Syria Civil War: India on Monday said it is monitoring the situation in Syria and advocated a peaceful Syrian-led political process a day after rebel groups took over the country following more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Bashar Assad and his family.


"We are monitoring the situation in Syria in the light of ongoing developments. We underline the need for all parties to work towards preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. We advocate a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process respecting the interests and aspirations of all sections of Syrian society," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a brief statement.


"Our Embassy in Damascus is in contact with the Indian community, for their safety and security," the government said.


Earlier, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken said the US would closely monitor developments as they unfold and engage with our partners in the region. “We will support international efforts to hold the Assad regime and its backers accountable for atrocities and abuses perpetrated against the Syrian people, including the use of chemical weapons and the unjust detention of civilians such as Austin Tice,” he said.


Blinken said the United States strongly supports a peaceful transition of power to an accountable Syrian government through an inclusive Syrian-led process.