U.S. President Joe Biden says the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it is also “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Mideast.
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00:00At long last the Assad regime has fallen. This regime brutalized and tortured and killed
00:07literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians. The fall of the regime is a fundamental
00:12act of justice. It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people
00:18of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It's also a moment of risk and
00:23uncertainty. As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will
00:29work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity
00:36to manage the risk. You know, for years the main backers of Assad have been Iran,
00:43Hezbollah, and Russia. But over the last week their support collapsed, all three of them,
00:49because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office.
00:54And let's remember why. After Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th, 2023, when much of
01:02the world responded with horror, Iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi-front war against
01:07Israel. That was a historic mistake on Iran's part. Today Iran's main territorial proxy,
01:15Hezbollah, is also on its back. The upshot for all this is, for the first time ever,
01:20neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria.
01:27This is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine, Israel have delivered upon their own self-defense
01:34with unflagging support of the United States. Looking ahead, the United States will do the
01:39following. First, we'll support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel,
01:47should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition. I'll speak with leaders
01:53of the region in the coming days. I had long discussions with all of our people earlier this
01:57morning. And I'll send senior officials from my administration to the region as well. We will
02:02help stability, ensure stability in eastern Syria, protecting any personnel, our personnel,
02:09against any threats, and remain our mission against ISIS will be maintained, including
02:17security of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners.
02:22We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum
02:27to reestablish its capabilities and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen. We
02:32will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations,
02:39to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign, and
02:44independent, independent, I might not say it again, sovereign Syria with a new constitution,
02:51a new government that serves all Syrians. And this process will be determined by the Syrian people
02:55themselves. And the United States will do whatever we can to support them, including through
03:01humanitarian relief to help restore Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of
03:07brutality by the Assad family. We are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including
03:13those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captain more than 12 years ago.
03:20We remain committed to returning him to his family. This is the best opportunity in generations
03:26for Syrians to forge their own future, free of opposition. It's also an opportunity
03:33through far from certain, though it's far from certain, for a more secure and prosperous Middle
03:38East, where our friends are safe, where our enemies are contained. And it would be a waste
03:46of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled, and only to see a new one rise up in
03:52this place. This past few days has been historic. And, you know, it's in the days ahead that will
03:59determine the future of this country. We intend to approach them with strength, wisdom, and resolve.