Syrian Foreign Ministry: US officially informed us about its strikes against Islamic State

The Syrian government stated on Tuesday that it was made aware in advance of the air strikes against Islamic State sites on its soil, and that it had received a message from US Secretary of State John Kerry, delivered by the Iraqi Foreign Minister, stating that the US and its allies were intending to launch the strikes in Syria hours before the start of the attack, Al-Quds newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Damascus reiterated that any raids inside Syria must be carried out with its consent.

The newspaper quoted a statement issued by the Syrian foreign ministry saying that its foreign minister, Walid Al-Moallem, had received a message from his American counterpart through the foreign minister of Iraq, adding that the Iraqi government, led by the majority Shi’ites, remains a close ally of Damascus.

There was no immediate comment from the US, which strongly opposes Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, describing him as a part of the problem.

The Syrian statement reportedly said that: “The minister of foreign affairs received a message from his American counterpart through Iraq’s foreign minister, informing him that the US will target the Islamic State’s bases, some of which exist in Syria.”

Damascus pledged to continue its campaign against the Islamic State, which controls large areas in the north and east of Syria in addition to parts of neighbouring Iraq. The statement added that Damascus would continue to attack the Islamic State organisation in the areas that were targeted by the raids led by the US on Tuesday.