Turkish, Saudi Plans on Syria Ground Operation to 'Ruin Int'l Efforts'

The presence of Saudi and Turkish troops on the ground in Syria could seriously undermine the international efforts aimed at Syrian reconciliation, and would violate the corresponding UN Security Council resolution, the head of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Last week, media reported that Saudi Arabia could send thousands of ground forces to Syria, most likely in coordination with Turkey, to take part in the fight against Daesh jihadist group. Shortly after that, Turkey reportedly sent troops over its border, and also intensified the shelling of Kurdish-held areas in northern border regions of Syria.

"Thus, it would openly violate the corresponding UN Security Council resolution [2254], undermine the efforts of the International Syria Support Group, further inciting the hotbed of war on the territory of Syria, in the immediate vicinity of the CSTO's zone of responsibility," CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told reporters.

The CSTO member states are Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus.

The UN Security Council Resolution 2254, passed in December, reaffirms the goals of previous agreements to end the bombardment of civilians in Syria, bring the entire spectrum of political groups in the crisis-torn country to the negotiating table and promote a lasting political resolution of the crisis.

The Russian Defense Ministry has previously said that it has "serious grounds" to suspect Turkey of preparing for a military incursion in Syria.