Iran praises Assad’s role in Middle East security

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says President Bashar al-Assad plays an undeniable role in maintaining unity among the Syrian people in their fight against terrorism.

During an interview with IRIB late on Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian hailed Assad’s role in the country’s fight against the ISIL Takfiri terrorists, saying, “Terrorism has failed in Syria and is nearing its end.”

He also emphasized that Tehran will keep supporting the people of Syria, adding, “I am proud to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran is standing by the Syrian people and did not permit Syria to turn into another Somalia or Libya.”

The Iranian diplomat also noted that the security of the region is intertwined with the security of Syria, and that the Arab country’s security is of significant importance for Iran and all other countries of the region.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fueled by the Takfiri terrorist groups has so far claimed the lives of over 215,000 people, according to reports.

New figures show that over 76,000 people, including thousands of children, lost their lives in Syria last year.

Over 7.2 million Syrians have reportedly become internally displaced due to the ongoing crisis.

The Takfiri terrorist groups, with members from several Western countries, control swathes of land in Syria and Iraq, and have been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians.