Media: US has no plans to withdraw troops from Syria

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro has stated that the US will continue its presence in eastern Syria.

His comments came shortly after Syrian rebels claimed they had overthrown Bashar al-Assad's government, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

He noted that the US will take necessary actions to prevent the Islamic State from resurfacing.

Shapiro urged all parties to protect civilians, especially minorities, and to adhere to international standards. 

"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," he said at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain's capital. 

"We're determined to ensure [Islamic State's] enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons," Shapiro added.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the rebel advances across western Syria, was once an al-Qaeda affiliate known as the Nusra Front until its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, broke ties with the global jihadist group in 2016. 

Western governments, which have long avoided engaging with the Assad-led state, must now decide how to interact with a new administration where HTS is likely to hold influence. It is important to note that HTS is a globally designated terrorist group.

On December 7, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that armed individuals had infiltrated the buffer zone along the ceasefire line from the Syrian side. Following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the capture of Damascus by Islamist rebels on December 8, the IDF decided to tighten restrictions on several cities near the Syrian border. In particular, checkpoints will be set up around the Golan Heights. On the same day, Israel launched airstrikes on targets in the Aleppo province. Israeli politicians are urging the government to take measures to prevent jihadists’ presence along the border.

By Naila Huseynova