Sisi: Assad’s army best to restore stability

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has expressed support for Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s military forces while speaking in an interview with Portuguese TV network RTP.

Al-Sisi voiced his support for Assad’s forces stating that Syrian government forces were the “best positioned to combat terrorism and restore stability” in war-torn Syria. His remarks are likely to add to the strain in relations between Saudi Arabia and other Gulf state allies who back the Syrian rebels against Assad’s forces.

When asked if Egypt would send peacekeepers to Syria under a peace deal, Al-Sisi replied that the responsibility of instilling peace in Syria lies with the “national army” and his priority would be to “support the national army” in doing so.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been at odds since Egypt backed Russia and France’s draft resolutions regarding Syria at the United Nations Security Council last month.