Tillerson Outlines New US Strategy on Syria, No Future with Assad

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Reuters)
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Tillerson Outlines New US Strategy on Syria, No Future with Assad

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson outlined on Wednesday Washington’s new strategy on Syria, which saw no room for regime head Bashar Assad and sought to counter Iran’s “malicious” influence in the war-torn country.

He accused Assad of killing his own people and therefore Washington would seek his removal through diplomatic means.

“Assad is corrupt and harboring a countless number of terrorist groups. He crossed red lines when he used chemical weapons” against civilians, he added during a speech at Stanford University.

The US official went on to say that Assad was responsible for the formation of the ISIS terror group, while acknowledging that the regime head has been bolstered by Iran and Russia.

The US will maintain military presence in Syria, focused on ensuring ISIS cannot re-emerge, he announced.

Furthermore, he remarked that a total withdrawal of American personnel would help Assad. US disengagement from Syria would also provide Iran "golden opportunity" to strengthen its position there.

Tillerson went on to say: "Reducing and expelling malicious Iranian influence from Syria depends on a democratic Syria."

To that end, Washington will “vigorously” support the UN Geneva process for a political solution and urge Russia to "put new levels of pressure" on the Syrian regime to credibly engage in the talks, stressed Tillerson.

The American administration’s new Syria strategy largely entails increased diplomatic action, characterized by stabilization initiatives and new emphasis on the political solution.

“It is crucial to US national interest to maintain military, diplomatic presence in Syria to help end in conflict there,” explained Tillerson.

“We will not allow Syria to become a launchpad for terrorists to threaten us or our allies,” he added, while announcing that Washington "hears and takes seriously" concerns of NATO ally Turkey on Syria.

On Syria’s reconstruction, he noted that it will take a “long time,” saying that the return of refugees to their homes hinges on the political solution.



Netanyahu Aide Faces Indictment over Gaza Leak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Netanyahu Aide Faces Indictment over Gaza Leak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces indictment on security charges pending a hearing, Israel's attorney general has said, for allegedly leaking top secret military information during Israel's war in Gaza.

Netanyahu's close adviser, Jonatan Urich, has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which legal authorities began investigating in late 2024.

Netanyahu has described probes against Urich and other aides as politically motivated and on Monday said that Urich had not harmed state security. Urich's attorneys said the charges were baseless and that their client's innocence would be proven beyond doubt, reported Reuters.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said in a statement late on Sunday that Urich and another aide had extracted secret information from the Israeli military and leaked it to German newspaper Bild.

Their intent, she said, was to shape public opinion of Netanyahu and influence the discourse about the slaying of six Israeli hostages by their Palestinian captors in Gaza in late August 2024.

The hostages' deaths sparked mass protests in Israel and outraged hostages' families, who accused Netanyahu of torpedoing ceasefire talks that had faltered in the preceding weeks for political reasons.

Netanyahu vehemently denies this. He has repeatedly said that Hamas was to blame for the talks collapsing, while the group has said it was Israel's fault no deal had been reached.

Four of the six slain hostages had been on the list of more than 30 captives that Hamas was set to free if a ceasefire had been reached, according to a defense official at the time.

The Bild article in question was published days after the hostages were found executed in a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. It outlined Hamas' negotiation strategy in the indirect ceasefire talks and largely corresponded with Netanyahu's allegations against the militant group over the deadlock.

Bild said after the investigation was announced that it does not comment on its sources and that its article relied on authentic documents. The newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

A two-month ceasefire was reached in January this year and included the release of 38 hostages before Israel resumed attacks in Gaza. The sides are presently engaged in indirect negotiations in Doha, aimed at reaching another truce.

In his statement on Monday, Netanyahu said Baharav-Miara's announcement was "appalling" and that its timing raised serious questions.

Netanyahu's government has for months been seeking the dismissal of Baharav-Miara. The attorney general, appointed by the previous government, has sparred with Netanyahu's cabinet over the legality of some of its policies.