Stop Saudi Arabia from backing terrorism: Syria

Syria has urged the United Nations to stop Saudi Arabia from “supporting al-Qaeda-linked militants” and fanning the flames of “terrorism” in the country.

In a message sent to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, Syria’s Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said, “We call on the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to put an end to the unprecedented actions of the Saudi regime, which is supporting extremist terrorism tied to al-Qaeda.”

“Saudi Arabia is not content to merely send weapons and to finance but also mobilizes extremist terrorists and sends them to kill the Syrian people,” the ministry added.

On December 3, Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja’afari said many Saudis who have been either sentenced to death or life in prison are released to fight against the Syrian government.

“The Saudi authorities release those criminals, the majority of them are affiliated to extremist, terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda, to send them to Syria through hidden agreements through which they are given amnesty in return for their travelling to Syria to kill the Syrians,” he said.

He further noted that the Saudi nationals have traveled to Syria to join the militant groups in the country with the knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief, Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.