Syrian president Bashar Assad will remain in power ‘for a while’ because of Russian support, Jeremy Hunt admits

‘Regretfully, we do think he’s going to be around for a while,’ foreign secretary admits

Mr Hunt said many Syrians would be ‘bitterly disappointed’ that Mr Assad had been able to consolidate his position (Reuters)

Syrian president Bashar Assad will remain in power “for a while” due to Russian backing, the foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has said.

Acknowledging Moscow believed it had gained a new sphere of influence in the region, Mr Hunt said the Kremlin must take responsibility for securing peace.

He told Sky News: “I think you know the British longstanding position is that we won’t have lasting peace in Syria with that regime. But, regretfully, we do think he’s going to be around for a while and that is because of the support that he’s had from Russia.”

Moscow needed to help build a real peace in Syria, which has been torn apart by civil war since 2011, he added.

He said: “Russia may think that it’s gained a sphere of influence. What we would say to them is yes, and you’ve also gained a responsibility. And if you’re going to be involved in Syria then you need to make sure that there really is peace in Syria. And that means making sure that president Assad does not use chemical weapons on his own people.”

The foreign secretary said Mr Assad had tightened his control, and some countries would seek to end the diplomatic isolation of Syria.

“He’s been able to consolidate his position. There will be many people in Syria who are bitterly disappointed, but that has been the outcome. But if that is the outcome then there are going to be countries that want to re-establish diplomatic ties.”

Mr Hunt’s comments came less than a month after US president Donald Trump shocked allies and officials within his own administration when he ordered a “full” and “rapid” withdrawal of the more than 2,000 US troops currently in Syria, declaring victory in the fight against Isis.

The US has been supporting Syrian Kurdish fighters in the battle against Isis since 2014 with air power, military aid and soldiers on the ground. Together, they have recaptured swathes of land in the country’s north and east from the extremist group.

However, Isis remains a potent force, and defence officials had argued for a continued US presence to ensure it does not regroup. Mr Trump’s announcement prompted the resignation of two top officials, defence secretary James Mattis and the US envoy for the anti-Isis coalition, Brett McGurk. Both said a quick withdrawal would leave America’s Kurdish allies in danger and imperil the fight against Isis when it is not yet done.

Since the announcement, however, Mr Trump appears to have shifted his stance to allow for a slower exit. Earlier this week he said US troops would leave “slowly” but did not offer a clear timetable for the withdrawal.

“We’re getting out and we’re getting out smart. I never said I’m getting out tomorrow,” he said. “We want to protect the Kurds, nevertheless. We want to protect the Kurds, but I don’t want to be in Syria forever.”

Meanwhile, extremist groups are trying to consolidate their control in northern Syria, attacking rival opposition fighters and putting a fragile ceasefire at risk in the process.

Dozens have been killed over the past three days in fighting between al-Qaeda-linked rebels and a coalition of groups backed by Turkey.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was once a part of al-Qaeda and still espouses the same ideology, has captured several villages in Idlib and western Aleppo.

More than 40 fighters and six civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.