Iranian FM: Syria to Definitely Respond to Israeli Aggression

 Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian strongly condemned Israel’s continued raids on Syria, specifically residential areas as a violation of world peace, and assured that the Damascus government will deliver a crushing and decisive response to the Zionist regime’s assault in due time.

Amir Abdollahian made the remarks at a quadrilateral meeting with his Russian, Syrian and Turkish counterparts in Moscow on Wednesday aimed at reconciliation between Damascus and Ankara.

The Iranian minister said Syria’s neighbors, especially Turkey, can cooperate with the Arab country so that it would be able to gain full control over its national sovereignty “because it will be in favor of Syria’s stability and security and is also in line with security and border stability of the neighboring countries”.

The deployment of the Syrian Army on the borders and the establishment of security in cooperation with the neighbors can allay the security concerns of Ankara and other neighboring countries and prevent the activities of terrorists and separatists, he added.

It could also restore the neighborly and strategic relations between the two sides and prepare the ground for the withdrawal of the Turkish military forces from joint border areas with Syria based on a mutually-agreed timetable, the senior diplomat noted.

“We believe that a strong and independent Syria will be able to overcome terrorism, separatism, and the US forces’ occupation and plunder of the country’s national resources,” Amir Abdollahian continued.

The foreign minister further noted that the Israeli regime is in its worst social and security situation, and with attacks on Syria and violation of international laws, it seeks to spread insecurity and instability in the region and cover up its internal problems.

“We are sure that the Syrian Army will respond to the Israeli raids at a proper time,” he stressed.

Elsewhere in his speech, Amir Abdollahian pointed to the current “special and unique” situation in international relations and said, “All the signs and variables testify to the transition process in the world order, the decline of the US power, and the strengthening of regionalism.”

The Iranian foreign minister added that the world’s traditional powers are no longer able to impose their views and act unilaterally as in the past, emphasizing that grounds have been prepared to solve Syria’s problems with maturity and political initiatives and to ensure security, stability and development in this country and across the region.

He also called for joint cooperation among countries and international bodies to help return the Syrian refugees to their homeland, reconstruct the war-ravaged country and promote people’s welfare.

The top diplomat, however, warned that any political precondition and dual approaches would not only fail to solve such a humane issue but would add to its complications.

Since 2011, Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy, as a result of which Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL) and other terror groups emerged in the country. Iran was the first country to rush to Syria’s assistance following the outbreak of the foreign-backed violence in the Arab country.

Israel has been one of the main supporters of terrorist groups that oppose the democratically-elected government of President Bashar Al-Assad since the foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria. The Zionist regime frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian Army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

Iran maintains an advisory mission in Syria at the request of Damascus with the aim of helping the war-ravaged country get rid of the foreign-backed militants who have been fighting against the democratically-elected Syrian government since 2011. Several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have so far martyred in battle against terrorists in the war-torn Syria.