Blinken Says US Does Not Intend to Normalize Relations with Syria’s Assad

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (AP)
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Blinken Says US Does Not Intend to Normalize Relations with Syria’s Assad

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (AP)

The United States does not intend to support any efforts to normalize ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or rehabilitate him until there is irreversible progress towards a political solution in Syria, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday.

Speak at a press conference, Blinken said Washington’s priorities in Syria focused on providing humanitarian aid, stemming any extremist activity that may target the United States and keeping violence down.

“What we do not intend to do is to express support for any efforts to normalize relations or rehabilitate Mr. Assad or lift a single sanction on Syria... until there is irreversible progress towards a political solution”, Blinken said.



Blinken Speaks to Israel’s Dermer about Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

 A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
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Blinken Speaks to Israel’s Dermer about Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

 A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)
A man sits on rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (AFP)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza in a meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer in Washington on Monday, the State Department said.

Dermer updated Blinken on operational changes and policy decisions taken by Israel in response to a US letter sent in October, the department said in a statement on Tuesday.

Blinken "emphasized the importance of ensuring those changes lead to an actual improvement in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including through the delivery of additional assistance to civilians throughout Gaza," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in the statement.