Assad Receives Iranian, Iraqi Army Chiefs In Damascus - Press Service

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th March, 2019) Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday received Iraqi Chief of General Staff Osman Ganimi and Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, along with accompanying delegations, Assad's press service reported.

On Monday, Ganimi and Bagheri held consultations with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Ayoub on the issue of combating terrorism and discussed trilateral cooperation.

Assad noted that Syria's ties with Iran and Iraq were very close and further strengthened during the civil war in the country. The president stressed that Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi servicemen participated together in the fight against terrorists in Syria.

Earlier in the day, Ayoub said during a press conference that the negotiations with Ganimi and Bagheri were successful.

The minister highlighted that any foreign troops acting on Syrian territory without government authorization were illegal.

The US-led international coalition of more than 70 members has been engaged in counterterrorism operations in Syria since 2014 without the permission of Syrian authorities or the UN Security Council.

US President Donald Trump announced last December that the US troops would leave Syria. However, no exact deadline for the withdrawal of thousands of US soldiers has been unveiled yet.

Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011. At the moment, the Syrian government forces continue military operations in several areas of the country to clear them of terrorists. The political resolution, rebuilding of the country and return of the refugees have come to the forefront in Syria.