US military in Syria stands down as HTS drives back Assad regime, Kurdish forces
The Biden administration has denied any involvement in a stunning offensive by Turkey-linked Islamist rebels who seized Aleppo, Syria's second city, from Damascus’ control over the weekend.
WASHINGTON — US troops are steering clear of the fight between Islamist opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and forces aligned with the government of President Bashar al-Assad in northwest Syria, Pentagon officials said on Monday. That, despite advances by the rebels in also driving out local Kurdish-led forces from key pockets in Tel Rifaat and Aleppo.
“Let me be clear that the US is in no way involved in the operations you see playing out in and around Aleppo in northwestern Syria,” Defense Department press secretary US Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a group of reporters on Monday.
“We’re obviously monitoring the situation, which is on the other side of Syria,” Ryder underscored.
Why it matters: The Biden administration has denied any involvement with HTS’ surprise offensive, which saw the rebels capture Syria’s second city, Aleppo, for the first time since 2016, marking a stunning upset for the Assad regime.
