US says no change in Syria policy, al-Assad a ‘dictator with blood on his hands’

The Biden administration said on Monday that US policy on Syria had not changed, saying the Syrian president has blood on his hands.

“Nothing has changed with respect to our policy on [Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. He’s a dictator with blood on his hands,” State Department Spokesman Matt Miller told reporters.

Miller added that Washington still wanted to see a political solution to the yearslong conflict in Syria, “where Syrian people get to determine who their leaders are.”

Renewed violence erupted across the country in recent days after armed opposition factions and groups conducted a surprise offensive against areas and towns held by the Syrian government.

The latest attack was initiated by “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.” Formerly known as “al-Nusra Front,” it was al-Qaeda’s official wing in the Syrian war until breaking ties in 2016.

The group is designated by the US and the United Nations as a terror organization.

However, a separate opposition alliance also launched another offensive from areas north of Aleppo. These rebels are backed by Turkey and organized under the banner of the Syrian National Army.