- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Turkish, Saudi Ground Troops in Syria Will 'Support Daesh Against Assad'

© AP Photo / Mursel CobanTurkish army's armored vehicles and tanks drive in Syrian town of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, as they return from the Ottoman tomb in Syria, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015
Turkish army's armored vehicles and tanks drive in Syrian town of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, as they return from the Ottoman tomb in Syria, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Turkey and Saudi Arabia are said to be on the verge of sending ground forces to the Syrian battlefield. If they do so, both will claim that boots on the ground are the only option to tackle Daesh, but their true intentions, analysts point out, are the opposite.

"If Ankara and Riyadh invade Syria, they'll be supporting [Daesh] and other terrorist groups against Assad," syndicated columnist, activist and radio show host Stephen Lendman asserted.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir shake hands after speaking to the media together at King Salman Regional Air Base in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 23, 2016. - Sputnik International
Against Russia? Saudi Invasion in Syria ‘Would Be Beneficial for US'
The oil kingdom confirmed its readiness to take part in a US-led ground offensive last week. On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir reaffirmed that Riyadh was ready to provide special operations forces for the operation. Rumors circulate, that the Saudis could deploy thousands of troops, if asked.

Editor and critic Patrick Smith referred to this initiative as "rampant with complications."

"So is the increasing military involvement of the Turks, who are Washington's other regional ally in the coalition against… against who knows whom? It's either [Daesh], as declared, or Damascus – as is cynically evident on the ground," he observed.

© REUTERS / OMAR HAJ KADOURA rebel fighter fires a heavy machine gun during clashes with government forces and pro-regime shabiha militiamen in the outskirts of Syria's northwestern Idlib province on September 18, 2015
A rebel fighter fires a heavy machine gun during clashes with government forces and pro-regime shabiha militiamen in the outskirts of Syria's northwestern Idlib province on September 18, 2015 - Sputnik International
A rebel fighter fires a heavy machine gun during clashes with government forces and pro-regime shabiha militiamen in the outskirts of Syria's northwestern Idlib province on September 18, 2015

Saudi armoured vehicles - Sputnik International
Saudis Want Washington to 'Fight Their War in Syria for Them'
Indeed, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have long called for Bashar al-Assad to step down and backed militants, who are fighting against the Syrian president. In addition, both countries made an effort to complicate, if not undermine the Geneva talks. As a result, the negotiations were suspended just days after Damascus and opposition representatives came to Switzerland.

UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura announced that the talks would resume on February 25. But Lendman maintains that the "farcical talks," as he refers to them, had slim chance of success from the beginning. "Resuming them is doubtful. Chances for diplomatic resolution are nil," he noted.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала