Syria calls for regional alliance to counter terrorism
The Syrian foreign minister has called on the countries in the Middle East to make efforts to establish a regional alliance to counter the rising threat of terrorist groups like ISIL in the region.
In a Friday address to the Media Conference Against Terrorism in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Walid al-Muallem said the necessity for setting up such a united front has increased in the absence of “any serious international and regional effort for combating terrorism.”
“The need to create such an alliance is certain particularly in light of the failure of the anti-ISIL alliance established by America,” said Muallem of the ongoing airstrikes by the United States and allies against purported ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria.
The top Syrian diplomat questioned the honesty of Washington in creating the coalition, saying, “Does the US really intend to eliminate ISIL, or does it want to exploit it to realize its strategic goals?”
Elaborating on his stance on regional states that could be part of the proposed coalition against terrorism, Muallem named Iran as the major ally, saying the Islamic Republic has become a role model in defending justice and peace against terrorism and violence.
He said Iran has showed unwavering support for the Syrian government and people since the very beginning of the crisis in the Arab country, rejecting rumors that Tehran’s attainment of a breakthrough in nuclear talks with global powers would undermine its backing for Damascus.
Some senior Iranian officials also attended the high-profile meeting in the Opera House of Damascus on Friday, among them Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati, who said the root cause of the rising wave of terrorist attacks in the Middle East is a misunderstood judgment about Islamic teachings.
Syria blames foreign governments, including some regional states, for backing the militancy in the country. Estimates by the United Nations show that more than 230,000 people have lost their lives and another seven million have become displaced in the conflict since March 2011.
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