The United States is seeking to hinder the normalization of Syria's relations with the Arab world and is training fighters of the IS international terrorist organization at its base in Syria to destabilize the situation in the country, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin said.
"Washington does not hide its irritation at Syria's successes and would like to reverse the emerging trends," said Naryshkin, whose words were cited by the SVR press service. - "As their customary tool for implementing their subversive plans, the American intelligence services once again intend to use Islamic extremists, now known as 'moderate opposition'."
According to the SVR chief, "this criminal activity is being controlled from the American military base at Al Tanf near Syria's borders with Jordan and Iraq. Dozens of ISIS (former name of IS - TASS) fighters are being trained there, and their ranks are regularly replenished by the Americans, who release terrorists from prisons in the occupied northeastern part of Syria. Small arms, ammunition and anti-tank missile systems are being delivered by trucks to the training camps. According to the head of the SVR, a group of US intelligence officers in this area coordinates in real time the attacks of Washington-controlled militants, especially in the troubled southern provinces of As-Suwayda and Deraa. The strategically important road between the cities of Palmyra and Deir ez-Zor is also being attacked by terrorists.
"What strikes me is the cynicism of the tasks the US handlers have set for the gang leaders. Among the priority targets are places of mass public gatherings, stores and government institutions," Naryshkin noted.
The SVR notes that the US does not like the positive trends in Syria, which, thanks to the active efforts of Russia and other countries friendly to Damascus, returned to the united "Arab family": its membership in the Arab League was restored and President al-Assad took part in the summit of this organization in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The country's reconstruction with the active participation of the Arab world is now set to begin. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt intend to play a prominent role in this. Peace and stability are gradually returning to Syrian soil.
"For some, they [positive trends] mark the collapse of their own expansionist plans and intentions to establish control over the region," Naryshkin noted, referring to the US ruling class. "However, the US has no power to reverse Syria's emergence from years of crisis. Too much is changing in the Middle East today, against the wishes of the White House. The Syrian authorities, supported by the majority of Arab states and their friends from other regions of the world, intend to continue working consistently to revitalize the country," the SVR chief stated.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Master Sgt. Christopher DeWitt/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS