Biden and Trump teams face new challenges after Assad's government collapses in Syria

The Syrian government led by Bashar Assad has collapsed, prompting new challenges for the Biden administration and the incoming Trump team. Trump stated that Assad fled due to a lack of support from Russia, while Biden's team confirmed no plans for military intervention. The U.S. maintains about 900 troops in Syria, focused on preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State. The Syrian opposition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been designated a terrorist group by the Biden administration, despite claims of severed ties with al-Qaida. Trump linked the situation in Syria to Russia's war in Ukraine, suggesting that Assad's ouster could impact the conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. officials emphasized that American military presence is solely to combat ISIS and called for the protection of civilians in Syria.