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President Joe Biden praised the end of Bashar al-Assad‘s “brutal, authoritarian rule” in Syria, taking a shot at Iran and other adversarial forces as he called the end of the Assad regime a moment of “historic opportunity.”

“At long last, the Assad regime has fallen,” Biden said in an address to the nation hours after rebels stormed into Damascus and took control of the country.

“This is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty, but I also believe this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future free of opposition,” the president added.

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The fall of Assad marks an end to over a half-century of Syria being governed by a ruler with that surname. Photos and videos on Sunday showed Assad posters being defaced, statues toppled, and government buildings raided, with crowds gathering in the streets to celebrate the end of the regime.

Biden took aim at Assad’s “main backers,” including Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, the latter of which is reportedly the location where Assad fled to after leaving Damascus, saying their strength in the Middle East is shrinking.

“Over the last three weeks, their support collapsed, all three of them, because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office,” Biden said, noting that Iran and its proxies’ decision to launch a war against Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks was a “big mistake.”

The president said Israel, with help from the United States, was able to help the Jewish state successfully beat back attacks from Hezbollah and other groups — making it “impossible for them to prop up the Assad regime.”

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“This is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine, Israel delivered upon their own self-defense with unflagging support of the United States,” Biden said.

Biden said the United States will continue to support Syria’s neighbors in the region “should any threat arise from Syria during this period of transition.”

He will be sending senior administration officials to Syria to assist with the transfer of power, the president said, particularly in the event ISIS or other terrorist groups attempt to take advantage of Assad’s departure.

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Biden said a top priority will be bringing home Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria for over 12 years. His family told multiple outlets the day before the Assad regime collapsed that a “vetted source” confirmed to them that Tice was alive and well.

“We believe he is alive,” Biden said, noting that they have to “identify where he is” so the U.S. can bring him safely home.

Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra, told CNN in a statement shortly after Biden’s remarks that they are “eagerly anticipating seeing Austin walk free.”

“We are asking anyone who can do so to please assist Austin so he can safely return home to his family,” Tice’s parents said.

Biden said the U.S. will engage with other United Nations allies to establish an “independent and sovereign” Syria with a new constitution and government.

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“We will remain vigilant. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “They’re saying the right things now, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.”

“It’s now incumbent upon all the opposition groups to seek a role in governing Syria to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities,” Biden added.