Ranking Member Shaheen, Chairman Risch Statement on Anniversary of the Fall of the Assad Regime

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the statement below on the first anniversary of the fall of the brutal regime of Bashar Al-Assad.

"Today marks one year since the Syrian people ousted the Assad regime from power, ending over 50 years of brutal authoritarianism. The strength and resiliency of Syrians in the face of Assad's repression-assisted by U.S. sanctions, Russia's reduced ability to support Assad and Israel's shared opposition to Iranian proxies-created the conditions for the regime's collapse and a better future for the Syrian people. This remarkable feat reminds us of the triumph of freedom over tyranny and gives hope for broader peace in the Middle East.

"With great opportunities came great risks, but the interim Syrian government has demonstrated a serious commitment to our shared counterterrorism needs and engaged directly with Israeli counterparts for the first time in decades, providing a prospect for peace that was unthinkable just a year ago. Syria still faces a long road ahead, and we will be watching closely to ensure Syria's leaders do not return to the ways of the past through arbitrary detentions, uncontrollable violence and the targeting of ethnic and religious communities.

"We continue to encourage the Syrian government to free Syria of Russian and Iranian influence, destroy stockpiles of illicit drugs and chemical weapons and work to find missing Americans, including Austin Tice. We applaud the repeal of Assad-era Caesar Act sanctions included in the annual defense bill and look forward to its swift passage. On this hopeful anniversary, we remain committed to a stable, representative and prosperous Syria for all."

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