Iran's Top Commander Slams Western States for Rescue Aid to Besieged Terrorists

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri warned that certain western states have been supporting the terrorist groups in the regional states, specially in Syria.

News ID: 442746

Date: 31 December 2018 - 12:50

RNA - "The thoughts and ideas behind the creation of Takfiri terrorism and groups like the ISIL have been promoted by the intelligence services of the West and their affiliates," General Baqeri said in Tehran on Sunday.

"In many areas where terrorists come under a siege, the helicopters of certain western states provide them with logistical aid", including airborne rescues, he added, and further blasted the US military forces for their illegal deployment and operation in the war-torn country.

Reminding the change on the scene and in equations in Syria, General Baqeri said the US and its allies have done everything within their possibilities  against Syria, but are finally forced to leave the country. Some Arab states that had vowed never to come back to Syria as long as President Bashar al-Assad is in power, are now hurrying back to the country, he continued.

Washington has declared evacuation of its forces from Syria.

Last Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said the US forces would be pulled out from Syria since the ISIL terror group had been defeated there.

In Russia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the presence of the US forces in Syria does not help the political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis in the Middle Eastern country.

"The presence of the US forces on the Syrian soil does not help reach the political and diplomatic settlement. Of course, the involvement of Washington in the relevant talks under the UN bumbershoot, the harmonious work of the US officials with [UN Envoy for Syria Staffan] de Mistura in the interests of this settlement would contribute to reaching this final goal," Peskov told Russia’s Channel One.

The Kremlin spokesman recalled that the US presence in Syria was in violation of international law, adding that in some areas under the US control, there was a humanitarian catastrophe and terrorists were being equipped with weapons.

The spokesman also recalled that the US forces were "always withdrawing from some places," like Afghanistan and Iraq where the US troops remain stationed for years.

847/940