Iran MP warns against sectarian plots in Syria

An Iranian lawmaker has warned against the dangerous consequences of terrorist plots to foment sectarian strife in Syria, saying such conflicts will be detrimental to the entire region.

“Fueling religious and ethnic divisions has been among the key objectives of terrorists and their supporters since the outset of Syria crisis, which will be harmful to the region in the future,” said Vahid Ahmadi, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee of Iran’s Majlis.

Ahmadi touched upon the recent killing of civilians in a Kurdish-majority area in northern Syria by foreign-backed militants, saying the massacre once again proved false the human rights claims of the Western powers which arm the militants.

He added that the Syrian army’s achievements have made the opposition groups consider new scenarios in the Arab country.

“The involvement of Syrian Kurds in an attrition war with [President Bashar] al-Assad’s government and the disintegration of the country’s Kurdish region are among the scenarios pursued by the opposition front to Assad’s government,” the Iranian parliamentarian stated.

Ahmadi said the Syrian terrorists seek to cover up their defeats by spreading propaganda against Assad’s government.

On August 5, foreign-backed militants fighting against the Damascus government killed 450 civilians, including 120 children, in a Kurdish-majority area in northern Syria.

Militants from al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front attacked Tal Abyad district of Raqqa governorate, killing 330 women and elderly men as well as 120 children.

The massacre comes a week after al-Nusra militants attacked two Kurdish villages in Aleppo and took around 200 civilians hostage.

Fighting between Kurdish militia and al-Qaeda-linked groups has been escalating in north and northeastern Syria in the past weeks after Kurdish fighters, who are opposed to foreign interference in Syria, managed to push back militants from several positions in the area.

On July 30, a powerful Kurdish militia said it is mobilizing against al-Qaeda-linked militant groups in northeastern Syria after a Kurdish opposition leader was killed in the area.