US 'Actively Considering' New Options for Syria - Deputy Secretary of State

US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington will continue to maintain close links to the moderate opposition for achieving a political transition in Syria.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is weighing additional options for achieving a political transition in Syria, beyond the existing diplomatic track, US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.

"At President Obama’s direction, we also are actively considering other options to advance our goal of ending the civil war and starting a political transition in Syria," Blinken said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Blinken did not hint at the alternative being sought, but noted, "We continue to maintain close links to the moderate opposition to support their viability."

The United States and Russia have been leading diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis under the auspices of International Syria Support Group (ISSG). Following the collapse of a recent September ceasefire in Syria, the viability of the ISSG diplomatic track has been called into question.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that Washington is prepared to suspend US-Russian bilateral engagement on Syria, including the establishment of the Joint Implementation Center.