A portrait of former Syrian President Hafez Al Assad adorns a building in Qamishli, Syria, on December 8, 2024, following the seizure of the capital by rebels and the ousting of President Bashar Al Assad. – Reuter

US President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should face accountability, but he also viewed the political upheaval in Syria as a 'historic opportunity' for the nation to rebuild. In the first comprehensive US response to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden warned that Washington will 'remain vigilant' against the rise of terrorist groups, announcing recent US strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization.

'The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice,' Biden said from the White House. 'It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria.' When asked about the fate of the deposed president, who reportedly fled to Moscow, Biden asserted that 'Assad should be held accountable.'

Biden, who is set to step down in January, paving the way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power, pledged that Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding their country. 'We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad government toward an independent, sovereign Syria with a new constitution,' he said.

However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be closely monitored. 'Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,' Biden noted. The United States has 'taken note' of recent statements by rebels suggesting moderation, but emphasized: 'We will assess not just their words, but their actions.'

Biden also warned that the Islamic State extremist group, often referred to as ISIS, 'will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish' itself in Syria. 'We will not let that happen,' he said, adding that US forces conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria on Sunday. The US military reported that warplanes targeted Islamic State operatives and camps, hitting 'over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s.'

Assad's reported departure occurred less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged over five decades of Assad family rule with a swift rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced they had taken Damascus and that Assad fled, sparking nationwide celebrations and the ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source confirmed to Russian news agencies that the deposed leader and his family are now in Moscow.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Biden's optimism, stating that 'after 14 years of conflict, the Syrian people finally have reason for hope.' He also reiterated the need for justice and vigilance, pledging support for international efforts to hold the Assad regime and its backers accountable for atrocities and abuses against the Syrian people, including the use of chemical weapons.

One major concern is the fate of the Syrian government's apparent stockpile of chemical weapons and whether they will fall into rebel hands. 'We are taking very prudent measures in that regard,' a senior US administration official told reporters. The US military has 'good fidelity' on the location of chemical weapons, the official said, emphasizing that 'we're doing everything we can to prudently ensure that those materials... obviously are either not available to anyone or are cared for.'

Damascus has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons, despite numerous accusations. The US military maintains around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly targeted sites in the country, including those linked to Iranian-backed militias, which were major supporters of Assad's government.

Biden also confirmed that US authorities believe American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, is still alive, but they have yet 'to identify where he is.'

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