Bahrain Says Ready to Commit Ground Forces to Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria, the Persian Gulf island state said, a day after its larger neighbor and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge, in the face of Syrian army advances.
Bahraini ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said in a statement late on Friday that Bahrain would commit troops to operate "in concert with the Saudis" under what he called the international coalition against terrorism.
He added that the United Arab Emirates, a fellow member of the Saudi-dominated (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC), was also ready to commit troops, echoing an assertion made late last year by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash.
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led alliance decides to start such operations, an adviser to the Saudi defense minister said.
The Bahraini ambassador claimed the Saudi initiative in Syria was meant to combat both Daesh and Syrian government President Bashar al-Assad, Reuters reported.
Sheikh Fawaz also announced the PGCC had decided to base a new unified PGCC naval operations centre in Bahrain.
"The establishment of a joint force shows clearly and unequivocally that under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the (Persian) Gulf states are determined to take positive action within the region and globally to combat terrorism and extremism, from whatever quarter they emanate," he said.
The Syrian army and allied fighters have made significant advances in recent weeks, especially in the areas near the second city of Aleppo.
