US official denies plans to withdraw troops from Syria

The U.S. government remains committed to its military presence in Syria, with no plans to withdraw its forces, according to Ethan Goldrich, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

Goldrich, who manages the Syrian file at the State Department, made these remarks in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday, dispelling rumors of the U.S.’ potential withdrawal under President Joe Biden’s administration.

“Our focus right now is on the mission that we have there to keep Daesh from reemerging,” Goldrich stated, addressing speculation about a potential U.S. troop withdrawal. He highlighted the ongoing partnership with local forces in Syria, which is crucial in maintaining stability and countering the Daesh threat.

US continues humanitarian assistance in Syria

The U.S. remains a provider of humanitarian assistance in Syria. Goldrich noted that the U.S. pledged $593 million in aid this past spring as part of a broader effort to alleviate suffering in the conflict-ridden country. “Since the beginning of the conflict, we have provided $18 billion both to help the Syrians who are inside of Syria and to help the refugees who are in surrounding countries,” Goldrich said.

However, Goldrich stressed that while humanitarian aid is crucial, a broader political solution is necessary to resolve the conflict. He pointed to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254 as the framework for achieving lasting peace and stability in Syria.

‘No US normalization with Assad regime‘

Goldrich reaffirmed the U.S.’s stance on the Assad regime, stating, “For the United States, our policy continues to be that we will not normalize with the regime in Syria until there’s been authentic and enduring progress on the goals of resolution 2254, until the human rights of the Syrian people are respected and until they have the civil and human rights that they deserve.”

We know other countries have engaged with the regime. When those engagements happen, we don’t support them, but we remind countries that are engaged that they should be using their engagements to push forward on the shared international goals under 2254, and that whatever it is that they’re doing should be for the sake of improving the situation of the Syrian people.

Ethan Goldrich

In addition, Goldrich emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to accountability for human rights violations in Syria. He cited recent sanctions imposed on officials responsible for enforced disappearances and highlighted the establishment of an independent institution to assist families in locating missing persons.

Continuing efforts in Syria

Goldrich also mentioned the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to address human rights issues in Syria, including sanctions on officials linked to enforced disappearances. He referenced the establishment of an independent institution aimed at helping families locate missing persons.

In concluding remarks, Goldrich highlighted the importance of ongoing efforts to prevent Daesh from reemerging and the need to continue supporting humanitarian initiatives. He expressed concern over the lack of recent progress in the Syrian Constitutional Committee, attributing the stagnation to cooperation challenges.

“The Syrian people deserve all aspects of the international community’s efforts to be realized, allowing them to return to normalcy,” Goldrich stated, emphasizing the importance of supporting long-term stability in Syria.