No alternative for US but to do U-turn on Syria

The United States and its Western and regional allies have been exploring ways to remove the Syrian president from power.

The administration of former US president Barack Obama made any resolution of the crisis in the war-ravaged country conditional on President Assad’s ouster.

However, Iran, along with Russia, have always stressed that the matter must be decided by the people of Syria. 
Nonetheless, since Donald Trump took the helm of the Oval Office in January, his administration decided to change many of the Obama-era policies.
Last week, Washington made an apparent U-turn on its long-held policy regarding Syria with U-S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson saying the fate of Assad is up to the Syrians.
Tillerson’s remarks were later echoed by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who said the White House is no longer focused on ousting the Syrian president. She also said the US will instead focus efforts on resolving the Syria crisis.

During his presidential campaign, Trump had hinted that he would reverse his predecessor’s policies on Syria. A few weeks ago, the Republican billionaire said his administration’s first goal in the Middle East including Syria would be the eradication of the Daesh terrorist group.

The comments made by Trump and his senior officials have raised questions about Washington’s U-turn with regard to the Syria crisis.

Trump’s statements about fighting against Daesh do not hold water. This is because the White House is still supporting certain regional states that are the main sponsors of terrorist groups in the region. Likewise, Washington and its allies accuse Iran of destabilizing the region. This is while the Islamic Republic has played a major role in fighting against terror groups in Syria and Iraq.

Besides, Washington’s U-turn is not linked to the transition of power in the United States.

In fact, the victories of the Syrian Army and its allies against terrorist groups have pushed the US to change its policies.

The liberation of Aleppo was a crushing defeat for foreign-backed terrorists and their supporters. The Syrian Army still continues to strike fresh blows to Daesh and Nusra Front terrorists in other fronts.

Washington has realized that the days of its henchmen in the Middle East are numbered and that they can no longer serve the interests of their masters.