Ilhan Omar: U.S. Strategy in Syria Taking ‘Cues’ from Russia, Turkey, Israel

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy to resolve the Syrian conflict is taking “cues” from Russia, Turkey, and Israel, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) argued during a House panel hearing Wednesday without acknowledging that the three countries stand on opposing sides of the more than eight-year-old war.

During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Omar told Ambassador James Jeffrey, the president’s special envoy for Syria engagement who was invited to testify:

It seems that the particular conflict in Syria is being birthed out of a need for the people to have freedom and to actualize democracy and I’m concerned that most of our cues right now [are] being taken from Russia, and Turkey, and Israel, and so I’m wondering if that’s sort of a counter message to what we say we are interested in achieving in Syria.

Jeffrey responded by saying the United Nations, backed by the United States, is committed to giving the Syrian people democracy “through free and fair elections monitored by the U.N., including the diaspora.”

“I believe Democracy should not be given, it should be earned by the people, and we should be in partnership with them,” the Minnesota Democrat followed up.

Omar suggested that Russia, Turkey, and Israel are influencing Trump’s Syrian strategy even though these countries do not coincide in their strategy with each other, making it impossible to appease all three.

This Is How Terror Spreads: 3 Australian Women Back from Syria Face Slavery, Terrorism Charges

Supreme Court’s junior justice goes on solo tear as Trump fights put her at odds with the bench

Mayor Overruled After He Dissolved Entire Police Force Following Dispute with His Wife

AOC, asked about running for president, says her ambition is ‘way bigger than that’

Where Trump, GOP vs Democrats redistricting battle heads next in wake of key court rulings

Harris accuses Trump allies of trying to ‘rig’ 2026 midterms after Virginia court tosses redistricting measure

Minnesota nonprofit accused of siphoning $6.5M to fund Vegas trips, luxury cars, private liquor store

Alabama mother sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute

Trump warns college sports could be ‘lost forever’ as committee pushes changes, Congress urged to act

Duffys fire back after Pete Buttigieg, husband attack new road trip TV series: ‘Radical, miserable left’

Breathtaking ‘Chandelier UFO’ Video Goes Viral – But Is There a Simple Explanation?

Nearly a dozen injured after possible boat explosion at popular Florida tourist destination

Seth Moulton closing gap on progressive Democrat Ed Markey in Massachusetts Senate primary

Breaking: Bobby Cox, Manager of Braves ‘Teams That Ruled NL,’ Dead at 84

Two police officers shot, suspect ‘actively firing at police’ in Syracuse standoff lasting hours: report

Russia supports the Iranian-allied regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey backs the opposition. Although Moscow and Ankara have embarked on joint efforts to end the conflict, Turkey remains resolute in its support for Assad opposition forces.

The Russia-Turkey agreement late last year to push al-Qaeda-linked jihadis out of Syria’s Idlib region failed, with Moscow blaming Ankara for the lack of success. Now, the jihadis control most of Idlib and some of the surrounding areas — considered the last remaining rebel stronghold in Syria.

Israel has targeted assets on Syrian soil linked to Assad’s ally Iran. Iran considers Israel, which shares a border with Syria, to be its mortal enemy.

Democrat leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have defended Omar from bipartisan criticism over repeated antisemitic remarks.

In his written testimony, Ambassador Jeffrey condemned Russia and Iran for enabling Assad, noting that the Syrian regime has been able to re-conquer 60 percent of the war-ravaged country with the help of Moscow, Tehran, and Iranian proxies like Hezbollah.