Blinken warns Islamic State will try to re-establish capabilities in Syria

US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken warned on Monday (9 December) that Islamic State would try to use the period to reassert its capabilities in Syria, but said the US was determined not to let that happen. “Syrians have to make their own choices,” Blanken said. Going forward, he added that statements by rebel leaders about building a coalition government were welcome but that the real initiative would be in their actions., not just at their behest. Syrian rebels seized the capital Damascus on Sunday after a lightning advance sent unopposed President Bashar al-Assad fleeing Russia after 13 years of civil war and more than five decades of his family’s autocratic rule. “His brutality and his corruption, none other than Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. So, this moment presents a historic opportunity, but it also carries considerable risks.”How quickly moments of promise can descend into conflict and violence. ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, creating safe havens. As our weekend demonstrated, we are determined not to let that happen.” Assad’s ouster this weekend, after rebel forces attacked Damascus, has weakened Iran’s influence in the Middle East. Broke the network