US official Shapiro: American military presence will continue in eastern Syria

Dan Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, says American deployment in eastern Syria will continue, explaining that the US presence is “solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict,” using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

“We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria’s minority communities, to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement,” Shapiro says.

“Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad’s horrific crimes, Russia’s indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS.”

Shapiro, however, is careful not to directly say Assad has been deposed by the insurgents.

“If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime,” he adds.