Iran Condemns US Airstrike on Syrian Troops

Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US-led aerial bombardment of Syrian army forces near the city of Deir ez-Zor, describing such attack as a clear sign of American support for the terrorist groups in the Arab country.

In comments on Sunday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said US-led bombing of Syrian forces and a subsequent offensive by the ISIS demonstrates that terrorist groups in Syria benefit from the backing of the US.

US-led coalition jets on Saturday bombed Syrian government forces’ positions near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor, killing more than 90 troops and paving the way for ISIS militants.

The Iranian spokesman further slammed the airstrike as a violation of Syria’s independence and sovereignty, noting that US attacks are even risking the ceasefire and propping up the group which has been explicitly branded as a terrorist one in the United Nations Security Council resolutions, as reported by Tasnim.

Thus, he added, such US action was in contradiction to the international regulations and to the commitments of the UN members, particularly a Security Council member.

Attacking Syrian Troops Shows US True Intentions

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the international adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, also said US airstrikes on Syrian government forces who are fighting terrorists highlight Washington’s true intentions.

“We strongly denounce the US measures, and do not believe that it was a military mistake,” said Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday during a meeting with Syria’s Ambassador to Tehran, Adnan Hassan Mahmoud.

The US will do anything to weaken Syria’s morale and boost terrorist groups, he added.

“The presence of US soldiers in Syria violates international laws and has not been coordinated with the Syrian government,” he added, as reported by Press TV.

He went on to stress that Washington’s attack on the Syrian army also violated a Russia-US brokered ceasefire in Syria. “Attacking an army which is battling terrorism means backstabbing and helping ISIS,” he noted.

Over 90 Syrian soldiers were killed and 100 injured in the airstrikes by the US-led coalition. Russia said the attacks were performed by two F-16 fighter jets and two A-10 support aircraft.

An unnamed US military official has also said that the bombings in Deir ez-Zor were carried out using US intelligence, which was being gathered for days.