The American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenstated this Friday that it remains “imperative” to combat the jihadist group Islamic State (EI) in Syria after the fall of Bashar al Assadduring a tour in Middle East.
Blinken arrived on Thursday night in the capital of Türkiyeas part of a regional tour focused on the crisis in Syriaand met with the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoganin a lounge at the airport Ankara.
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This Friday during a press conference with his Turkish counterpart, hakan Fidanurged to sustain the “efforts” to combat the jihadist group EI.
“Our country worked very hard for many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of the Islamic State and ensure that that threat does not reappear,” Blinken said.
“And it is imperative that let’s keep up those efforts”he added.
Fidan commented that Türkiye is committed to achieving stability in the neighboring Syria and prevent the jihadists from getting stronger.
“Our priorities include ensuring the stability of Syria as soon as possible, prevent terrorism from gaining ground and prevent Islamic State and the PKK prevail there”he explained Fidanreferring to Kurdistan Workers Partyconsidered by Türkiye as a terrorist organization.
Later in Baghdad, Blinken reiterated his message in a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Mohamed Shia al Sudani.
Blinken said he informed Sudani the United States’ commitment to “collaborate with Iraq on security matters.”
“I believe it is also time for Iraq to reinforce its own sovereignty, as well as its stability, security and success in the future.”declared the Secretary of State a few weeks before the Republican government takes office. donald trump.
Blinken stated that no one but Iraq knows “the importance” of stability in Syria to prevent the resurgence of the jihadist group.
The Iraqi prime minister stated that his country hopes “tangible actions and not just words” of the new Syrian interim government, after Assad was overthrown by an alliance of insurgents led by the Sunni Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS)which established a transitional executive.
In Ankara, Blinken discussed with his Turkish counterpart efforts to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, and called on Turkey to use its influence to encourage the Palestinian Islamist movement to accept a deal.
“We have talked about Loopof the opportunity (…) to achieve a ceasefire. In the last two weeks I have seen encouraging signs that this is possible.”Blinken told the press.
