United States President-elect Donald Trump has described the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as an “unfriendly takeover” orchestrated by Turkey, praising the move for minimizing casualties. Trump’s comments came during a wide-ranging news conference on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, weeks before his scheduled return to the White House on January 20.
Trump’s Remarks on Syria
“I think Turkey is very smart… Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. I can say that Assad was a butcher, what he did to children,” Trump said. His remarks referred to Bashar al-Assad’s ousting on December 8 following a swift offensive led by rebel groups.
The offensive was spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with influence in northwestern Syria, alongside the Syrian National Army (SNA) – a Turkey-backed opposition coalition. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long opposed Assad’s rule and provided extensive support to opposition forces.
US Presence in Syria
During Trump’s first presidency, he sought to withdraw the 900 US troops stationed in Syria, who primarily advised the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed Kurdish-led opposition group. However, he reversed the decision under pressure from allies concerned about the potential resurgence of ISIL (ISIS).
When asked on Monday whether he would revisit the troop withdrawal, Trump replied:
- “Nobody knows” what the future holds for Syria.
- He noted, however, that “Turkey is going to hold the key” to Syria’s stability moving forward.
Turkey’s Role and Unclear Dynamics
Turkey has been a significant backer of opposition groups like the SNA but its exact involvement with HTS remains ambiguous. While Turkey broadly supported the anti-Assad offensive, tensions persist as the SNA continues to fight against the Kurdish-dominated SDF in northern Syria, following Assad’s fall.
Background: Syrian Conflict
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has left the country fractured, with multiple factions and international actors involved. Al-Assad’s forced removal marks a major shift in the conflict’s dynamics, with Turkey emerging as a dominant force in shaping Syria’s political future.
Trump’s comments on Turkey’s role signal potential changes in US foreign policy, with Ankara likely to play a key role in post-Assad Syria under Trump’s second term.
