Cairo, Feb 7: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem warned Saudi Arabia not to send troops to his country, threatening that troops would be sent back home in coffins.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem spoke defiantly about U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Geneva and about continuing military operations “until terrorists are defeated.”
Muallem insisted that the Syrian government would not agree to any cease-fire on the ground, despite U.N. efforts, so long as Islamic State, al-Qaida and other “terrorist” groups continued to fight in the country. He also warned Saudi Arabia not to send forces to fight in Syria.
He said that logic would preclude any (Saudi) ground intervention in Syria, but that the folly of the Saudi regime means that nothing can be excluded.
He warned Saudi Arabia that any aggression on Syrian soil would result in the aggressors being sent home in wooden (coffins).
Meanwhile, Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman General Ahmed al-Assiri told media Fridaythat his country was ready to send ground forces to fight in Syria.
He said that the Saudi Kingdom is prepared to participate in any ground operation in Syria that is agreed upon by the (U.S.-led) anti-Islamic State coalition.
U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the Saudi offer to send troops.
Foreign Minister al-Muallem went on to criticize UN envoy Steffan de Mistura for conducting talks with Syrian opposition leaders whom he claimed “don’t represent the Syrian people.”
He also blasted armed groups fighting the government and thanked Russia for its military help.
