U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that Turkey will "hold the key" to what happens in Syria, where rebels backed by Ankara toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month. Making his first comments on how he views the NATO ally's role in post-conflict Syria,

President-elect Trump called Turkey's ousting of Syrian leader Assad an "unfriendly takeover" but also "very smart." He warned of consequences if host

Assad fled to Russia after an HTS-led offensive seized cities, culminating in the rebels capturing the Syrian capital

Turkey is seen as the victor after the fall of Assad. Nonetheless, Ankara cannot ignore a Kurdish role in the post-war settlement.

President-elect Donald Trump characterized the rebel ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad as an "unfriendly takeover" by US ally Turkey as he addressed the conflict at a news conference on Monday.