President Biden asserted that the militant takeover of Damascus constitutes a pivotal act of justice.
President Biden took credit for the fall of Damascus to a coalition of armed groups, including Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), attributing it to the weakening of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s supporters by the US.
In a White House video address, Biden described the swift militant offensive as a “fundamental act of justice” and a “moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering citizens of Syria.”
Biden stated that Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, Assad’s key backers, had significantly weakened over the course of his presidency, leading to the collapse of their support in the past week.
Since 2011, the US has sought Assad’s removal amidst a devastating civil war, which saw foreign-backed Islamists rise to prominence among anti-government forces. HTS, a group involved in the Damascus takeover, is a successor to Jabhat al-Nusra, a Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate. The conflict intensified in 2014 with the emergence of the Islamic State (IS) as a major regional threat amid Syria’s security collapse.
Biden emphasized US sanctions against Syria, the US military presence, support for Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria (denying Damascus access to resources), support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, and its direct confrontation with Iran as key factors in this outcome. He stated that these actions have shifted the regional balance of power, echoing similar comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This combined strategy—support for partners, sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted military action—has created new opportunities for the Syrian people and the wider region.
Biden acknowledged HTS’s history of terrorism and human rights abuses, stating the US will judge them on their actions. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also expressed concerns about HTS’s history of terrorism and atrocities.
A $10 million US bounty has been placed on Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the current HTS leader, since 2013, with the US government alleging his forces were responsible for civilian kidnappings and massacres.