Washington: The US is closely monitoring the escalating situation in Syria, according to a statement Saturday from National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett. The statement criticized the Assad regime for its refusal to engage in the political process outlined by UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254. According to Anadolu Agency, the statement emphasized that the United States has no involvement in the offensive led by Hay'at Tahir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization. Savett stressed the US's call for immediate de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups, and the initiation of a credible political process to end the Syrian civil war through a settlement aligned with UNSCR 2254. Savett also highlighted the importance of defending and protecting US personnel and military positions, which are crucial to preventing the resurgence of ISIS (Daesh) in Syria. This response comes amid fighting that erupted on November 27 between Assad regime forces and anti-regime armed group s in the western countryside of Aleppo province in northern Syria. From November 27 to 28, the anti-regime armed groups made rapid progress from the western countryside toward the city center, capturing much of it by Saturday. The armed groups subsequently took control of Khan Shaykhun later that day, establishing control over all of Idlib.