UAE ready to send troops to Syria to fight Daesh

ANKARA

United Arab Emirates said Sunday it is ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of the international efforts to fight Daesh terrorist group.

The Emirates News Agency WAM quoted the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, as telling reporters in Abu Dhabi that the country is “ready to support the US-led international coalition against Daesh with ground troops”.

“I am not talking about thousands of troops, but I am talking about troops that back the forces fighting on the ground, if the Global Coalition believes that the U.S. should take on the leadership in this effort," he said.

He said the Iraqi government should increase its efforts and cooperation in order to counter Daesh, adding that the political action by Baghdad should include, and not exclude, Sunnis.

The news comes days after Saud Arabia said it was ready to participate in ground offensive operations against Daesh in Syria under the umbrella of the U.S.-led coalition.

"The kingdom is ready to participate in these efforts because we believe that only air operations will not be the best solution," Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri, advisor at the office of the Saudi defense minister, told Al Arabiya Saudi TV channel on Thursday.

The U.S. defense chief Ash Carter welcomed reports about Saudi Arabia’s willingness to deploy troops in Syria, noting that he would discuss the issue with his Saudi counterpart in Brussels next week.