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Assad’s aide urges withdrawal of US occupation forces from Syria

Saturday, 19 December 2020 6:57 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 19 December 2020 9:54 AM ]

Bouthaina Shaaban, political and media adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, speaks in an interview with Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV channel, on December 18, 2020.

A senior aide to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lashed out at the United States for occupying the Arab country and looting its oil, stressing the need for the pullout of American occupation forces.

In an interview with Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV channel on Friday, Assad’s political and media adviser, Bouthaina Shaaban, referred to the policy that the next US president, Joe Biden, would likely take towards Syria.

She said that Damascus is waiting to see the new US administration’s approach, but the most important issue is the withdrawal of American troops from Syria.

The Syrians do not expect much from the new US administration, because the region has always suffered from Democratic and Republican governments, she added.

Shaaban also called on US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft to recognize Security Council Resolution 2254 that is against the occupation of Syria by American forces.

The Syrian army has been fighting against foreign-backed terrorist groups, which have been wreaking havoc on the country since 2011.

Syrian soldiers, backed by the Russian air force and Iranian military advisers, have managed to win back control of almost all regions from Takfiri terrorists.

On the contrary, the US has been supporting anti-Damascus militants with the aim of deposing Assad’s government and at the same time stealing Syria’s crude oil.

Elsewhere in her interview, Shaaban described as positive a visit by a Syrian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, to Moscow.

The situation in Syria and Washington’s unilateral measures in the region were among the issues discussed during the delegation’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, she said, asking, "How can Washington violate UN resolutions on Syria, occupy our territory and loot our oil?"

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The Syrian official also stressed that relations with Russia are based on respect and bilateral economic ties are at a very good level, with Moscow playing an important role in countering sanctions against Damascus.

Assad’s aide further condemned Turkey's military presence in northern Syria, noting that Russia expects Ankara to continue withdrawing its forces from the area.

Touching on the recent normalization deals between certain Arab countries and the Zionist regime, she emphasized that there is no choice but to adhere to the Palestinian cause and end the Israeli occupation.

What is happening in the Arab world is not in the interest of the countries compromising with Tel Aviv, she added.

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