Syria. The Americans attacked Islamic State targets from the air

As we read in the announcement of the US Central Command, American forces attacked training camps and fighters of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in central Syria.

“The attacks on ISIS leaders, fighters and camps were carried out as part of an ongoing mission to dismantle, weaken and defeat ISIS. The goal was to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not attempt to exploit the current situation to rebuild in central Syria.” – wrote CENTCOM.

In total, the Americans attacked over 75 targets using US Air Force aircraft, including B-52s, F-15s and A-10s.

“Work is underway to assess the losses incurred as a result of the battle. There is no information about civilian casualties,” the statement continues.

CENTCOM further writes that “together with allies and partners in the region, it will continue operations to undermine ISIS's operational capabilities in Syria.”

CENTCOM then refers to the words of General Michael Erik Kurilli, who spoke strongly about possible further actions of ISIS.

“There should be no doubt – we will not allow ISIS to recreate itself and take advantage of the current situation in Syria. All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they cooperate with or support ISIS in any way,” the military official said.

About 900 US troops remain in Syria, located mainly in the At-Tanf garrison in the east of the country. The main partner of American forces is the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which in the past has clashed with both the Assad regime's troops and Turkey and the rebel groups it supports in northern Syria.

Joe Biden also commented on the situation in Syria on Sunday. He announced support for the Syrians in creating a new state.

– The Assad regime has finally fallen. This regime has brutalized, tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. This is a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their country, Biden said in a speech at the White House.

The US president warned that a change of power would involve “significant risks and uncertainties”, given that some rebel groups have “their own history of terrorism and human rights abuses”. However, he declared that the US “will do whatever is possible” to support Syrians in building a new future, including through humanitarian aid. He also announced that US troops in Syria on a mission to fight the Islamic State will remain there to ensure that terrorists do not take advantage of the opportunity to revive their activities. He reported that on Sunday, US forces carried out a number of strikes on camps and places associated with this group.

Biden noted that the fall of the Assad regime was the result of the weakness of its main allies – Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. He emphasized that this was also due to his administration's support for Israel's actions against Iran and its facilitators in Syria and Lebanon.

The president announced that the US will also support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel, by protecting them from any threat from Syria during the transition phase.

“This is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future. It is also an opportunity – though far from certain – for a safer and more prosperous Middle East where our friends are safe and our enemies are contained, Biden said. He also warned Syrian opposition groups against wasting this opportunity.

– It would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one dictator fell only to see a new one rise in its place. So now it is the responsibility of all opposition groups that want to play a role in governing Syria to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, Biden said.

At the conference after Biden's speech, a high-ranking representative of the White House admitted that the US did not expect the Assad regime to collapse so quickly, although behind the scenes it was taking action together with partners to, among others, monitor Assad's chemical weapons stockpiles and for America's allies in Syria – the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces – to fill the void left by the regime in the east of the country.

When asked whether the US intends to cooperate with the strongest opposition group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is considered a terrorist organization by the US (it was founded on the foundations of the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, the Nusra Front), the official confirmed that Washington intends to talk to all groups. He did not predict what would happen with the recognition of HTS as a terrorist organization, but pointed out that so far the group's leader Abu Muhamad al-Jaulani “has said the right things” about the future of Syria as a country for all groups and minorities.

– (HTS) is kind of a wide kaleidoscope of groups, and I think we have to be smart and know how to deal with it, and also very careful and pragmatic about what the realities are on the ground. “All we can say is that HTS is saying the right things and doing the right things so far,” he said. He noted, however, that HTS is one of many different groups forming the opposition.

The official also said that in recent days, Washington has been conducting intensive consultations with Turkey on Syria, including on the US's Kurdish allies, whom Turkey considers a threat and enemy. However, he noted that the talks were focused on Syria's transformation and future.