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Increased U.S. Concern: Washington Reviews Its Syria Policy Amid Reservations
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The U.S. administration appears to be reassessing its position on Syria, amid growing concerns over the transitional government's ties and its relationship with regional powers

Since President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the U.S. administration has refrained from making detailed statements regarding its Syria policy. The official stance has been limited to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who welcomed an agreement between the "Syrian Interim Government" and the Syrian Democratic Forces aimed at reordering the relationship between these forces and the existing military and political authorities in Syria.
Other statements from the administration have focused on the need to respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, especially following recent developments in Syria’s coastal region.
Tim Lenderking, acting Assistant Secretary of State, addressed the Middle East Institute, reiterating that the U.S. demands the Syrian government expel all foreign elements working within its security and military apparatuses, though he did not clarify how the administration would deal with this government in the future.
In the absence of a formal U.S. position, informed sources in Washington told U.S. media that White House officials have held consultations with Syrian and international figures to develop a clear policy on Syria.
One participant in these consultations revealed that Trump’s National Security Council team frames the Syrian file within the context of "counterterrorism," expressing deep doubts about Ahmad al-Shar'a, the interim Syrian president, and the composition of the security and military agencies under his leadership.
Estimates within the U.S. administration suggest that al-Shar'a, who heads the "Interim Government," was part of a network that embraces hardline ideologies, with prominent figures in his administration having ties to extremist groups. According to these estimates, Washington struggles to trust a political project run by a group with deep-rooted extremist ideology, even if it appears in a new light.
These doubts align with the Iraqi position, where the Iraqi government informed Washington that it wishes to maintain U.S. presence for counterterrorism efforts, seeing the growing influence of certain extremist groups in Syria as a major concern, making it difficult to predict what might unfold in the next two years.
On another front, U.S. sources indicate an undeclared disagreement between Washington and Ankara regarding Syria. According to leaked information, the U.S. administration believes that Turkey plays a key role in supporting al-Shar'a and his government, exerting significant influence on its policies.
Sebastian Gorka, Director of Counterterrorism Affairs at the National Security Council and a key figure in Trump’s administration, closely monitors the Syrian file. Gorka is known for his tough stance on extremist groups and is believed to influence the U.S. administration's approach to Syria, based on his counterterrorism-focused approach.
In light of these developments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a phone conversation with U.S. President Trump on Sunday, during which they discussed the Syrian file. Erdoğan’s office emphasized that Ankara believes "lifting sanctions on Syria could contribute to normalizing the situation and preparing conditions for the return of refugees," stressing the importance of joint action between the two countries in this regard.
Although the White House has not issued an official comment on this call, diplomatic sources suggest that Washington is adopting a cautious approach to the Syrian file, with expectations that the U.S. administration will issue a clearer stance on its strategy in Syria within the next two weeks.
One official involved in White House consultations confirmed that Syria remains a top priority for the Trump administration, given the security concerns raised by developments there, not only for the U.S. but also for its regional allies, including Israel and Iraq.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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