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The United States announced that it is closely monitoring rising tensions in Syria, emphasizing its commitment to defending U.S. personnel and maintaining security to prevent the resurgence of Daesh, according to a statement released Saturday by National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Sean Savett.
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Savett's statement criticized the Assad regime for failing to engage in the political process outlined by United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254, which seeks a political settlement of the Syrian conflict.
The U.S. also attributed the situation to the Assad regime's reliance on Russia and Iran for support.
"The United States has nothing to do with this offensive, which is led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization," the statement clarified, distancing Washington from the recent escalation.
We are closely monitoring the situation in Syria and have been in contact over the last 48 hours with regional capitals. The Assad regime's ongoing refusal to engage in the political process outlined in UNSCR 2254, and its reliance on Russia and Iran, created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria.
At the same time, the United States has nothing to do with this offensive, which is led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization.
The United States, together with its partners and allies, urge de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups, and a serious and credible political process that can end this civil war once and for all with a political settlement consistent with UNSCR 2254.
We will also continue to fully defend and protect U.S. personnel and U.S. military positions, which remain essential to ensuring that Daesh can never again resurge in Syria.
NSC spokesperson Sean Savett
![Anti-government fighters celebrate outside the great mosque in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Abdulaziz KETAZ / AFP)Anti-government fighters drive down a road in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP) / ?The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Aaref WATAD has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Bakr ALKASEM] instead of [Aaref WATAD]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.?Anti-government fighters celebrate in a street in Maaret al-Numan in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Abdulaziz KETAZ / AFP)Anti-government fighters patrol a street in Aleppo on November 30, 2024. - Jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies breached Syria's second city of Aleppo on November 29, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP)](https://img.turkiyetoday.com/images/2024/12/AFP__20241130__36NT8W7__v1__HighRes__SyriaConflictAleppo-1600x1067.jpg)
Fighting erupted on Nov. 27 between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed groups in the western countryside of Aleppo province.
Over the following days, the armed groups made significant territorial gains, seizing control of much of the city center and the surrounding region.
On Saturday, Khan Shaykhun and all of Idlib province fell under the control of anti-regime forces.
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