Damascus:

Syrian Army Recapturing Own Territories, Not on Offensive

Rasa - Syrian government delegation head at the Astana talks Bashar Jafari said Tuesday that the government forces are recapturing own territories, are not at war with any foreign state and noted that it means that the army liberates areas from terrorists' control.

News ID: 426795

Date: 24 January 2017 - 22:46

RNA - Syrian army will continue military operations as long as terrorists are disrupting water supplies to the residents of Damascus, Jafari said Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported.

"As long as there are terrorists depriving seven million people in the capital of Damascus from drinking water, the army will continue the operations," Jafari told reporters.

Bashar Jafari also said the Syrian Kurds have played an important role in the Syrian history for thousands of years, including their latest role in fighting ISIL.

"The Syrian Kurds did play an important role in our history, not only in fighting ISIL. We have been living together for thousands of years. So we are not here to test each other whether we are loyal to this country or not," Jafari said.

He stressed that the Arabs, the Kurds and other Syrians of different ethnic backgrounds are first of all citizens of the country and the government does not want to differentiate or discriminate.

While many Kurds are loyal to Syria, many Arabs have betrayed the country and are working for foreign-back groups, he said.

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