Army resolute on terror eradication, Syria liberation: Assad

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad says the Syrian Arab Army and the allied forces are firmly resolved to defeat terrorism and liberate the entire Arab country’s territory.

Assad made the remarks in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister’s Special Assistant for Political Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari and his accompanying delegation in Damascus on Sunday.

Jaberi Ansari commended the recent achievements made by the Syrian army in the battle against terrorists in the southern city of Dara’a and its countryside.

The two sides emphasized that the elimination of terrorism in most of the Syrian territories has prepared an appropriate ground for putting an end to the seven-year war in Syria but the policies and preconditions set by countries that support terrorism have so far prevented it.

Since June 19, the Syrian army has been conducting the liberation operation in Dara’a, which borders Jordan and the Israeli-occupied side of Syria’s Golan Heights.

In a bid to minimize civilian casualties, both Syria and Russia have been initiating talks with militants to make them hand back the areas they control to the government without fighting.

Dara’a was the birthplace of sedition that was born in March 2011 before morphing into a foreign-backed militancy that continues to this day.

The Syrian army on Thursday raised the national flag over the city of Dara’a as a major counter-terrorism operation nears an end, with foreign-backed militants leaving the region in negotiated surrender deals.

State television reported that the Syrian military had managed to enter the militant-held part of Dara’a and hoist the flag near the city’s post office.

The Syrian president and senior Iranian official also stressed the importance of boosting bilateral strategic relationship to serve the interests of the two nations and the entire region.

They agreed to continue working to strengthen mutual ties continuously as an important factor to develop regional stability.

A senior Iranian official said in May that legitimate governments of Iraq and Syria have called for Iran’s military advisory presence in their countries in order to help them fight terrorism.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said the world confirms that Iran has played a leading role in preventing the expansion of Daesh in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and even Europe, adding, “The ire of the US and this country’s allies, who were the main creators and sponsors of Takfiri terrorism and the final losers of this battlefield, is understandable.”

Jaberi Ansari also held talks with Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem about the latest political developments in light of the victories achieved by the Syrian army and its allies in the fight against terrorist groups and their supporters.

The two sides also stressed the importance of bilateral coordination and consultation to counter plots targeting the stability of Syria and the region.