But Washington now sees its military presence as a hedge against further instability, even as it remains unclear how Syria’s new rulers will view US presence.
Washington still designates as a terrorist organisation the Sunni Muslim militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was chief among the rebel forces that ended 50 years of brutal dynastic rule by Assad.
“There has been no formal change in any policies,” on such groups, said Finer. “Those designations are not made based on what groups say or what they say their intentions are or they intend to do, it’s about actions so we will be watching.”
He characterised as “quite constructive” some of what those groups have been saying in recent weeks but said Washington would wait and see if those statements are followed by action to bring about “credible, inclusive governance for Syria.”
He said the Biden administration is in contact with members of the incoming team of President-elect Donald Trump and keeping them apprised about Syria.
