in Syria remains highly complex and suggested that Turkey holds "the key" to the country. Ankara has yet to comment.
Turkey controls large swaths of land in northern Syria after conducting several cross-border operations against Kurdish forces in its neighboring country. Ankara is also widely regarded as a primary backer of Syrian anti-government armed groups following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan revealed on December 13 that Turkey had asked Russia and Iran—Assad’s closest allies—not to intervene militarily to support Damascus as opposition forces advanced toward the capital.
Experts believe Ankara gave a "green light" to the offensive led by the anti-government coalition spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, though it did not directly participate. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated on December 15 that Ankara is prepared to provide military support to Syria’s new government if requested. He also indicated that Turkey may discuss and reassess its military presence in Syria with the new government when the necessary conditions are met.
Following the fall of Assad’s government on December 8, the U.S. and Turkey held several discussions about efforts to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. Washington currently maintains approximately 900 troops in the Middle Eastern country to combat IS remnants.
When asked about his plans for U.S. forces stationed in Syria, President-elect Trump did not respond directly but instead highlighted his "very harmonious" relationship with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, noting that Ankara possesses a "very strong military."
(Source: Reuters)
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