US troops are welcome in Syria to fight terror: Assad
beirut — Syrian President Bashar Al Assad said in an interview released on Friday that the United States is welcome to join the battle against “terrorists” in Syria — as long as it is in cooperation with his government and respects the country’s sovereignty.
Speaking with Yahoo News, Assad said he has not had any communication — direct or indirect — with President Donald Trump or any official from the new US administration.
But the Syrian leader appeared to make a gesture to the new US president in the interview, saying he welcomes Trump’s declaration that he will make it a priority to fight terrorism — a goal Assad said he also shares.
However, Assad’s government has labelled all armed opposition to his rule — including the US-backed rebels — as “terrorists.”
“We agree about this priority,” Assad said of Trump. “That’s our position in Syria, the priority is to fight terrorism,” the Syrian president said. —
beirut — President Bashar Al Assad rejected the creation of safe zones for refugees and displaced people in Syria, an idea supported by US President Donald Trump, according to a transcript from an interview with Yahoo News released on Friday.
He signalled he would welcome cooperation with Washington in the fight against Daesh, however, as long as the United States took a “clear political position” on Syria’s sovereignty and unity.
The Syrian government has rejected the creation of safe zones which could ratchet up US military involvement in Syria.
“It’s not a realistic idea at all,” Assad said in the transcript. “This is where you can have natural safe zones, which is our country. They don’t need safe zones at all.”
“It’s much more viable, much more practical and less costly to have stability than to create safe zones.” Assad said safe zones would be at risk of attack from armed groups.
The United Nations also rejects safe zones, saying conditions in Syria, where battles rage on between multiple sides, are not suitable.
The United States has deployed special forces to Syria to support the Kurdish YPG militia and its allies, and not in coordination with the Syrian army.
Assad said US troops would be “welcome” in Syria to fight Daesh provided Washington coordinate with Damascus and recognise the sovereignty of his government. — Reuters