Damascus Says French, German Forces in Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian government said Wednesday French and German forces were present in northern Syria.
Syrian state media said the government strongly condemned the presence of French and German forces in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij, Reuters reported.
"Syria...considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards (Syria's) sovereignty and independence," state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying.
"...active and legitimate counterterrorism requires cooperation with the legitimate Syrian Government whose army and people are fighting terrorism on each inch of the Syrian territory providing great sacrifices to cleanse the country of terrorism, which constitutes a serious threat to the entire security and stability of the world," it added.
However, Germany's defense ministry denied that German Special Forces were in northern Syria and said, "There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false."
Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with Takfiri terrorists, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front, currently controlling parts of it, mostly in the east.
UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Since September 30, 2015, Russia has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh and other Takfiri terrorist groups in Syria at the Syrian government’s request.
