The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned the unauthorized entry of a US delegation into Syrian territory. The delegation was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs Ethan A. Goldrich.
"The engagement of the American envoy with separatist organizations in the northeast region of our country constitutes a stark infringement upon Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," expressed the Arab republic's foreign ministry in an official statement reported by the SANA news agency. The statement underlines that the unauthorized presence of the US delegation within Syria's borders flagrantly contravenes the principles of international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Syria.
The ministry strongly rejected Washington's justifications, which claimed that Goldrich's visit aimed to mediate between Kurdish groups and dissatisfied Arab residents in Deir ez-Zor province. "Damascus views these activities as an encroachment on Syria's internal matters and denounces the double standards employed by the US administration, which relentlessly imposes unjust sanctions on the Syrian populace and exploits their oil resources," emphasized the diplomatic ministry's statement.
The statement underscored that "backing terrorist and separatist entities reveals the undermining role of the United States, which aims to prolong the crisis in Syria and the hardships faced by its population."
According to the Al Hadath TV channel, the US delegation, which entered Syrian territory on September 3, held meetings with the leaders of the Kurdish "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) and Arab tribal sheikhs who had opposed them. On September 7, SDF commander Mazlum Abdi declared a ceasefire and indicated that the majority of the detained Arab militias would be released.
The Arab tribal sheikhs are advocating for a fairer distribution of income from Syrian oil sales, ensuring an equitable balance between Kurds and Arabs in local governance, and the full reopening of educational and healthcare facilities in the region. The political council of the SDF has committed to assessing and addressing these demands.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: anjči/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS