Report: Al-Muallem Calls for Lebanese-Syrian Cooperation to Confront Terrorism
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has called for cooperation between Lebanon and Syria to confront the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front militants.
As Safir daily on Thursday quoted al-Muallem as saying that Lebanon should not adopt a disassociation policy regarding terrorism.
“There should be Lebanese-Syrian cooperation to confront this terrorism that has no boundaries and poses a threat on both countries,” the FM reportedly said during a stopover in Beirut on his way to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly session.
Damascus has been keen to present itself as an ally in the fight against jihadists, though it uses the term "terrorists" to refer to all those who have been fighting to oust President Bashar Assad since 2011.
According to As Safir, al-Muallem expressed satisfaction with U.S.-led strikes against the IS and other al-Qaida-linked groups in Syria.
He reiterated that Damascus was being informed about the attacks despite a denial by Washington.
The latest strikes were on Wednesday, when U.S., Saudi and Emirati warplanes bombed IS-controlled oil refineries in eastern Syria.
The oil there is being used to fund the jihadist group's brutal rise from rebel faction to alleged global threat.
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