UAE says it’s prepared to send ground forces to Syria

The kingdom, Iran s regional rival, has said it could “contribute positively” if the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria decided on ground action.

The UAE’s preparedness to participate in a ground military operation in Syria was confirmed on Sunday by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, who said that “US leadership on this” would be a prerequisite. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that his government is providing aid to more than 30,000 Syrian refugees who are stranded on the Syrian side of the border and will allow them to enter Turkey “if necessary”. “Turkey is enthusiastic about this option (of ground troops) since the Russians started their air operation and tried to push Turkey outside the equation”, Alani added.

“One of the results of these victories was that Turkey and Saudi Arabia abandoned peace negotiations and claimed sending troops to Syria”.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists from various groups, including Daesh (ISIL), now controlling parts of it.

Saudi, Turkish, American, or other foreign troops in Syria also should ring an alarm bell. Carter said he looked forward to discussing the offer of ground troops with the Saudi defense minister in Brussels next week.

Iran’s Shiite-led government remains a fierce opponent of Saudi Arabia as well as Daesh.

On Friday, US Central Command spokesman Pat Ryder welcomed Saudi Arabia’s willingness to send soldiers against IS.

The Iranian commander added that Iran will not change its policies regarding Syria, saying, “Our policies to support Syria’s political system are logical and based on common interests and such backing will continue at political and military levels”.

“Like it or not, our battlefield achievements indicate that we are headed towards the end of the crisis”, he said, before calling on rebel fighters to “come to their senses” and lay down their weapons. Washington and its allies have backed rebels fighting Assad and say he must eventually step down.

“I think there is something being cooked under a US supervision between Turkey and Saudi Arabia”, he said. Saudi Arabia supports more moderate rebels against Assad’s forces.

Salami also hailed as a “big event” the recent gains made by Syrian forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo Province.

Sunni heavyweight Saudi Arabia and most other Gulf states are opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.