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.

NY Nuns Fight Back After Kathy Hochul Orders Them to ‘Abandon Their Religious Beliefs’ or Close Their Nursing Home

Appeals Court Slaps Down Judge Boasberg’s Targeting of Trump Admin, Citing ‘A Clear Abuse of Discretion’

Dem fundraising giant in the hot seat as GOP lawmakers demand answers over dodged subpoena

Erika Kirk cancels University of Georgia TPUSA event appearance over ‘serious threats’

‘He should go’: Senate Dems turned on Swalwell ahead of resignation announcement

Thom Tillis slams Trump’s proposal to impose tolls on ships in Strait of Hormuz

Florida doctor charged after allegedly removing wrong organ during surgery

Ukraine has no ‘unrealistic expectations’ for Hungary as it pitches itself as ally to Magyar

Spanberger’s ‘unconstitutional’ push to redefine presidential elections makes voters ‘NULL AND VOID’: critics

Eric Swalwell scandal hangs over ‘best friend’ Ruben Gallego’s 2028 hopes

Watch: Pelosi and Fellow Dems Scramble to Defend Themselves from Fallout of Swalwell’s Implosion

Breaking: Woman Steps Forward with Darkest Accusations Yet Against Swalwell

Illegal immigrant driver charged with DUI after car veers off road, kills two children on bikes: police

House Dems unveil bill to examine removing Trump using 25th Amendment

Socialist Mamdani touts government-run grocery plan as ‘grand experiment’’ at grocery new site

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.