New York, Dec 9 : Facing uncertainty in Syria after the rapid overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Washington bombed sites controlled by Islamic State, a group on the terrorist list, as President Joe Biden’s administration tried to recalibrate its policy for that country.

The US faces a quandary because the rebels who have captured Damascus and sent al-Assad into exile in Russia are led by an organisation that is also listed as terrorist, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), for its al-Qaeda link.

While celebrating the fall of al-Assad, Biden addressed the “risk and uncertainty” in Syria to Washington and the region and the initial US response.

“Just today, US forces conducted a dozen precision strikes, airstrikes, within Syria targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives”, he said.

“We’re clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of the vacuum. We will not let that happen,” he said.

However, reflecting the US’ dilemma, he added, “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.”

The end of al-Assad’s 14-year rule, he said, is “a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country”.

He added, “It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty”.

The risks are both internal and international as Syria shares borders with Iraq, Turkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel in a volatile region.

About 200 Indian peacekeepers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) are stationed on the Syria-Israel border.

The US has deployed about 1,000 troops in areas that were outside the control of al-Assad mainly training Kurdish rebels fighting the Islamic State, which is known as ISIS, an acronym for its full name.

Biden said that the US troops will remain there and the detention facilities for ISIS terrorists will stay.