Iran, Syria reiterate resolution to confront Israel’s threats, aggression

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Mekdad, have reiterated their countries’ absolute determination to resolve the problems in the region, vowing to respond to Israel’s threats and confront the regime’s aggression.

Amir-Abdollahian and Mekdad made the remarks in a joint press conference held at the Syrian capital of Damascus on Saturday night as the two top diplomats discussed bilateral relations, regional issues, counterterrorism efforts, and measures to confront Israeli assaults.

“We discussed issues of common interest between the two countries and ways of enhancing permanent and long-term cooperation to serve the people of the two countries,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

Underlining Syria’s territorial integrity, Amir-Abdollahian said Syria is at the forefront of the fight against the fake and occupying Israeli regime, adding that the Syrian government, leadership, and people will not allow the Zionists to compromise the regional security as well as the security of their country.

“We continue to offer unwavering support for the resistance to ensure lasting security in the region against the threats posed by the fake Israeli regime,” the top Iranian diplomat added.

Amir-Abdollahian condemned the Israeli aggression against Syria and stressed that “Iran will continue supporting Syria to counter the terrorist war it has been facing,” vowing the Islamic Republic’s support for the unity, integrity, and safety of the Syrian territory.

“There is no doubt that the relations between Iran and Syria are strategic,” Amir-Abdollahian said. “We proudly announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never and will never leave its friends and allies alone in difficult times.”

In an earlier meeting with the representatives of Palestinian resistance groups, Amir-Abdollahian said, “Whenever we wished, we have responded to the Zionist regime in Tel Aviv.”

Rejecting the Israeli regime's claim about Iran's attempt to target Israeli tourists in Turkey, Amir-Abdollahian said, “This is a fake scenario by the Zionists; we have nothing whatsoever to do with a bunch of old female Israeli tourists.”

The top Iranian diplomat stressed, “The Islamic Republic's stance [on the issue of Palestine] will never change until a unified Palestinian state will be established across their historical homeland with Holy al-Quds as the capital.”

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Israel's attacks will not go unanswered

Mekdad, for his part, condemned the West-led efforts aimed at expanding the circle of terrorism and war in the region and warned the Zionist regime that Syria is capable of responding to Zionist attacks.

“We tell Israel that the US-backed power has its limits and Israel must know that its attacks will not go unanswered,” the top Syrian diplomat added.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime mostly keeps quiet about its attacks on Syrian territories which many view as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s increasing success in confronting terrorism.

Israel has been the main supporter of terrorist groups that have opposed the government of President Bashar al-Assad since foreign-backed militancy erupted in Syria.

Mekdad also pointed to the deeply-rooted relations between the two countries and ways of improving the situation in the region, saying Damascus-Tehran relations would benefit the whole region and the world.

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Iran ready to offer solution to ease Syria-Turkey tensions

Elsewhere during the joint presser, Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran was working towards a political solution to keep Turkey from invading northern Syria after Ankara threatened to launch a new offensive in the Arab country.

"We voiced readiness to offer a political solution to help in this regard. We will expend all our efforts to prevent any military operation,” Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that he had also spoken to Turkish officials about a diplomatic solution.

"Any Turkish military action in the north of Syria would be a destabilizing element in the region,” he said.

The Syrian foreign minister also welcomed Iran's efforts to ease Ankara-Damascus tensions, saying, “We have trust in the Islamic Republic of Iran and not the others.”

Turkey has been conducting several incursions against neighboring Syria’s northern parts since 2016 to fight back against Kurdish militants known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG).

Ankara associates the YPG with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist group, which has been fighting a deadly separatist war against Turkey for decades.

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