More than 80 Countries Support Terrorists in Syria: President Bashar Al-Assad

The Syrian leader described foreign sponsorship as “active” and “unlimited.” Some of those countries support terrorists “directly with money, with logistical support, with armaments, with recruitments,” he noted. Others help “them politically, in different international forums.”

Bashar al-Assad accused Saudi Arabia of being the key financial backer of the militants, who are trying to overthrow him. He also urged the international community to prevent “other countries, especially Turkey, from sending more recruits, more terrorists, more armaments, or any kind of logistical support” to terrorists, if it wants to see an efficient ceasefire in Syria.

The Syrian president also credited Iran and Russia with helping Damascus-led forces to turn the tide of the five-year-long war, calling their assistance “essential” to the Syrian Arab Army’s recent successes. These developments are largely seen as the main reason for Saudi Arabia and Turkey’s recently expressed readiness to send ground forces to Syria.