Pentagon says the United States. will remain engaged in the eastern Syria theatre and mark measures termed as suitable to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said on Sunday.
On the same platform as the Syrian rebel declaration of an overthrow of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, Shapiro called for all actors to spare civilian lives, particularly vulnerable groups, and adhere to international norms.
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“We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic conditions within the country of Syria could give ISIS a space to operate and plan external operations, and we re determined to work with our partners to continue to degrade their capabilities,” he told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain’s capital. “We’re determined to ensure ISIS’s enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons,” Shapiro added.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was formerly known as the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda affiliate, before its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani severed ties with the global jihadist movement in 2016. It spearheaded rebel advances across the western Syrian front. Now, with the major Western countries having shunned the regime led by Assad for years, the challenging task lies on how to engage with new government-cum-probable HTS influence. HTS is a globally designated terrorist group.