Recent Appearances...

Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances...

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syria says Pompeo’s chemical weapons allegation is a ‘big lie’

2019-09-28

[ALMASDARNEWS] Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem refuted the allegations made by U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo about carrying out a chemical attack in the Latakia province in May.

Speaking to Sputnik on Friday, al-Moallem described Pompeo’s statements, in which he accused the Syrian Arab Army of carrying out a chemical attack, as a "big lie."

On May 25th, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said the fabricated and baseless news about the Syrian Arab Army using chemical weapons in the town of Kabani in Latakia countryside are merely the prelude for Western lies and hypocrisy that preempts leveling threats against the Syrian state.

The chemical weapons attack was first reported by the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else

Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else

...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
, which is the main group in this part of the Latakia Governorate.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syria will retake the Golan Heights by any means necessary: FM

2019-04-05

Get it out of your system, dear heart. You’ll feel better, and it’s not as if the Israelis care what you say on the subject.

[ALMASDARNEWS] Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al‐Moallem stated during a presser with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza on Thursday that the occupied Golan Heights is Syrian, stressing that his country will retake it by any means necessary.

Moallem said U.S. President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s decision to recognize Israel’s illusory sovereignty over the Golan Heights has only isolated them in the region, adding "our right in the occupied Syrian Golan is firm and can’t be disclaimed by time lapse and every inch of the occupied Syrian territories will be liberated."

"Syria will liberate the occupied Golan by all means and all choices are on the table," Moallem said.

He continued that " Israel mustn’t go far...We have will and determination and our war since 2011 till now is to protect Syria’s illusory sovereignty and independence and to liberate every inch of its territories."

However,
nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits...
Moallem didn’t just criticize the U.S.’ decision, but also the Arab League
...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing...
’s condemnation, which he believed was a poor statement.

"Is it possible that the Arab Summit issues a statement on the occupied Syrian Golan which is weaker than Britannia’s stance?"

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran coordinated its ballistic missile strikes -- Syria’s foreign minister

2018-10-03

[ARABNEWS] Syrian foreign minister said in remarks broadcast Tuesday that the Iranian ballistic missiles attack on hard boyz in eastern Syria the previous day was part of "legitimate" cooperation between the two countries to combat terrorism.

Walid al-Moallem’s comments came during a wide-ranging interview with the Beirut-based al-Mayadeen TV. The full interview is to air later in the day.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched six ballistic missiles as well as drone bombers into eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor province on Monday, targeting ISIS hard boyz it blamed for an attack on a military parade in Iran last month.

The strikes were the second time Iran had used cross-border missiles inside Syria. Last year, Iran also struck in Death Eater positions in Deir Ezzor’s town of Mayadeen and following another attack, in Tehran, that was blamed on ISIS.

But Monday’s strikes come after Syrian government forces and allied Iranian-backed militias gained control of the strategic border town of Boukamal late last year, likely improving Iran’s intelligence and capabilities in the area.

The strikes were also seen as threat to Iran’s regional adversaries at a time when Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers unravels.

"The Iranian missiles are in the framework of combating terrorism," said al-Moallem.

The Syrian government and its allies, as well as the US-led coalition are separately battling ISIS, which still controls a sliver of land along Syria’s border with Iraq.

The Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, said the strikes killed eight people in Hajjin, a town still controlled by ISIS. It was not clear if all the killed were Death Eaters, the Observatory said, adding that one of the missiles hit a house that had been seized by ISIS.

The US military’s Central Command acknowledged that Iranian forces conducted "no-notice strikes" in the area Monday and said it was assessing the damage. The coalition said no coalition forces were in danger.

Link

Iraq

Damascus urges Iraq to reopen border crossing with Syria

2018-06-15

Normalization lights the end of the tunnel.

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Foreign Minister has received a message from his Syrian counterpart over intensifying efforts to re-open the border crossing between the two countries from west of Anbar in Iraq and al-Bu Kamal city in Syria.

Iraqi Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari highlighted, as he received the message from Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem, "necessity of cooperation between the two countries in order to resolve the Arab issues through political solutions without intervention in the countries’ affairs."

Meanwhile,
...back at the pond, the enormous newt was trying to decide if Gloria was edible...
the Syrian ambassador to Baghdad Setam Jadaan al-Dandah, who delivered the message, commanded Iraqi stances which supports resolving the Syrian issues peacefully. He also expressed his government’s desire to boost the bilateral cooperation to achieve stability.

Observers believe that reopening the border crossing could be dangerous as terrorist groups like Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
still exists in al-Bu Kamal, located on the right bank of Euphrates River, east of Syria, which is eight kilometers away from Iraqi-Syrian borders. However,
corruption finds a dozen alibis for its evil deeds...
reopening the crossing could reinforce the security presence by both Iraqi and Syrian troops, which could prevent infiltration of ~~bandidos~~ murderous Moslems into Iraq.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syrian govt rejects UN proposal on eastern Aleppo

2016-11-21

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The Syrian government refused the UN envoy’s latest proposal for a truce in Aleppo on Sunday, calling on Lions of Islam to withdraw and saying it would not grant autonomy to the rebel-held east in exchange for calm.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has proposed that the Syrian government grant eastern Aleppo autonomy in exchange for peace, and called on the estimated 900 al-Qaeda-linked ~~bandidos~~ Lions of Islam in the east to depart to other rebel-held territory.

But Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said restoring government rule was a matter of "national illusory sovereignty," and that Damascus would not allow the people of eastern Aleppo to be "hostages to 6,000 gunnies."

"We agreed on the need that forces of Evil should get out of east Aleppo to end the suffering of the civilians in the city," he said.

He spoke after meeting with de Mistura, who acknowledged a "major disagreement" with al-Moallem and said a "creative" if interim solution was required to halt the violence.

"We are only proposing that there should not be a radical dramatic change in the administration of Aleppo until there is a political solution," he said.

The envoy warned in a recent interview with the UK newspaper The Guardian that the government was chasing a "pyrrhic victory" in Aleppo if it does not reach a political settlement with the opposition.

He warned the military’s approach would drive more moderate rebels into the ranks of ISIS.

At least 172 civilians have been killed since the government renewed its assault on the besieged enclave six days ago, according to the Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UN estimates 275,000 people are trapped inside. By Saturday, the government had damaged or destroyed every hospital in the east, according to the Syrian American Medical Society, which supports hospitals in Syria.

The government denies striking hospitals, and de Mistura said there was a "difference of opinion" about the attacks. He said he had proposed sending an observer team to inspect all the hospitals in Aleppo, but that the idea was not discussed further.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Al-Moallem: Syria ready to support formation of unity government

2016-09-27

[ENGLISH.ALMANAR.LB] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Syrian was ready to engage in initiatives that could lead to the establishment of a unity government in the war-torn country.

In an interview with Leb-based al-Mayadeen TV aired on Monday, Moallem said the Damascus government has proposed a political roadmap that could put an end to more than five years of war in the Arab country.

He said Damascus would support the idea of holding a referendum on a new constitution followed by parliamentary elections and the formation of a unity government.

Moallem said, however, that a main obstacle to the political settlement of the conflict in Syria was the support provided by governments like the United States, Britannia and La Belle France and their allies in the Middle East to bully boyz operating in the Arab country.

He accused the three Western countries of convening a meeting of the UN Security Council on Sunday to support bully boyz in Syria.

The top Syrian diplomat said the truce deal brokered by Moscow and Washington two weeks ago is still viable. He, however, blamed the US military for the collapse of the ceasefire by mounting a deliberate attack on Syrian armed forces positioned in a military base east of the country.

He said the attack two weeks ago the army positions on Tharda Mountain in Dayr al-Zawr was deliberate and in coordination with ISIS Takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...
bully boyz who "rushed to take control of the area only one hour after the aggression."

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Al-Moallem: Any Ground Intervention Is Aggression That Will Be Confronted

2016-02-07

[ALMANAR.LB] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem warned Saturday against any foreign ground intervention in its war after reports that Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
could send in troops.

"Any ground intervention on Syrian territory without government authorization would amount to an aggression that must be resisted," Moallem said at a news conference in Damascus.

"We assure you that any aggressor will return to his country in a wooden coffin."

Saudi Arabia, Moallem said, is implementing the US will, and "it seems that after Syrian army's victories, the conspirators and funders have got fed up with their tools on the ground, and that they decided to get involved themselves."

Moallem, however, ruled out such a move, but still recalled "their crazy decisions made not only against Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
but also regarding other areas."

Meanwhile,
...back at the buffalo wallow, Standing Buffalo drew a bead on his old enemy and squeezed the trigger...
Moallem warned that "Everyone should realize, on top of all (UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan) de Mistura, that Syria is going for a Syrian- Syrian dialogue without any preconditions and will not comply with any precondition set by any party whatsoever."

"The two Vienna Communiqués and the Security Council Resolution (2254) stress on the broadest representation of the opposition delegation" the Syrian FM said, adding "...We told them 'do not repeat the mistakes of Geneva 2'."

The top Syrian diplomat said that the Security Council resolution no. 2254 and the two Vienna Communiques state that the Syrian people alone have the right to determine their future and that dialogue should be a Syrian- led among the Syrians without foreign interference and without preconditions, while the statements of "Riyadh opposition" delegation, made even before the go to Geneva, were full of preconditions.

'We asked the UN Special Envoy for Syria de Mistura to provide us with a list of the names of those with whom we were going to have dialogue, because we wouldn't hold dialogue with ghosts," the minister said.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Moallem Arrives in Muscat: First Visit to Gulf Country since Beginning of Syria

2015-08-07

[ALMANAR.LB] The Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem held on Thursday talks with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi on the crisis in Syria.

Al-Moallem's visit was upon the invitation of Alawi, who, along with bigwigs at the Omani Foreign Ministry, received al-Moallem and the delegation accompanying him upon their arrival in Muscat in the morning.

The talks, which were held at the Omani Foreign Ministry's building, discussed in depth the details of the crisis in Syria and the regional and international roles involved in it, in addition to touching upon the bilateral relations.

The views of both sides converged that time has come for unifying constructive efforts to put an end to the crisis in Syria on the basis of fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian people in combating terrorism, establishing security and stability and maintaining Syria's illusory sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The two sides agreed to continue cooperation and coordination to realize the common goals of their countries' peoples and leaderships.

Minister al-Moallem conveyed during the meeting

Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Supressor of the Damascenes...
's greetings to the Sultan of Oman Qaboos and his wishes for continued success.

Al-Moallem went to Muscat after he ended a visit to Tehran, where he held talks with senior Iranian officials and discussed with them the latest developments in Syria and the issue of combating terrorism.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syria regime says wants more Iraqi coordination in ISIS fight

2015-05-28

[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Damascus wants more coordination with Baghdad to combat ISIS fighters who control land in both countries, Syria's foreign minister said on Wednesday, days after the group seized a border crossing and overran a central Syrian city.

ISIS seized al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq last week and has taken over the desert city of Palmyra, the first time the group has captured a large population center directly from the Syrian military.

Though Damascus and Baghdad share a close relationship with Shiite Islamist Iran, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem's comments indicated Damascus was not happy with the level of Iraqi cooperation in the fight against ISIS.

Both countries realized they had to fight together, he said.

"But the coordination has not reached the threat level we are facing," he told a joint news conference in Damascus with his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian, who also met

Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Lord of the Baath...
.

Baghdad is coordinating with U.S. forces to combat ISIS, which has taken territory from government forces in the north and west of the country. In Syria, U.S.-led warplanes are carrying out an aerial campaign which they say is not coordinated with the Syrian military and has focused on areas outside of government control.

However Syria says it has been informed of attacks ahead of time and has criticized the U.S.-led raids as ineffective, but has not opposed them.

Moallem also said support from Syria's main allies Russia and Iran remained strong and that they would not hold back on helping Syria to remain "steadfast."

Nalbandian is the third foreign minister to visit Damascus this year after trips by ministers from Iran and Belarus.

Syria hosts an Armenian population mainly in the north of the country and is also home to several Armenian churches. Both countries are hostile towards ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
.

Syria blames its northern neighbor for funding and arming bully boys. Turkey has denied arming rebels or helping hardline Islamists. Armenia condemns Ankara for not recognizing what it says was a genocide by Ottoman Turks 100 years ago.

Moallem criticized Turkey for what he said were acts of aggression and for violating Syrian airspace.

He also dismissed comments by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday in which he warned Iraq and Syria risked further division if international efforts to tackle ISIS were not stepped up quickly.

"Our people are able to repel any attack and prevent any attempt to partition Syria," he said. He said La Belle France, which supports the four-year uprising against Assad, had supported terrorism and was conspiring against Syria.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

AP INTERVIEW: Syria 'OK' with US airstrikes

2014-09-30

UNITED NATIONS (AP) Syria's foreign minister said Monday that his government is satisfied with the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State group, adding that the airstrikes should be expanded to include all other militant groups in Syria.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Walid al-Moallem said the fight against terrorism has aligned Damascus with Western and Arab opponents in fighting the same enemy.

Al-Moallem said the U.S. does not inform Syria of every strike before it happens, "but it's OK."

"We are fighting ISIS, they are fighting ISIS," he said, referring to the group by one of its acronyms.

He spoke as U.S.-led coalition airstrikes targeted towns in northern and eastern Syria controlled by the Islamic State group, including one strike that Syrian activists said hit a grain silo and reportedly killed civilians.

Washington and Arab allies opened their air assault against the extremist group last week in Syria, going after the group's military facilities, training camps, heavy weapons and oil installations. The campaign expands upon the airstrikes the United States has been conducting against the militants in Iraq since early August.

Some of the initial strikes targeted the Nusra Front, al-Qaida's Syria affiliate, hitting several of its facilities and killing dozens of its fighters. Washington said it was trying to take out an al-Qaida cell known as the Khorasan Group that was actively plotting attacks against Americans and Western interests.

The U.S.-led coalition includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.

Al-Moallem said he considered the Islamic State group, the Nusra Front and all Islamist groups fighting in Syria to be essentially on the same side and should all be hit.

"Without doubt, because they have the same ideology. They have the same extremist ideology," he said.

Asked whether the strikes should include the loose umbrella rebel group known as the Free Syrian Army, a Western-backed group, he said the group "does not exist" anymore.

Al-Moallem said Syria heard from the United States 24 hours before it launched its initial airstrikes last week.

"Until today, we are satisfied. As long as they are aiming at ISIS locations in Syria and in Iraq, we are satisfied," he said.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syrian Govt Says Terrorism, Not Talks Is Priority

2014-01-24

[Ynet] Syria's government says fighting terrorism -- not peace talks -- are its priority, dismissing the Western-backed opposition and any attempts at outside intervention.

Thursday's comments from Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem cast doubt on UN efforts this week to chart a path out of Syria's civil war.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syria defiant at conference; Kerry rules out al-Assad

2014-01-23

[CNN] A preliminary session of Syrian peace talks meant to end three years of bloodshed was an important "first, small step," U.N. Secretary-General

the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
said Wednesday after a morning of bitter exchanges.

Speaking to news hounds after the first leg of talks, Ban said a "difficult road" lay ahead, but the time had come for negotiations.

"We did not expect instant breakthroughs from today's conference, but the seriousness and horror of the situation has focused all minds, and there is a determination that all parties will find a way to peace," he said.

"We have a difficult road ahead, but it can be done and it must be done. It is still not too late to end the bloodshed and find the peaceful and democratic future. The moment to act decisively and courageously is now."

Syria earlier had struck a defiant tone, laying a record of atrocities -- rape, arson, even the destruction of Syrian culture itself -- at the feet of rebels and chiding outsiders for trying to interfere.

"This is a Syrian conflict, and it will remain as such," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told the conference.

His comments came after U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
said the path to peace had to involve the world community, and could not include Syrian

Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad
Terror of Aleppo ...
, whom he accused of widespread human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
abuses.

"Mr. Kerry," al-Moallem said, "nobody in the world has the right to get rid of the legitimacy of a president or a constitution or a law or anything in Syria except the Syrian people themselves."

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More