Iran and Hizbollah backing Assad regime, says Hague

FOREIGN Secretary William Hague said Iran and its militant Shi’ite Lebanese ally Hizbollah were “propping up” Syrian President Bashar al Assad and giving him increasing support.

In a news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh, Mr Hague said: “It is very clear the Syrian regime is receiving a g reat deal of support, increasing support in recent months from outside Syria from Hizbollah and Iran.

“This is a regime that is increasingly dependent on external support. The regime is being propped up by others outside, further undermining its legitimacy. It also shows that is a crisis that is increasing the threat to regional stability.”

Speaking before a meeting of the Friends of Syria alliance in the Jordanian capital, Mr Hague said Britain would urge international powers to set a date in the next few days for an international conference to try to end the two-year conflict engulfing Syria.

He added: “It is important it takes place as quickly as possible because people are dying and more and more people are driven from their homes. The risk to regional stability grows every day so this something that cannot be debated endlessly.”

Mr Hague’s comments echo those of EU diplomatic sources, one of whom was attending the meeting in Amman, and who said: “Since November, the regime has been able to go on the offensive, not because it is stronger but because those backing it – Iran, Russia, Hizbollah – are directly helping it either through weapons, planning of operations or financial assistance.”

Meanwhile, Turkey has shut its side of the last border crossing with Syria still controlled by Mr Assad’s government, stepping up security following two deadly bombings this month.

A total of 51 people were killed when t win car bomb blasts ripped through the Turkish border town of Reyhanli in the southern province of Hatay on May 11, heightening fears that Syria’s civil war was dragging in neighbouring states.

Turkey has accused Syria of involvement in the attacks. Damascus has denied any role.

Customs Minister Hayat Yazici said the Yayladagi gate, 55 miles from Reyhanli, would remain closed for a month, during which only Turkish citizens arriving from Syria or non-Syrians transiting through Turkey would be allowed to cross.