By Alexander Cornwell
MANAMA (Reuters) – The United States will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and take necessary measures to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said on Sunday.
Hours after Syrian rebels announced they had overthrown Bashar al-Assad’s government, Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, especially minorities, and respect international standards.
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“We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic conditions on the ground in Syria could provide space for ISIS to become active and plan external operations, and we are committed to working with those partners to further reduce their capabilities. ” he said at the Manama Dialogue security conference in the Bahrain capital.
“(We are committed) to ensuring the lasting defeat of the Islamic State, to ensuring the safe detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons,” Shapiro added.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the rebel advance in western Syria, was previously an affiliate of al Qaeda known as the Nusra Front until its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, resigned in 2016 severed ties with the global jihadist movement.
Western governments, which have shunned the Assad-led state for years, must decide how to deal with a new government in which HTS appears to have influence. HTS is a globally designated terrorist group.
(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Frances Kerry)
