Iranian FM Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Syria

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem on Monday condemned Israel’s yesterday air raid on Syria, reiterating that Tel Aviv’s attack vindicates its collaboration with the Takfiri terrorist groups.
“This measure indicated the conformity, harmony and coordination between the Quds Occupying regime and Takfiri terrorist groups who have sustained heavy blows from the popular resistance and army troops of Syria and Iraq in recent days,” Zarif said during the meeting here in Tehran today.

The Iranian foreign minister once again underlined Iran’s rigid stance on staying beside the Syrian people and government, and said, “The Takfiri and extremist groups are our common enemy and they are a source of threat to the entire region and the world and today the nasty face of these groups who have tainted the clement image of Islam in the name of this noble religion is evident to everyone in the world.”

He reiterated that since the start of the Syrian crisis Iran has reiterated that finding a political solution accompanied by serious confrontation with terrorist and extremist groups in the absence of dangerous and destructive foreign intervention sets the only possible ways to resolve the problems of that country.

The Syrian foreign minister, for his part, pointed to the Sunday night’s Israeli attack on Syria, and said, “The main goal of this aggression that took place right after consecutive defeats of the terrorists in different parts of Deir Ezzur, Nabl and Al-Zahra, Kobani, Al-Qalamoun and Aleppo was only to boost the morale of the terrorists and make up for their defeats in the battle against the heroic defense of the Syrian people and army.”

Moallem, meantime, thanked Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, President Hasssan Rouhani and the Iranian nation for their all-out support for the resistance of the Syrian nation, and said, “These supports have and will surely play a vital role in defending the Syrian resistance.”

He pointed to the foreign plots hatched against Syria in the past four years, and said when people see that “the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant still continues its terrorist operations even after over 1,000 sorties of flights by the anti-ISIL coalition warplanes, they shouldn’t feel surprised as the main goal of the coalition is bringing back the US dominance to Iraq and Syria and not destroying the ISIL”.

The Syrian foreign minister reiterated that if the anti-ISIL coalition was seriously determined to confront the terror group, it should, at least, prevent the passage of terrorists and dispatch of financial and arms aids to them through the border regions.

Israel carried out two air strikes on Syria, near the capital Damascus on Sunday night.

Israeli planes bombed the area near Damascus international airport and the town of Dimas, the Syrian army said in a statement carried on the state-run television.

Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

“The Zionist regime intends to misuse Syria’s critical conditions, but the consequences of warmongerings will backfire on the regime,” Afkham said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokeswoman reiterated that Israel’s attacks show its conformity and collaboration with the terrorist groups to destroy Syria and massacre the “oppressed people” of the Arab country.

Afkham called on the United Nations to fulfill its duties to stop these aggressions.

The Syrian army said the yesterday airstrikes carried out by Tel Aviv on areas near the Syrian capital, Damascus, were aimed at helping the ISIL militants operating in the Arab country.

The Syrian army said in a statement on Sunday shortly after Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes against an area of the Damascus International Airport and another airport in the town of Dimas.

“This direct aggression by Israel was carried out to help the terrorists in Syria, after our armed forces secured important victories in Deir Ezzor, Aleppo and elsewhere,” the statement said.

The Syrian army slammed “Israel’s direct support for terrorism in Syria,” saying it had targeted two safe areas in Damascus where both civilian and military aircraft operated.

The international airport in Damascus is located Southeast of the capital near areas such as Eastern Ghouta, where ISIL militants have gained control over much of its territories.

Since the foreign-backed militancy started in Syria in March 2011, Damascus has accused Israel of fueling terrorism in the country.

The Syrian army has repeatedly seized huge quantities of Israeli-made weapons and advanced military equipment from the foreign-backed militants inside Syria.