Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President said the Damascus government will respond through all legitimate means available to the ongoing ground offensive by Turkish soldiers and allied Takfiri militants against Kurdish forces in the northern part of the war-battered Arab country.

Iran Press/ Middle East: During a meeting with visiting Iraqi National Security Advisor Falih al-Fayyadh in Damascus on Thursday, Bashar Assad said foreign schemes in the Middle East region have been foiled throughout history, and the Turkish criminal aggression launched by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration on Syria falls within such plots, reported Iran Press.

“No matter what false slogans could be made up for the Turkish offensive, it is a flagrant invasion and aggression. Syria has frequently hit (Turkish-backed) proxies and terrorists in more than one place. Syria will respond to the assault and confront it anywhere within the Syrian territory through all legitimate means available,” the Syrian leader said.

Fayyadh, for his part, conveyed Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s message, which focused on further expansion of bilateral ties between the two countries in various areas of interest, particularly with regard to combating terrorism and border security in light of the recent developments, economic cooperation and re-opening of border crossings.

The meeting was also attended by the Syrian Ambassador to Iraq Sattam al-Dandah.

Assad's remarks came after an unknown source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry earlier on Thursday strongly condemned the ongoing ground offensive by Turkish forces and their allied militants against Kurdish regions of the country.

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