White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan attributed the Syrian rebel advance into Aleppo and its surrounding areas to Iran, Russia and Hezbollah becoming weaker and more vulnerable in other conflicts.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan assessed the advance of anti-regime forces in and around Aleppo, Syria, saying that this situation is due to the weakening strategic positions of the Syrian regime’s supporters, such as Iran, Russia and Hezbollah. In an interview with CNN, Sullivan discussed the advance of opposition groups in the region and the impact of this situation on the regional balance of power.
“The opposition has looked to the three main actors that have been giving them a hard time for many years, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah. They see these actors as weaker and more vulnerable than they were in the past. They are trying to take advantage of that,” Sullivan said of the Syrian opposition’s advances around Aleppo. Sullivan noted that the pace of the fighting around Aleppo has surprised both the Syrian government and other observers in the region.
The US official said these developments were a result of difficulties that Iran and Russia were experiencing in various regions, including the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Sullivan emphasized that the war in Ukraine in particular was weakening Russia’s regional influence.
Jake Sullivan made statements about whether the conflicts in Aleppo and Idlib will affect US forces deployed in the region. “US forces in Syria to combat ISIS are deployed far from the areas where these attacks are taking place. Therefore, we do not believe they are at imminent risk,” said Sullivan, pointing out that despite this, threats from Shiite militia groups operating in Iran, Iraq and Syria continue.
Stating that the US is working intensively to ensure the security of its soldiers in the region, Sullivan said, “We take daily protective measures against these threats and respond to attacks when necessary.”
Jake Sullivan reminded that the US has designated the anti-regime group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization and stated that they have serious concerns about the goals and designs of this organization. However, Sullivan emphasized that the US is not bothered by the opposition advancing towards Damascus and the pressure on the Assad regime, which remains standing with the support of Iran and Russia.
Assessing the regional and global impacts of the conflicts in Aleppo and Idlib, Sullivan said that these developments revealed a “complex situation.” Stating that the Washington administration is in constant contact with its allies in the region, Sullivan said that the steps to be taken in the future are being meticulously evaluated.
