Assad says UK, France airstrikes in Syria are futile

Press TV

 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says airstrikes launched by the UK and France against purported positions of the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the Arab country will be futile as the two states lack the will as well as the vision on how to defeat terrorism.

Putting Paris and London among the main supporters of terrorists in Syria, Assad said their participation in the so-called US-coalition that purports to target Daesh positions is illegal.

"It is legal only when the participation is in cooperation with the legitimate government in Syria. So, I would say they don't have the will and they don't have the vision on how to defeat terrorism," President Assad emphasized.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate since September 2014. The mission has fallen severely short of dislodging the terrorists. Takfiri terror groups like Daesh and the al-Nusra Front have expanded freely despite the US-led coalition air raids, Assad said.

The Syrian leader hailed the Russian aerial campaign against terror groups operating in his country as legal and constructive since it has been coordinated with Damascus.

"Look at the Russians, when they wanted to make this alliance against terrorism, the first thing they did was they started discussions with the Syrian government before anyone else. Then they started discussing the same issue with other governments. Then they came. So, this is the legal way to combat any terrorist around the world," said the Syrian president.

Moscow launched its air raids against the Takfiris, including Daesh terrorists, in Syria on September 30, upon a request from the Syrian government. 

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