Assad Adviser Says Aggression on Syria ‘Unlikely’
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A top adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shrugged off recent military threats by some Western states against the Arab country and said such an aggression would be unlikely but in case it does happen, the aggressors would pay dearly.
Speaking to Lebanon’s Arabic-language Al Mayadeen TV network, Bouthaina Shaaban pointed to recent reports about the possibility of Washington’s new military action against Damascus and said such an attack is improbable.
“We are strong as a coalition that has defeated terrorism, and the issue of invasion of Syria is unlikely because it would cost (aggressors) dearly,” she said.
She further pointed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent threats against Iran and Syria and said the threats cannot change anything because the alliance of Syria, Iran and Russia is powerful.
The Trump administration has considered new military action against the Syrian government in response to reports of chemical weapons use, officials said, according to the Washington Post.
“President Trump requested options for punishing the Assad government after reported chlorine gas attacks — at least seven this year — and possibly other chemicals affecting civilians in opposition-controlled areas,” the report said.
The US president discussed potential actions early last week at a White House meeting that included Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, officials said.
