White House: Syria Relationship Not Re-evaluated

thehague/iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The White House said on Monday its relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has not changed, despite comments from Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry had said on Sunday that the U.S. wanted to reignite negotiations with Assad, but White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest downplayed those remarks.

“It has not been re-evaluated,” Earnest said. “The administration believes that President Assad has lost legitimacy to lead. We are not in a position of coordinating militarily with him as we strike ISIL targets.”

Assad dismissed Kerry’s remarks on Monday, saying that “declarations from the outside do not concern us.”

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