Syria says not to tolerate foreign troops on its soil in IS fight

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Monday that his country doesn't need foreign troops to fight Islamic State (IS) militants on its soil.

"We will not allow anyone to infringe upon our national sovereignty and we don't need (foreign) ground troops to fight the IS," al-Moallem told a joint press conference with his visiting Belarussian counterpart, Vladimir Makei, who flew in a day earlier for meetings with top Syrian officials.

"The Syrian troops are carrying out this mission with full courage," al-Moallem said.

Al-Moallem's remarks came in response to a question whether his country is anticipating an escalation by a U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, particularly after the death of a Jordanian pilot, Muath al-Kassasbeh, who was burned alive by the IS in late January.

Some analysts expect that the coalition would ramp up their operations against the IS in Syria, possibly by considering sending ground troops into the war-torn country.

Al-Moallem said there is no coordination currently between Syria and Jordan in terms of fighting terrorism, although Damascus called on Jordan for cooperation after the death of Kassasbeh, "despite the fact that we knew Jordan had no independent decision regarding coordinating with Syria."

He accused Jordan of being part of a process to funnel "terrorists" into Syria after getting trained in camps inside Jordan. Endit