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.

Teen sailor killed aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor identified after 82 years through DNA analysis

Stampede erupts at South Carolina biker festival, 19 injured in late-night chaos

This Could Sink Mangione’s Defense: Judge Allows Notebook, Gun as Evidence

Appeals Court Puts Stake Through Heart of New York’s Anti-2nd Amendment ‘Vampire Rule’

‘After your boy’: Hasan Piker lashes out over fed probe into Cuba trip

Officials say possible crack in unstable chemical tank may relieve pressure at aerospace plant

Retiring senator warns if Trump continues to do ‘stupid things’ it will kill GOP in November

‘Wasteful distraction’: Experts slam Mamdani’s taxpayer-funded grocery stores

WWII vet gives direct message to young people today: ‘We gave up our yesterdays for your tomorrows’

Dem socialist running for Wisconsin governor pushed ‘abolishing the police’

From rally gunfire to White House shooting, threats against President Trump continue to mount

Ice Cream Recall Affects Residents of 17 States

This European Commentator Was Banned from Britain for Wrongthink

Doug McCain, eldest son of John McCain, dead suddenly at 66

These Christian Girls from Pakistan Were Forced Into Marriage by Muslims

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.