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Riyadh to Send Special Forces to Syria if US Initiates Ground Operation

© Sputnik / Kirill Kallinikov / Go to the mediabankForeign Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir
Foreign Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir - Sputnik International
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Saudi Arabia will send special forces to Syria to fight the Islamic State (ISIL, or Daesh in Arabic) if the US-led coalition starts ground operation, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said Friday.

Saudi troops pose in front of an helicopter - Sputnik International
On Shaky Ground: Will Washington Give Blessing to Saudi Invasion of Syria?
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On February 5, reports emerged suggesting that Saudi Arabia was possibly preparing to send ground troops to Syria in coordination with Turkey, in order to take part in the anti-Daesh fight.

"If the international coalition against Daesh, which we are a part and have been since the very beginning decides that it will introduce ground troops to Syria in addition to the current air campaign we have said that the Kingdom of Saudis is prepared to contribute special forces to this effort," Jubeir told CNN.

He added that Saudi Arabia was ready to send its special forces as part of US-led coalition.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the army loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting several opposition factions and militant organizations, including Islamic State (Daesh), which is banned in a number of countries, including Russia and the United States.

The US-led coalition of some 60 nations, including Saudi Arabia among others, has been launching airstrikes against Daesh in Syria and Iraq since 2014. However, the operation in Syria is conducted without the approval of the UN Security Council or Syrian authorities.

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