28 Mar 2024
Saturday 29 September 2018 - 12:30
Story Code : 321390

Official admits US cannot force Iran out of Syria



Press TV - Neither Russia nor the US can force Iranians out of Syria as their presence is at the official request of the Damascus government, a senior US official said.

"We are not going toforce Iranians outof Syria. We dont even think the Russians can force the Iranians outof Syria because force implies force, military action," US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey said onthe sidelines ofthe UN General Assembly onThursday.

"This is all aboutpolitical pressure" and "technically this is the Syrian government that has invited the Iranians in," he noted.

However,itwas"our expectation that the Syrian government atthe end ofthe political process or atsome point ofthe politics process will no longer feel the need tohave the Iranian forces there," he added.

Jeffrey said the US president wantsAmerican troops to remain in Syria until Iranians leavethe Arab country but thisdoesnot necessarilymean having American boots on the ground.

"There are many ways that we can be on the ground. We're certainly on the ground diplomatically," he said, while adding that no options were definite.

John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser, earlier on Monday said the American forces were not going to leave Syria "as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders."

At the request of Damascus, Iran has been providing military advisory assistance to the Syrian government forces who are fighting an all-out foreign-sponsored militancy.

Iran's military presence in Syria is a thorn in the side of Israel. Tel Aviv and its main ally the US want Syria to ask Iranian advisers to leave the country and dismantle what Israelclaims to be Iranian military bases.

In aninterviewwith the al-Alam News Network in June, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Iran does not have any military bases in Syria, but if there is a need for Iranian military bases, we will not hesitate."

Assad said Damascus had invited Iran and Russia to Syria, unlike the American, French, Turkishand Israelitroops who are occupying forces.

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