خبرگزاری جمهوری عربی سوریه Syrian Arab News Agency
Damascus, (SANA) Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said that Iraq is being exposed to terrorist acts in the framework of a global conspiracy against the Iraqi and Syrian peoples through a terrorist invasion targeting the Iraqi territorial integrity and the unity of its people and infrastructure.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry added that terrorist acts have targeted Ninawa and Salah Eddin governorates in Iraq as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), al-Qaeda offshoot, seized control of Mosul with all the civil and military establishments, and is closing on Kirkuk.
The Syrian Arab Republic condemns these terrorist acts, added the statement, expressing solidarity and support to the Iraqi government, army and people in confronting the armed terrorist groups in Iraq.
The statement also reiterated that Iraq and Syria are facing the same foreign-backed terrorism.
Syria demands that all countries work to dry up the sources of terrorism and stem a flow of arms and funds to terrorists in Syria and Iraq as per the United Nations Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions, the statement pointed out.
“Syria stresses determination to combat terrorism targeting it and resolve to continue defending the Syrian people,” the statement said, asserting that Syria reiterates full solidarity with Iraq and shows readiness to cooperate with it in confronting terrorism.
“Syria calls on the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General to issue crystal-clear resolutions that condemn these criminal terrorist acts and to take prompt measures against the countries which sponsor and support these terrorist groups,” the statement said.
The statement also called for holding these countries accountable and putting pressure on them to stop offering financial and military support to terrorist groups which endanger the international security and peace in the region and the world.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared the ultimate state of emergency to square up to the arising challenges after the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), al-Qaeda splinter group, took control of vital areas in the Iraqi city of Mosul.
He urged international organizations to assume their responsibilities in countering terrorism in Iraq and cutting off supply lines to terrorists.
Later, the Iraqi army has embarked on a joint security operation with the police to secure the borders between Kirkuk and Ninawa governorates.
H.Zain/M.Ismael