Syria calls Iranian presence legitimate, rejects Arab summit statement

Syria is rejecting the final statement of the Arab emergency summit held in Saudi Arabia, which criticises what it calls Iranian intervention into Syrian affairs. Syria says the statement is unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Syria.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement said the Iranian presence is "legitimate because it came at the request of the Syrian government and contributed to support Syria's efforts in combating terrorism supported by some of the participants in this summit." The Syrian statement said the summit should instead condemn the involvement of other countries in Syrian affairs, "which lacked legitimacy and legality" and provided "unlimited support in various forms to terrorist groups and prolonging the crisis in Syria."