Blinken Discusses Syria’s Future on Unannounced Visit to Iraq

We spent time talking about, understandably, the situation in Syria and the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond, that as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria, that produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government and does not become in any way a platform for terrorism. We are determined to make sure that Daesh cannot re-emerge. The United States, Iraq together had tremendous success in taking away the territorial caliphate that Daesh had created years ago, and now, having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out. And we’re determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.