World

Syrian official rejects US demand for Iranian withdrawal

23 of May 2018

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian military and police forces fly their national flags on a damaged building and hold a picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad, in the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood, southern Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Syrian state TV said Tuesday the military and police forces are celebrating recapturing the last neighborhoods in Damascus that were held by the rebels and the Islamic State group. (SANA via AP),In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian military and police forces fly their national flags on a damaged building and hold a picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad, in the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood, southern Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Syrian state TV said Tuesday the military and police forces are celebrating recapturing the last neighborhoods in Damascus that were held by the rebels and the Islamic State group. (SANA via AP)

MOSCOW (AP) — Syria has dismissed American calls for the withdrawal of Iranian troops and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from the war-torn country.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad told Russia’s Sputnik news agency “this topic is not even on the agenda of discussion, since it concerns the sovereignty of Syria.”

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a list of demands this week for a new nuclear deal with Iran, including the pullout of its forces from Syria, where they have provided crucial support to President Bashar Assad’s government. Russia is also a key ally of Assad, and has been waging an air campaign in Syria since 2015.

Mikdad said in Wednesday’s remarks that Syria “highly appreciates” Russia’s military support as well as advisers from Iran and Hezbollah.