UNITED NATIONS (Dispatches) – Iran’s ambassador to the UN has warned against the illegal presence of some foreign forces in Syria, stressing that the years-long crisis in the Arab country must be resolved peacefully in line with the principles of international law.
Majid Takht Ravanchi made the remarks at a meeting of the UN Security Council held on the situation in the Middle East with a focus on Syria.
“Parts of Syria continue to be occupied by foreign forces, dominated by groups with separatist tendencies, or controlled by Security Council-designated terrorist groups. At the same time, the Israeli regime continues to commit acts of aggressions against Syria in flagrant violation of international law,” he said.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since 2011.
The U.S. has over the past years been leading a military coalition conducting airstrikes against purported targets of the Daesh terrorist group inside Syria without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.
Furthermore, the occupying regime of Israel almost regularly carries out airstrikes against targets inside the Arab country while Turkish troops and their allied militants have occupied regions in northern Syria claiming that they want to eliminate U.S.-backed Kurdish militants.
The Iranian envoy also warned of the impact of the situation on regional stability and international peace and security.
“This unstable situation has far-reaching implications for security and stability of this volatile region and international peace and security at large. The Security Council must live up to its responsibilities and ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country,” Takht Ravanchi said.
“In this context, all foreign forces who are unlawfully present in Syria must leave without any precondition and delay; terrorist groups must not be allowed to use millions of civilians as human shield to continue their heinous activities; and the Israeli regime must be forced to put an end to its aggression against Syria,” he added.
Elsewhere in his statement, Takht Ravanchi lambasted the “unlawful unilateral sanctions” against the Arab country, saying that such measures create “serious problems” for people in Syria.
The Iranian envoy said the decade-long Syrian crisis must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the principles of international law.
“In conclusion, we reiterate once more that the Syrian crisis must be settled peacefully and in accordance with principles of international law, particularly respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-intervention and non-interference in their internal or external affairs and peaceful settlement of international disputes,” he added.