The recent surprise offensive on Aleppo by Syrian rebel groups has put the US in a challenging position of not fully supporting either side while maintaining a force posture of nearly 1,000 troops in Syria as part of the ongoing mission to combat ISIS. The Pentagon has distanced the US from the offensive, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization, urging de-escalation.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted concerns about HTS being a terrorist organization while acknowledging the pressure faced by the Assad government backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. The US has designated HTS as a terror organization due to its ties to al Qaeda.
