Zionist Regimeˈs Support For Syrian Terrorist Groups Evident: Assad

Damascus, Feb 4, IRNA -- Zionist regimeˈs recent air raid on Syria proved this regimeˈs support for the terrorist groups, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday. He made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili in Damascus. ˈZionist regimeˈs recent aggression on a research center near Damascus was aimed at weakening the Syrian government and forcing it to retreat from its current national and regional position.ˈ Assad added that Syrian army and nation are ready to defend their country and the resistance line against any aggression and challenge. Jalili, for his part, declared Tehranˈs support for the Syrian government against the occupying force of the Zionist regime. ˈIran supports Syrian government’s political solution for the resolution of this region’s crisis.Tehran is ready to mediate reconciliation dialogue between Syrian government and the opposition.ˈ Secretary of Iranˈs Supreme National Security Council in a meeting with Syria’s Minister for National Reconciliation Ali Haidar on Saturday had also said that the ongoing terrorist attempts and sabotage in Syria would have no result. Speaking to Haidar, Jalili expressed satisfaction with a progressing political trend presently underway among various Syrian political groups and the government. Meanwhile, the Syrian official briefed Jalili on various comprehensive plans made by the Syrian government to encourage the spirit of national reconciliation among different walks of the Syrian society and encourage the trend of reconstructing the country. Earlier in the day, Jalili met with Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi. Referring to the Zionist regime’s air raid on Syria, the Iranian official said the Islamic world would not tolerate any moves by the enemies, particularly the Zionist regime, to invade Syria. The Iranian official arrived in Syria on Saturday to discuss issues of mutual interest with Syrian officials, including President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi and Foreign Minister Walid al–Muallem. Jalili had also exchanged views with senior Syrian officials on the Zionist regime’s January 30 air raid on that country. The Zionist regimeˈs fighters violated Syrian air space on January 30 and attacked a research center in Reef (outskirts of) Damascus. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country. Thousands of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States./end