FM: Illegal US military presence in Syria reaching its end, occupied areas will soon return to govt. control

Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad says the illegal presence of American military forces in the energy-rich northern flank of Syria is reaching its end, and the Damascus government will soon regain its control over the occupied areas.

“The illegal US [military] presence in the Jazira region of northern Syria is reaching its end, and the regions occupied by American forces will soon come under the Damascus government’s authority,” Mekdad said in an exclusive interview with the state-run and Arabic-language al-Ikhbariyah Syria television news network broadcast on Wednesday night.

He noted that rejecting foreign interference in its domestic affairs, unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, and fighting for the full liberation of occupied Arab territories are among Syria’s principled policies.

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“Given Syria’s strong commitment to such positions as well as its geo-strategic location and great regional influence, hostile countries have been trying to affect the Damascus government’s policies. Having failed in their attempts, they resorted to terrorism and sponsored the menace with billions of dollars,” Mekdad pointed out.

He went on to say that the Syrian armed forces, nation and leadership, through firm steadfastness, thwarted the Western plot to partition Syria, to weaken the country and to create a new status quo that would serve the interests of the occupying Israeli regime.

Mekdad underlined that all the occupied areas in northern Syria will soon return to the Syrian government control, calling on separatist militants from the Kurdish-led and so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to realize that American occupation forces will eventually withdraw from Syrian soil.

The top Syrian diplomat also pointed to the US move to allow foreign investment in the Arab country's northern areas, emphasizing that successive American administrations were behind the war that Syria has gone through for more than a decade.

He added that Washington and its Western allies provide various forms of aid to terrorist groups in northern Syria, which have resulted in the destruction of the country’s economic prospects and plunder of its national assets and crude oil.

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Mekdad said Turkey continues to support terrorist groups in Syria in violation of its role as the guarantor of the Astana process, calling on Ankara to stop its support, withdraw from all Syrian territories it occupies, and put an end to its holding the water from the Euphrates River.

He noted that constant Israeli strikes on Syria have not and will not protect Israel’s allies and its allied Takfiri terrorists, and will not stop Damascus from eradication of terrorists and Israeli agents.

The Syrian foreign minister stressed that Damascus will not hesitate to exercise its right to defend its land and nation as per the UN Charter and international law.

Mekdad also reiterated Syria’s strong condemnation of incessant Israeli assaults on Palestinians, incursions into occupied Palestinian cities and towns, and demolition of Palestinian homes.

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He reaffirmed Syria’s support for Palestinians, their right to freedom and independence, an end to the Israeli occupation and establishment of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital.

Mekdad finally underscored that Syria will spare no efforts to strengthen the joint Arab action, and foster Arab solidarity in a manner that would serve the interests of Arab nations.

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