Kremlin monitoring Saudi Arabia’s plans to launch ground operation in Syria

0

MOSCOW: The Kremlin is monitoring Saudi Arabia plans to launch a ground operation in Syria, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

Russia’s TASS news agency reported that Peskov was asked to comment on British media reports that Saudi Arabia plans to launch a ground operation in Syria in coordination with Turkey.

“There is none yet. We are closely monitoring the situation, watching. I cannot say anything concrete now. The question should be addressed to the Defence Ministry,” he said in response to the question.

Peskov added that the Kremlin did not know whether Saudi Arabia really plans to launch a ground operation in Syria.

TASS earlier reported, citing The Guardian newspaper that Saudi Arabia offered to send ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation in coordination with Turkey.

According to TASS the Guardian reported that both Ankara and Riyadh are committed to the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad and have serious doubts about prospects of political settlement without additional pressure on Damascus. Saudi Arabia and Turkey set up a military coordination body a few weeks ago.

Saudi Arabia’s military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri said previously that “the kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against IS) may agree to carry out in Syria.”

He made the statement a day after inter-Syrian talks in Geneva under the United Nations’ auspices were temporarily suspended. – Bernama