kayhan.ir

News ID: 50490
Publish Date : 25 February 2018 - 21:41
Iran’s Top General:

Terrorist Supporters Seek to Hamper Ghouta Clean-Up




TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran said on Sunday Syrian forces would press ahead with attacks on a terrorist-held enclave near the Syrian capital, as ground fighting raged on there and government troops made fresh gains against Takfiri militants.
Iran’s Chief of Staff General Muhammad Baqeri, however, reiterated that Tehran and Damascus would respect a UN resolution demanding a 30-day truce while allowing Syria to push ahead with its fight against Takfiri terrorists.   
Baqeri said the architects of the ceasefire had it passed at the UN in order to forestall the Syrian army's eradication of terrorists in the Damascus suburbs.
"This time again, like in the past, those who do not want security and peace in Syria took up the banner of ceasefire in order to support terrorists after they saw the Syrian army and government were cleansing the Damascus suburbs," he said.
Nevertheless, "we will adhere to the ceasefire resolution; Syria will also adhere,” Baqeri said.  
The general stated that parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are held by the terrorists, are not covered by the ceasefire and clean-up operations will continue there.
Amendments were made to the draft resolution to exclude Daesh, Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra Front along with "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities" associated with the terrorist groups from the ceasefire.
Baqeri said, "With the joint work which was done by Syria and its friends as well as the opponents of terrorists and those fighting them, including Iran and Russia, the resolution was moderated a bit in order to continue the fight on known terrorists such as Nusra Front."
"The West and supporters of the terrorists insisted that this ceasefire be put in place," the top Iranian general said.
"This time again, like in the past, those who do not want security and peace in Syria took up the banner of ceasefire in order to support terrorists after they saw the Syrian army and government were cleansing the Damascus suburbs," Baqeri said.
The Syrian army is trying to drive out terrorists from Eastern Ghouta which has become a festering ground for foreign-backed terrorist groups to launch mortar attacks on the Syrian capital.
"The Syrian army seeks to clear the land of terrorists in order to provide security for the people in Damascus, but so far 1,200 mortar shells have been fired at the city, disrupting people's security and peace," Baqeri said.
The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on Saturday, demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
"Certain areas were specified to allow the ordinary people to continue their lives but this does not mean the terrorist front will remain there and in the next few months, the entire Syrian territory will be cleaned up," Baqeri said.   
Several ceasefires have unraveled quickly during the seven-year war in Syria, where the army has gained the upper hand.
While Moscow supported adopting the resolution, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia cast doubt on its feasibility.
Moscow has blamed Nusra terrorists from Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch for provoking the situation in Ghouta.
Syrian state media said Ghouta terrorists shelled parts of Damascus. An army unit destroyed a rigged vehicle that militants tried to send into the capital a day earlier and killed the suicide attacker, a Syrian military source said.