WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the fall of Bashar al-Assad, ending over 50 years of torture, corruption, and autocratic rule by the Assad family and nearly 14 years of civil war and systematic atrocities by his regime, supported by Russia and Iran:
“For the first time in decades, Syrians have a real opportunity to move past the horrors inflicted by Bashar al-Assad and his enablers in Russia and Iran, and beyond the decades of suffering under his family’s brutal rule.
“My thoughts are with all Syrians—regardless of religion, sect, or ethnicity— as they together forge a path towards the country they have fought and suffered to create for all these long years. Drawing on ‘the better angels of our nature,’ as Abraham Lincoln once urged, will be essential for the Syrian people in their pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and peace.
"A peaceful transition, in adherence to UN Security Council Resolution 2254, is vital in the weeks and months ahead. Stakeholders inside and outside of Syria must commit to constructive roles and avoid the chaos that often follows the fall of a tyrant. All Syrians, their human rights, and their state institutions must be protected. International efforts must focus on securing the Assad regime’s weapons, particularly chemical stockpiles, and ensuring groups like ISIS do not exploit this moment.
"Regional stability is equally critical. Support for key partners—including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq—must remain steadfast to secure their borders and maintain security.
The humanitarian situation remains dire and the international community must be prepared to help the millions of displaced Syrians both inside and outside the country and help manage their reintegration as they return to their home communities.
"The international community, with leadership from the United States, must be prepared to provide Syrians the assistance they need to create the country and the future they deserve and for which they have fought for so long. Today marks the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter for the Syrian people.”
###