US urges return to UN-led political process in Syria

WASHINGTON (AA) – The US on Thursday urged a return to a UN-facilitated political process in Syria, saying that Bashar al-Assad’s refusal to engage led to recent developments.

“We, with our partners, are urging allies to protect its civilians, including members of minority groups,” State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said when he was asked about anti-regime groups’ takeover of Hama in their latest offensive.

“I don’t have specific assessments on individual battlefield updates, but all of those together just continue to reflect in our point of view that the time is now to return to a serious, UN-facilitated political process,” he said. “The constant refusal to engage in this process candidly has led to directly some of the events that we’re witnessing.”

He said “escalatory events” in Syria in the last 72 hours demonstrate that the only way to end the conflict is through “inclusive political settlement consistent with UNSCR 2254.”

UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which was unanimously adopted by the Council in December 2015, calls for “formal negotiations” between the regime and opposition groups to initiate a “political transition process.”

Syria has been embroiled in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

The conflict has intensified in recent days, with anti-regime groups, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, clashing with regime forces since Nov. 27 and making significant advances.

Anti-regime forces captured much of central Aleppo on Nov. 30, following a rapid push from its western countryside. In their latest offensive Thursday, the groups seized the center of Hama, forcing regime forces to retreat.