HADERA, Israel – President-elect Donald Trump on Monday warned the United States to keep a close eye on the regime of Sunni authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad. – Claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was behind the rapid collapse of the al-Assad regime.
President Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago, where he was staying, that “a very wise” President Erdogan led the uprising that led to the overthrow of Syria's brutal Assad regime on December 8. “It's just another means of fighting,'' he said. ”
“No one knows who it is, but I know. Do you know this is Turkey? Turkey is behind it,” he said. “And the people who come into the country are controlled by Turkey, which is fine.”
When asked whether he would withdraw the 900 US troops stationed in Syria once he takes office next month, President-elect Trump reminded reporters, “No one knows the final outcome of this region.'' .
“I don't want my soldiers killed, but I don't think that's going to happen now anyway. [Assad regime] The side was destroyed,” President Trump said.
“I think Turkey is very smart. [Erdogan] “He's a very smart guy, very tough,” Trump said, “but Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without many lives lost.”
Although the overthrow of Assad's regime has been largely welcomed in the Western world, Israeli officials warned the United States on Monday against celebrating the putative rise of Turkish power in Syria.
Israeli forces are currently fighting to clear weapons depots in southern Syria in order to stabilize the region and protect civilians near the Islamic State border, analysts said.
“President Erdoğan is a disciple of the Muslim Brotherhood. He is a Turkish Islamic extremist. He is behind the rebel forces in Syria that come from al-Qaeda, Daesh and other very extremist groups,” says an Israeli academic. Ruth Wasserman Rand, a former member of Congress, told The Israel Post on Monday.
However, Turkey is a member of the NATO security alliance, which means that the United States and other allies may have some influence over Turkey.
“Turkey, with President Erdogan at the helm, supports Hamas, supports the Muslim Brotherhood, and it's the same thing,” she said. “And now the whole gang in Syria will be ruled by rebels who are also backed by Turkey and are supporting Hamas.”
Wasserman-Rand added that this distinction “marks important relevance,” especially since the incoming Trump administration intends to support Israel in its fight against terrorist organizations in the region.
“These are not isolated arenas. The United States needs to be very wary of Mr. Erdogan, especially since he is a NATO member.”
