Anti-Terror Syrian Stance "Irreversible"

Iran and Russia's backing for Syrian forces in their fight against terrorist groups will never stop, said a senior lawmaker.

Syria has been since 2011 the scene of a standoff between the Syrian Army and foreign-backed militants fighting to bring down the government, including the self-styled Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly Al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra) terrorist groups. Iran has been providing advisory services to the Syrian forces since the early years of the conflict and Russia has been conducting airstrikes against militants since September 2015.

"The US should know that these policies are permanent and irreversible," Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, also told ICANA on Tuesday.

The US which, along with its regional allies: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, provides arms and financial support to militants, has been pressuring Russia in recent days to stop its airstrikes and the Syrian Army's attacks against militants in Aleppo, the second biggest Syrian city that has strategic importance in the conflict.

Syrian forces have engaged in a major operation since last Tuesday to take back eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and other militant groups. The operation was held after a one-week US-Russia brokered ceasefire ended on September 26, without any extension.

The Syrian government refused to extend the ceasefire that was opposed and reportedly violated by some militant groups, after its military base was hit by US-led airstrikes near the eastern city of Deir al-Zor.

The air raids, which left more than 60 Syrian troops dead and some 100 others wounded, paved the way for IS militants to make gains in the area. The US said it was a "mistake" and did not offer apologies to Syria.

The US State Department announced on Monday that Washington has carried out its threat to "suspend" bilateral contacts with Moscow over the Syrian crisis.

Last Thursday, Reuters reported a US official as saying the US administration is considering tougher responses to the Syrian assault on eastern Aleppo, including military options.

  Old Trick

"The positions and performance of the US in Syria shows its flagrant support for terrorist groups," said Boroujerdi, citing the recent US bombing in Deir al-Zor.

The parliamentarian said experience shows that the US calls for a ceasefire in Syria are meant to help reinforce terrorists.

"This has been tried several times and all ceasefires have been misused by terrorist groups [to attack the Syrian Army]," he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said after the announcement of the US decision on Monday that the country is trying to shift the blame of failing to deliver on its part of the agreements. It said the US had not separated Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and other extremist groups from the so-called "moderate rebels" that enjoy the US support, and instead was hampering Moscow's efforts to stop the terrorists.