Assad Thanks Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran for Backing Syria in War on Terror

TEHRAN (defapress) – Syria’s president expressed gratitude to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation for supporting his country in the fight against terrorism, hailing Iran’s role in the Syrian army’s recent success to break the siege of Deir ez-Zor.

News ID: 65925

Date: 14 September 2017 - 19:39

In a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, dated September 6, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has dedicated the victory in Deir ez-Zor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian government and nation.

Assad said the "strategic achievement” of breaking a three-year siege imposed by the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group on the city of Deir ez-Zor has been made with the help of Syria’s allies and friends.

He said Syria believes that Iran, which has always contributed to the fight against terrorism, has a share in the recent victory, and praised the Islamic Republic for its "principled policies” in the war against terrorism and in supporting the Syrian people.

Assad also pledged that the Damascus government, together with Iran, will keep combatting tyranny and aggression in order to overcome the threat of terrorism and take part in the establishment of a regional and international order on the basis on justice, equality and dignity for all nations.

On September 5, Syrian army troops and allied forces broke the three-year siege on Deir ez-Zor. They had been advancing toward the city on several fronts in recent weeks, and reached the western outskirts of the city after Daesh defenses collapsed.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh, currently controlling parts of it.

Iran has remained a close ally of Syria during the war and supports its legitimate government in the face of militancy.