00:00These past few days have been historic, and it's in the days ahead that will determine
00:07the future of this country.
00:10Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East through this combination
00:14of support for our partners, sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted military force where necessary.
00:22We will not let that happen.
00:25In fact, just today, toward an independent, sovereign, an independent, independent, I
00:31might not say it again, sovereign Syria, with a new constitution, a new government that
00:36serves all Syrians, this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their
00:43own future, free of opposition.
00:45A lot happening in the Middle East.
00:50After 13 years of civil war in Syria, more than half a century of brutal authoritarian
00:56rule by Bashar Assad and his father before him, rebel forces have forced Assad to resign
01:02his office and flee the country.
01:05We're not sure where he is, but there's word that he's in Moscow.
01:10At long last, the Assad regime has fallen.
01:14This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent
01:20Syrians.
01:21The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice.
01:25It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build
01:30a better future for their proud country.
01:33It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty.
01:36As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our
01:41partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage
01:47the risk.
01:48You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia.
01:57But over the last week, their support collapsed, all three of them, because all three of them
02:02are far weaker today than they were when I took office.
02:05And let's remember why.
02:08After Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th, 2023, when much of the world responded
02:14with horror, Iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi-front war against Israel.
02:20That was a historic mistake on Iran's part.
02:23Today, Iran's main territorial proxy, Hezbollah, is also on its back.
02:29Only 12 days ago, I spoke from the Rose Garden about the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, a deal
02:35that was only possible because Hezbollah has been badly degraded.
02:39Meanwhile, Hamas has been badly degraded as well.
02:44Iran's own military capabilities have been weakened.
02:47Iran tried two times to attack Israel and the United States and build a coalition of
02:53countries to directly defend Israel and help defeat those attacks.
02:58All this made possible for Iran and Hezbollah to continue to prop up – impossible, I should
03:05say, for them to prop up the Assad regime.
03:08Additionally, Russia's support for Assad also failed.
03:12And that's because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance
03:18against invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces.
03:23And that has left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.
03:28Excuse my cold.
03:30The upshot for all this is, for the first time ever, neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah
03:36could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria.
03:40This is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine and Israel have delivered upon their
03:45own self-defense with unflagging support of the United States.
03:50And over the past four years, my administration has pursued a clear and principled policy
03:53towards Syria.
03:55First, we made clear from the start, sanction on Assad would remain in place unless he engaged
04:03seriously in a political process to end the civil war, as outlined by the UN Security
04:09Council resolution passed in 2015.
04:13But Assad refused, so we carried out a comprehensive sanction program against him and all those
04:19responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people.
04:22Second, we maintained our military presence in Syria.
04:26Our counter-ISIS, to counter the support of local partners as well on the ground, their
04:31partners, never ceding an inch of territory, taking out leaders of ISIS, ensuring that
04:38ISIS can never establish a safe haven there again.
04:42Third, we've supported Israel's freedom of action against Iranian networks in Syria and
04:47against actors aligned with Iran who transported lethal aid to Lebanon, and when necessary,
04:54ordered the use of military force against Iranian networks to protect U.S. forces.
05:00Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East.
05:03Through this combination of support for our partners, sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted
05:09military force when necessary, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people
05:14of Syria and for the entire region.
05:17Going ahead, the United States will do the following.
05:20First, we'll support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Israel, should
05:27any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition.
05:32I will speak with leaders of the region in the coming days.
05:34I had long discussions with all of our people earlier this morning.
05:39And I'll send senior officials from my administration to the region as well.
05:44We will help ensure stability in eastern Syria, protecting any personnel, our personnel, against
05:51any threats, and will remain our mission against ISIS will remain maintained, including security
05:59of detention facilities where ISIS fighters are being held as prisoners.
06:04We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to
06:09reestablish its capabilities and to create a safe haven.
06:12We will not let that happen.
06:14In fact, just today, U.S. forces conducted a dozen of precision strikes, airstrikes within
06:22Syria targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives.
06:25Third, we will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United
06:32Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign,
06:39and independent, I might say it again, sovereign Syria with a new constitution, a new government
06:46that serves all Syrians.
06:48This process will be determined by the Syrian people themselves, and the United States will
06:52do whatever we can to support them, including through humanitarian relief to help restore
06:58Syria after more than a decade of war and generations of brutality by the Assad family.
07:04And finally, we will remain vigilant.
07:08Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record
07:13of terrorism and human rights abuses.
07:16We've taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days, and
07:22they're saying the right things now.
07:24But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their
07:28actions.
07:30And we are mindful, we are mindful that there are Americans in Syria, including those who
07:36reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captain more than 12 years ago.
07:43We remain committed to returning him to his family.
07:46As I've said, this is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty, but I also believe
07:53this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future, free
07:59of opposition.
08:00It's also an opportunity, though it's far from certain, for a more secure and prosperous
08:08Middle East, where our friends are safe, where our enemies are contained.
08:15And it would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled, and only to see
08:21a new one rise up in its place.
08:23So it's now incumbent upon all the opposition groups to seek a role in governing Syria,
08:29to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law, and the protection
08:35of religious and ethnic minorities.
08:38These past few days have been historic.
08:41And you know, it's in the days ahead that will determine the future of this country.
08:48We intend to approach them with strength, wisdom, and resolve.
08:52Thank you very much.
08:54God bless America, and God protect our troops.
08:58To Assad now, Mr. President.
09:00What does the U.S. know about where Osama bin Laden is?
09:03What does the U.S. know about where Osama bin Laden might be, and if he's safe?
09:08We believe he's alive.
09:10We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet.
09:14And Assad should be held accountable.
09:16Have you directed an operation to go get him, Mr. President?
09:18Mr. President, is Assad in hospital?
09:20Get who?
09:21Osama bin Laden.
09:23We won't want to get him out.
09:25Yes, sir.
09:26We have to identify where he is.
09:30Thanks, sir.
09:32Don't miss out.
09:34Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.
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