Damascus, December 1 (IANS). Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held separate phone talks with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq on the recent developments in Syria.
In a telephone conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, al-Assad called for Syria’s continued efforts to defend its stability and territorial integrity from ‘all terrorists and their supporters’, according to state news agency SANA. Emphasis on commitment.
The UAE President said his country ‘stands with the Syrian state’, Xinhua news agency quoted SANA as saying.
President Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE supports Syria’s efforts to fight terrorism, expand sovereignty, unify its territories and achieve stability.
Al-Assad also spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Sudani stressed that “Syria’s security and stability are closely linked to Iraq’s national security.”
Al-Sudaini said the security of Iraq and Syria affects regional security and efforts to establish stability in the Middle East, according to a statement issued by the media office of the Iraqi prime minister.
On Wednesday, rebels launched a major offensive in the western countryside of Aleppo, Syria, the first major attack since 2016. The attack was carried out by a coalition of rebel groups, mainly including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an extremist organization linked to al-Qaeda. The aim of the attack was to infiltrate into government controlled areas.
On Friday, rebels successfully attacked parts of Aleppo after being driven from the city in 2016. In response, the Syrian government, with support from Russia and Iran, launched airstrikes and ground operations to counter the rebel advances.
–IANS
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