US reaction to Bashar al-Assad’s visit to the UAE.
A US State Department spokesman reacted to the Syrian president’s visit to the United Arab Emirates.
A State Department spokesman spoke to Al Jazeera in response to Bashar al-Assad’s visit to the UAE.
“We deplore the efforts to legitimize Bashar al-Assad,” a State Department spokesman was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
During a visit to the UAE on Friday, Bashar al-Assad met with a number of UAE officials, including Dubai Governor Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Syria has been the scene of deadly clashes since 2011 between Syrian army forces and terrorist and extremist groups fighting the central government.
Numerous reports, including in the Western media, indicate that Western countries have provided arms, intelligence, and logistical support to these groups to overthrow the Syrian government.
However, a US State Department spokesman told Al Jazeera that Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the deaths of many Syrians. “Those who are thinking of engaging with the Assad regime should consider his crimes,” he said.
A State Department spokesman said Washington would not lift sanctions on Syria and would not support reconstruction until progress was made on the political process in Syria.
