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Saudi Arabia trying to thwart truce in Syria: Damascus

Monday, 29 February 2016 5:02 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 29 February 2016 5:00 PM ]

A view of the Syrian Foreign Ministry building in the capital, Damascus

The Syrian government has warned against Saudi Arabia’s attempts to undermine a cessation of hostilities agreement that recently came into effect across the war-hit country.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that remarks by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir about a plan B in Syria are clearly aimed at derailing the truce.

"What Adel al-Jubeir says ... about a plan B regarding the current developments in Syria is merely a delusion in the mind of the Saudi regime," a Syrian Foreign Ministry official said in the statement, adding, "Jubeir's statements are ... an attempt to thwart the cessation of combat operations."

It also stressed that recent statements by the Saudi minister demonstrate the kingdom's "destructive role" in Syria.

Jubeir's comments are "lies meant to boost the morale" of Saudi-backed militants who have suffered setbacks in recent weeks in different parts of Syria, it noted.

Saudi Arabia is among the regional countries known as the main supporters of the militants fighting the Syrian government forces.

Syrian forces celebrate after they break militants' siege of the northern town of Zahraa, on February 4, 2016. (AFP photo)

The Saudi foreign minister on Sunday said Riyadh will consider an alternate plan if it becomes clear that Syria and Russia are not serious about the ceasefire.

The comments by the Saudi minister prompted Russia to say a Syria plan B is totally out of the question.

A ceasefire agreed by the United States and Russia took effect in Syria on February 27 midnight Damascus time. The Syrian government also accepted the terms of the truce on condition that military efforts against Daesh and the al-Nusra Front Takfiri militants, who are not included in the ceasefire agreement, continue.

According to a statement by Syrian Foreign Ministry, the country's military, however, reserves the right to "respond to any breach by these groups against Syrian citizens or against its armed forces."

The ceasefire agreement in Syria has revived hopes that the truce would lead to an end of nearly five years of war in the country.

Over the past few weeks, Syrian government forces have managed to retake major positions from the foreign-backed militants in Syria.

The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared in March 2011, has claimed the lives of some 470,000 people and left 1.9 million injured, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research.

Syria accuses Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar of funding and arming terrorist groups operating inside the country, including Daesh.

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