Syria Will Not Tolerate Militants In Idlib, US Base In At Tanf - Ruling Party

Syria will not allow either militants in the province of Idlib or the US base in At Tanf, used by Washington to train fighters against the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia), to remain on the country's territory, Hilal Hilal, the assistant regional secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, told reporters on Thursday

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th January, 2019) Syria will not allow either militants in the province of Idlib or the US base in At Tanf, used by Washington to train fighters against the Islamic State terrorist group (banned in Russia), to remain on the country's territory, Hilal Hilal, the assistant regional secretary of the Arab Socialist Baath Party, told reporters on Thursday.

"It is absolutely not our fault that [militants] are here. Why should we tolerate their presence on our soil now? They can leave our territory and go to any other country ... These groups have two options: either to leave Syrian soil or face the power of the Syrian Arab army," Hilal said.

He also pointed out that Damascus would continue to demand the withdrawal of US troops from the At Tanf base, which, according to media reports, might retain a certain number of soldiers despite the Washington's announced intent to withdraw its forces from the Arab republic.

"Syria has a right to defend any part of the country from foreign occupation.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has always said this. We believe that any foreign base created on Syrian soil without the consent of the president and the government of Syria represents an occupation and aggressive forces. Of course, we will fight the existence of such bases on our territory. I am speaking not only about the military bases, but also about people involved in these activities, armed formations and even states," Hilal said.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous opposition groups as well as militant and terrorist organizations. In 2014, the US-led coalition of over 70 launched its military operation against the Islamic State in Syria, which was not authorized by Damascus. In 2016, the United States set up its At Tanf military base to train anti-IS fighters. The Syrian government has repeatedly said that all foreign forces that are operating in Syria without the permission of the country's government must be withdrawn.