Blinken hails 'hope' for Syrians after Assad’s fall; UN meet on Syria expected tomorrow

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Sunday expressed optimism for the Syrian people following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, stating that Syrians now have "hope," Al Jazeera reported. 

Blinken reiterated US support for a peaceful transition of power to an accountable, Syrian-led government, with an emphasis on preserving state institutions, resuming essential services, and protecting vulnerable communities.

He also noted that the US would be closely monitoring developments, highlighting that while it had taken note of recent statements by rebel leaders, it would assess their actions moving forward. Blinken underscored the US's commitment to an inclusive and transparent political process in Syria.

Earlier, President Joe Biden delivered a statement, effectively taking credit for Assad’s regime collapse, pointing to the weakening of key allies like Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah during his time in office. Biden suggested that US pressure on these forces played a significant role in the Syrian president’s downfall.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Turkish counterpart about the situation in Syria. Both agreed on the importance of opposition groups upholding international humanitarian norms and protecting civilians. 

Austin stressed continued US-Turkey cooperation to ensure that Syria’s instability does not jeopardize their joint mission to defeat ISIS and secure regional allies.

Reports indicate that the United Nations Security Council will meet soon to discuss the ongoing situation in Syria, following a request from Russia, with diplomatic sources suggesting it could be a pivotal moment in the international response to the crisis.