Saudi Troop Deployment in Syria up to US-led Coalition: FM Jubeir

The Moroccan army will participate in regional military exercises called “Northern Thunder”, which will be led by and held in Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Arabia has announced plans for 20 countries to come together in the region for “massive” military exercises that are set to last 18 days.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter secured renewed pledges of more airstrikes and special operations forces from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the fight against the Islamic State.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Scud missile fired towards the kingdom by Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, the Riyadh-led coalition fighting the insurgents has said.

Saudi forces are assembling in Turkey for a possible attack on Syria.

Jubeir said that Russia’s efforts to support Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad will not succeed in keeping him in power, adding that previous efforts to prop up Assad, including by Iran, had “failed”.

Cavusoglu said that Saudi officials arrived at Turkey and did a reconnaissance of the base.

Russian Federation and Iran have also warned against the deployment of foreign ground forces in Syria.

He said every country has specific capabilities and such propaganda bluffs will not help solve any problem, stressing that such rhetoric of war will only further complicate matters in the region.

Obama has ruled out sending USA ground troops to Syria.

The Saudi Arabia has just galvanized its decision to send in troops to Syria- a “final” and “irreversible” decision to flush militant elements out of the war-torn country- according to the Kingdom’s top military spokesman.

“Some say ‘Turkey is reluctant to take part in the fight against Daesh (IS)'”.

He stressed that Saudi Arabia had made its decision in co-ordination with the coalition and said that a ground operation was being planned.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, meanwhile, said in a German newspaper interview: “There is discussion on whether ground troops are needed against ISIS”.

Saudi Arabia is now leading a military campaign against Houthi rebels in its southern neighbour Yemen. However, many key players in this conflict now see the best course of action is to eradicate Islamic State before deposing of Assad.