Russia, Iran ‘share responsibility for Assad’s crimes’: NATO Chief

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Monday that Russia and Iran were complicit in the crimes committed by ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding that his downfall highlighted their unreliability as partners.

“Russia and Iran were the primary backers of the Assad regime and share responsibility for the crimes committed against the Syrian people. They also proved to be unreliable partners, abandoning Assad when he was no longer useful to them,” Rutte said.

“They also proved to be unreliable partners, abandoning Assad when he ceased to be of use to them.”

The head of the Western military alliance said the end of Assad’s rule “is a moment of joy but also uncertainty for the people of Syria and the region.”

“We hope for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive Syrian-led political process,” Rutte said.

“We will be closely watching to see how the rebel leaders conduct themselves during this transition. They must uphold the rule of law, protect civilians and respect religious minorities.”

The end of Assad’s rule followed a 13-year-old civil war sparked by a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

The war killed more than 500,000 people and forced half the pre-war population to flee their homes, many millions of them abroad.