President Rouhani Terms US Strikes on Syria Illegal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani described the US-led airstrikes on Syria as illegal, and added that central government in the war-torn country should be assisted in its fight against terrorists.
Speaking on Tuesday in a meeting with directors of US media in New York, Rouhani said the airstrikes were violation of international laws.
US, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates began launching airstrikes on the ISIL targets in Syria on Monday.
Using a mix of manned aircraft -fighter jets and bombers- plus Tomahawk cruise missiles, the strikes were part of the expanded military campaign that US President Barack Obama authorized nearly two weeks ago in order to disrupt and destroy the ISIL militants.
The Iranian chief executive questioned Washington’s contradictory conduct regarding terrorists in Syria.
“Is it not paradoxical that a country (the US) says it wants to fight a terrorist group in Syria (on the one hand) but on the other hand creates armed terrorist groups to fight the central government (in Syria)?” Rouhani wondered.
He underlined that such an approach will "definitely not end in success".
Asked how terrorism should be dealt with in Syria, the Iranian president said that first of all stability should be restored in the country “which is not possible without helping the central government”.
He reiterated that terrorism should be uprooted and ground should be prepared for the return of Syrian refugees to their country.
