Iran says U.S.-led airstrikes against Syrian army not coincidental

An Iranian official said here Tuesday that the U.S.-led airstrikes against Syrian military posts in Deir al-Zour province were not a coincidence.

The attack, which killed 90 Syrian soldiers and allowed the Islamic State (IS) militant group enter the bombed areas, indicates that some powers still support terrorist groups, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari told a press conference.

"As long as Washington keeps on playing with the terrorist card, it will have no positive or constructive role in resolving the Syrian crisis," he said.

He added that successful cessation of hostilities in Syria is tied to commitment by all concerned parties to the deal, and absence of seriousness undermines any hope of success.

"The main condition for successful cessation of hostilities and bringing the Syrian crisis to a political solution is a collective international and regional effort," he said.

Ansari stressed that Iran rejects any unilateral military action in Syria, adding that any solution agreed upon by the Syrian government is also accepted by Iran.

Earlier this week, U.S.-led airstrikes attacked several Syrian army posts in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, killing over 90 soldiers and providing IS with an entryway into that territory.

Observers believe that the ceasefire, brokered by Russia and the United States, was largely undermined by the U.S.-led airstrikes, which Washington claimed were "unintentional."

The Syrian army announced Monday the end of the week-long ceasefire without extension, as a consequence of the Syrian government's dismay at the U.S.-led attack, and the violations IS rebels allegedly committed during the ceasefire. Enditem