DAMASCUS (Dispatches) –
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the United States is expected to wage more wars across the world and suffer more defeats despite its record of failures in the past.
Addressing a ceremony at the Higher Military Academy in Damascus, President Assad said, “The U.S. has supposedly spent one trillion dollars on military operations in Iraq, and a few trillion dollars more in Afghanistan. Who did Americans give all this money to? Did they give it to the Iraqi nation? Was the money given to the people of Afghanistan then? The United States spent the dollars on American companies to supply weapons and various kinds of military equipment.”
He added, “Wars would, therefore, inject huge sums of dollars into American firms and serve their interests. Even though the U.S. military suffered defeats in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Vietnam, Washington is still expected to wage more war and record more losses.”
The Syrian president urged resilience and steadfastness in the face of the ongoing Syria conflict, calling on the entire Syrian nation to strive for the Arab country’s progress in military, economic, administrative and social spheres.
Assad also lauded the expertise, perseverance, willpower and steadfastness of the Syrian army, stating that government forces will work to restore Syrians’ unalienable rights.
“The nation has placed its trust in the Syrian army. Syrian troops will remain guarantors of the homeland and its independence,” he pointed out.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said earlier this month that major gains made by government forces in battles against foreign-sponsored terrorist groups have resulted in positive international reflection of his country.
Since 2011, Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy, leading to the emergence of Daesh and other terrorist groups in the Arab country.
The Syrian government has also repeatedly condemned the U.S. and the EU for waging economic terrorism on the country through their unilateral sanctions, holding them responsible for the suffering of the Syrian people, especially now that the country is grappling with a deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Damascus has also been critical of the United Nations for remaining silent on the destructive role of the U.S. and EU, among other parties supporting terrorism in Syria.
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations Bassam Sabbagh says the Damascus government will continue its efforts to liberate Syrian territories occupied by foreign forces, and will fight terrorism as it seeks initiatives aimed at political settlement of the ongoing crisis in the Arab country.
“Syria will keep on attempts to liberate its occupied territories, and will combat terrorism in tandem with its political efforts. Terrorist attacks will not discourage Damascus from working to restore security and stability and eliminate terrorism,” Sabbagh said during a UN Security Council session on Wednesday.
He added that representatives of the Syrian government in last week’s UN-mandated talks in Geneva on drafting a new constitution for the country demonstrated their strong determination and resolute preparedness to put forward constitutional principles, which respond to the aspirations of the Syrian nation, safeguard national sovereignty and independence, and ensure nationwide security and stability as well as social and economic welfare.