Damascus Should Be Deemed Ally in War on Terror, Could Help Avoid Attacks

The Syrian government should be considered an ally in fighting terrorism, as Damascus could provide information to prevent attacks like the one in Nice, a French lawmaker from The Republicans center-right party, Jacques Myard, told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Late on Thursday evening, a heavy truck rammed into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice, southern France, killing 84 and injuring dozens.

"France was not conducting an efficient foreign policy in the Middle East. We need to renegotiate now with Damascus. We have a common enemy in Syria and Iraq which is IS [Islamic State]. We cannot continue saying that Damascus is not our ally in this war against terrorism," Myard, who is also a member of the National Assembly of France (lower house of Parliament), said.

The lawmaker added that information exchange between French and Syrian governments was necessary.

"We know that Damascus can provide information that may help to prevent such acts of terror in France and Europe," he stressed.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, including IS, outlawed in a number of countries worldwide including Russia. France is among Western countries, who speak out in support of Assad resignation.