Syrian FM: we can defeat ISIS if Turkey, Jordan tighten borders

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – If Jordan and Syria stem the flow of jihadi fighters the Syrian army can defeat the Islamic State and other extremist groups fighting in the country, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run Press TV, Muallem said foreign troops were not needed to defeat the extremist Sunni group, which occupies roughly a third of Syria and as much of Iraq.

“The only thing we ask the international community is to remove the sources feeding the terrorists,” Muallem said in the interview. “Jordan and Turkey should exercise sufficient control over their borders.  Should this happen, you will witness that the Syrian army will be able to defeat the Daesh (ISIS) group and the (al-Qaeda affiliated) al-Nusra Front,” he claimed.

Muallem said that ISIS could not be defeated without ground forces, but ruled out deployment of foreign troops.

“We ourselves have an army and popular forces that can carry out this mission,” he said. “Therefore, we do not need anyone.”

Reiterating a Syrian demand for US and global pressure on Turkey, which has been internationally accused of turning a blind eye to jihadi fighters using its territory to cross into Syria and Iraq, Muallem said: “There should be an international obligation to destroy the sources of terrorism.”

He also accused Turkey of staging an attack on its diplomatic mission in Mosul in June, saying that the 49 consular staff and their families held by ISIS for several weeks was a ruse for Ankara to avoid joining the international coalition against the Sunni Muslim extremists.

The Syrian minister also said that relations with Saudi Arabia had been frozen and reiterated accusations that Riyadh was funding and supporting certain jihadi groups fighting in Syria.

“At the request of Saudi Arabia our relations with the country are suspended at the diplomatic level,” Muallem said, while advising the kingdom to change its policies.

“I say once more that it is in the interest of Saudi Arabia and its people that the country review its policies in order to preserve its security. For the sake of those nations that will face this terrorism, consider the matter before it’s too late,” he said, addressing Saudi leaders.