Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the autumn of Bashar al Assad, saying Syrians “have put up with his brutal regime for far, far too long”.
The prime minister mentioned his authorities is “talking to regional allies” as he urged Syrians to search out “a political way forward”, including that “it is essential that civilians and minorities are protected on this course of.
“But [I’m] very, very pleased that Assad has fallen,” he mentioned.
Syria newest: Curfew imposed by rebels
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Syrian opposition fighters rejoice the autumn of the federal government, in Damascus. Pic: AP
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Syria given a ‘second of alternative’
Sir Keir declined to say if the UK would maintain talks with the insurgents who’ve wrested management of the nation from Assad after 24 years in energy.
A type of teams, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), was as soon as often known as the Nusra Entrance, a former wing of al Qaeda, earlier than chopping these ties in 2016, and has lengthy been designated a terrorist group by the US and Russia.
Mr Starmer mentioned it was vital that “we stabilise, that we reject terrorism and violence, and that we all work towards a political settlement for the future of Syria and for the region.”
Sir Keir is visiting the Center East on a visit that was scheduled earlier than the collapse of the Syrian regime to insurgent forces.
Whereas the journey was initially set to debate the financial partnerships between the UK and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the regional instability is now additionally set to function.
Nonetheless, Downing Road mentioned on Saturday evening that Sir Keir is seeking to “deepen defence and security ties” with each the UAE and KSA.
UK defence exports to the KSA are price £3.8bn, and it’s the largest such marketplace for Britain.
For a few years, the KSA was against the Assad regime in Syria, in addition to opposing Assad’s backers in Iran.
The Saudis beforehand supplied army and monetary help to varied insurgent teams in Syria within the wake of the 2011 civil warfare.
Final 12 months, Bashar al Assad visited KSA following Syria’s readmission to the Arab League after an 11-year absence.
Syria was kicked out of the group following the outbreak of the civil warfare and the regime’s remedy of civilians.
The UAE equally lower ties with Syria after the outbreak of warfare, earlier than re-establishing relations in 2018.
The KSA has additionally improved its relations with Iran lately, regardless of the 2 nations backing opposing factions in conflicts like Syria, Yemen and elsewhere.
