WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Mullen underscored that the Syrian crisis can only be resolved through a political solution.
"Stop focusing on Assad per se. I don’t think Assad have got much of a future in Syria," Mullen stated when asked how the United States can help resolve the humanitarian crisis in the country. "Focus on ISIS [Islamic State] and see if there is a way to start to stabilize parts of the country."
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with rebel opposition forces and terrorist groups fighting the Syrian Army in order to topple the Assad government.
The country’s government and opposition have been engaged in UN-brokered talks aided by mediators. The latest round of intra-Syrian talks took place in Geneva in April.