In a written interview with Europa partnership of newspapers, US Vice-President Joe Biden said that “we are working with a variety of forces … to degrade and eventually defeat ISIS. Many countries have made significant contributions. All of us can do more. These countries – not Assad – comprise our coalition against ISIS. We’re not coordinating with Assad; he’s under sanctions, and we do not see how, having lost all his legitimacy due to his actions, he can again preside over the stable, peaceful, unified Syria we seek. We will work instead with vetted elements of Syria’s moderate opposition so that they will be able to stabilize liberated areas and defend themselves against attacks by ISIS or the regime.”
Biden points out that “unfortunately, an agreement on chemical weapons does not solve all of Syria’s problems. An immense human tragedy is unfolding in that country. America and our partners are working to create the conditions for a political settlement to resolve and end the conflict, including by supporting the Syrian opposition, providing more than $3bn [£2bn] in humanitarian support to date, and strengthening Syria’s neighbors.” (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
