Syria Permits Iraqis to Strike Daesh , Prepares for Reconstruction

Local Editor

Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad authorized Iraqi forces Sunday to attack Daesh [Arabic Acronym for “ISIS”/ “ISIL”] inside Syria without waiting for permission from authorities in Damascus, the state news agency SANA said.

This comes as both Baghdad and Damascus are coordinating their fight against extremists ahead of a planned US withdrawal from Syria. The announcement highlights the close ties between the two neighboring Arab countries. Daesh once controlled large parts of both countries when it declared a so-called ‘caliphate’ in 2014.

Iraqi warplanes and artillery have in the past pounded Daesh positions inside Syria after getting the green light from Syrian authorities.

The terrorists have been defeated in Iraq but still hold a small area in Syria close to the Iraqi border.

Al-Assad received on Saturday a letter from Iraq’s Prime Minister Abdel-Mahdi calling for both countries’ coordination in “fighting terrorism.”

In Tehran, Iran and Syria Sunday signed a long-term strategic and economic agreement as the war winds down in Syria.

Syria’s SANA news agency quoted Syrian Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Mohammad Samer al-Khalil, who signed the agreement, as saying that the deal includes “full cooperation on the financial and banking levels.” He added that this would allow Iranian companies to be present through investments in Syria.

The Syrian government has gained control of large parts of the country as some Arab countries, including the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, have reopened their embassies in Damascus.

The Syrian government estimates reconstruction of the war-torn country will cost some $200 billion and last 15 years.

Khalil said that “priority in the reconstruction of Syria will be given to Iranian public and private companies,” according to SANA’s report.

SANA also reported that a technical delegation form the UAE visited Damascus International Airport to evaluate it in preparation for resumption of flights between the Gulf nation and Syria.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team