Syrian Government authorities stated on Thursday U.S. military presence in Syria represented an “aggression” towards Syrian sovereignty, and vowed to free the nation from any “illegitimate” international presence.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry assertion was a response to a speech by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday through which he signaled that U.S. forces would remain in areas within Syria indefinitely.
“The American military presence on Syrian land is illegitimate and represents a blatant breach of international law and an aggression against national sovereignty,” the statement read.
Syria would proceed its “relentless war against terrorist movements with their different names until every inch of Syrian soil is cleansed” and would work with “the same determination” to free Syria of any “illegitimate foreign presence.”
Tillerson signaled an open-ended military presence as a part of a broader push to stop the Islamic State’s resurgence, pave the way diplomatically for the eventual departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and curtail Iran’s influence in Syria.
The United States has nearly 2,000 military personnel in Syria, deployed as a part of the U.S.-led coalition’s campaign in opposition to the Islamic State. The Syrian Foreign Ministry statement mentioned the government was not in need of U.S. dollars “stained with the blood of Syrians.”
A test for Trump. The right thing would be to get out, but possibly he could, with Assad’s agreement, help the Kurds form a nation that incorporates the Kurdish part of Syria.
the Syrians are right. we should have no involvement, other than selling arms to both sides on a strictly cash and carry basis 😉
If we stay there, what happens? We’ll just be fighting EVERYONE. Like, there’s zero interest for us to even be there other than to disrupt Syria from strengthening relations with Russia and Iran – which they are ALLOWED TO DO.
It’s not against international law to strengthen diplomatic relations or negotiate trade deals, yet the United States is committed to shoving their dick into a hornet’s nest that isn’t even on its own property.
There’s absolutely zero justification for the U.S to be in Syria, staying there will do nothing but erode America’s already crumbling credibility, let alone any moral high ground they imagine themselves to have.