President-elect Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the U.S. should not engage in military action in Syria, stating, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” amidst a significant opposition offensive nearing the capital’s suburbs.

Trump’s comments, his most extensive yet on the rebel advance, were made during a visit to Paris for the Notre Dame cathedral’s reopening. He argued against providing U.S. support to Syrian President Bashar Assad to maintain his power.

Assad’s regime, supported by Russian and Iranian military forces, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-backed militias, has been engaged in a 13-year war against opposition groups seeking his removal. Originating as a largely peaceful uprising in 2011 against the Assad family’s rule, the conflict has resulted in a half-million deaths, fracturing Syria and involving numerous foreign militaries and militias.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. with alleged al-Qaida links (though they’ve since severed ties), leads the insurgents. The Syrian army has encountered minimal resistance from these advancing forces.

The Biden administration noted that the rapid advances toward Damascus may reflect the distraction caused by the war in Ukraine and other conflicts. However, the administration asserted that the U.S. isn’t supporting the offensive and has not indicated military intervention.

Approximately 900 U.S. troops are currently in Syria, including forces collaborating with Kurdish allies in the opposition-controlled northeast to counter any resurgence of the Islamic State group.

Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have closely observed both the Biden and incoming Trump administrations for any indication of U.S. response to the rebel advances against Assad.

The UN’s special envoy for Syria urged urgent Geneva talks to facilitate an “orderly political transition” in the country on Saturday.

Trump stated that Russia’s involvement in Ukraine hinders its ability to counter the rebel advance in Syria, a country it has long protected. He suggested that the rebels could potentially oust Assad.

The president-elect criticized the U.S.’s handling of the war but indicated that the potential defeat of Assad and Russian forces might be a positive outcome.

“Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” he posted on Saturday.

A prominent Syrian opposition activist in Washington, Mouaz Moustafa, interrupted a press briefing to read Trump’s post, visibly emotional. He expressed that Trump’s stance on U.S. non-intervention was the best possible scenario for the anti-Assad Syrian factions.

Rebels have been liberating political detainees from Assad’s prisons as they advance, capturing cities. Moustafa pledged to reporters that opposition forces would protect any U.S. detainees among them.

Moustafa mentioned this includes Austin Tice, an American journalist missing for over a decade, believed to be held by Assad.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham disavowed al-Qaida in 2016 and has attempted to rebrand itself, suppressing some extremist groups and presenting itself as a protector of Christians and other religious minorities.

Despite continued designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and UN, Trump’s first administration informed lawmakers that the U.S. was no longer targeting the group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani.