East of Euphrates Syria’s next target after liberation of Idlib: FM

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem says the next target after the liberation of Idlib is to retake the area east of the Euphrates, which is held by US-backed Kurdish militants.

"After Idlib our target is east of the Euphrates," he  said at a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari in Damascus Monday, stressing his country’s determination to restore sovereignty over all Syrian territories.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday the US is seeking to establish a quasi-state east of the Euphrates River and create illegal structures there.

“On Syrian territory there are vast lands east of the Euphrates where absolutely unacceptable things are taking place,” Lavrov told France's Le Figaro.

“The US is trying to use these lands through their Syrian allies – above all, through the Kurds – in order to establish a quasi-state there,” he went on to say.

Muallem on Monday said the US has destroyed Raqqah Province under the pretext of fighting Daesh. US-sponsored militants are refusing to hand back Raqqah to the government control after taking it over from Daesh last year. 

Amnesty International’s new Secretary General Kumi Naidoo said on Friday he had been shocked by the horrific destruction and utter human devastation left by US airstrikes in Raqqah.

Muallem said Washington continues to support Daesh and evacuate its members to the east of the Euphrates. 

SS