Trump accuses Turkey of 'unfriendly takeover' in Syria

WASHINGTON,— U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday described the ousting of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as an “unfriendly takeover” orchestrated by U.S. ally Turkey, while addressing the ongoing conflict during a news conference in Florida.

“Turkey is very smart,” Trump said. “They carried out an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. Assad was a butcher—look at what he did to children.”

Assad reportedly fled to Russia earlier this month after a swift offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured key cities and eventually the Syrian capital.

The rapid collapse of Assad’s government shocked the international community and triggered celebrations in parts of Syria and abroad. Assad’s rule had been marked by a brutal crackdown on protests in 2011 that escalated into one of the deadliest wars in modern history.

HTS, which has roots in Syria’s branch of al-Qaida, is labeled a terrorist organization by several Western nations. Despite this designation, the group has tried to soften its image, pledging to protect the country’s religious minorities.

Analysts say Turkey has been a critical supporter of Islamist opposition forces since the early days of the Syrian uprising, offering refuge to millions of Syrians, hosting opposition leaders, and backing armed rebel groups.

In recent years, HTS took control of parts of northwestern Syria near the Turkish border. From there, it launched the offensive that ultimately drove Assad from power.

Turkey, which has conducted multiple military operations inside Syria, has expressed readiness to back the new Islamist-led government formed by Islamist rebel forces.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long prioritized eliminating Kurdish separatist fighters in Syria—a stance shared by Syria’s new leadership, according to officials.

Analysts warn that Ankara is wary of a potential Kurdish autonomous region in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava), Syria’s northern region, fearing it could inspire similar movements within Turkey’s own Kurdish population in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur).

“Turkey is a major force,” Trump said. “President Erdogan and I get along great. He’s built a strong and powerful military that hasn’t been worn down by war.”

Turkey’s role in Assad’s removal and its influence over Syria’s future have drawn global attention, with experts watching closely to see how the new government’s Islamist orientation will shape the region and its relationships with international powers.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)