Naharnet

Muallem Denies Syria Receiving Military Assistance from Iran, Hizbullah

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem denied on Wednesday that Iran and Hizbullah were providing military support to Damascus, saying they were only backing it politically.

“There is a political support for Syria to overcome the crisis and there is support for the reforms that (President Bashar) Assad announced” on Tuesday, he said in a televised address.

“But there is no military support,” Muallem added.

When asked about the deadly clashes that erupted between Sunnis and Alawites in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli last Friday, the foreign minister refused to comment.

The fighting erupted after pro- and anti-Assad demonstrations were held in the city. Seven people were killed in the gunfights.

He also denied that the Assad regime had interfered in the formation of the Lebanese cabinet.

“Syria did not play any role in the Lebanese government formation. It is 100 percent Lebanese,” Muallem said.


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