Senior US, Syria security officials meet in Damascus

A senior American security delegation met senior Syrian security officials in June in Al-Muzza Neighbourhood in Damascus, Arabi21 reported yesterday.

According to Al-Akhbar newspaper, the American officials arrived in Damascus International Airport on board a UAE plane amidst strict security measures.

The American delegation met with Major General Ali Mamlouk, the director of Syrian national security, Major General Deeb Zaytoun, chief of the General Intelligence Services, and Chief of Staff Major General Mowaffaq Assad.

The newspaper said that the meeting lasted for four hours during which officials discussed the readiness of the US troops to completely withdraw from Syria.

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The conditions were Iranian withdrawal from south Syria and getting a portion of the oil in the east of Euphrates and written guarantee to get the American firms involved in the Syrian oil industry.

Meanwhile, Mamlouk rejected the American proposals, pointing out that the American troops in Syria are an “occupying power that entered Syria forcefully and they must leave it the same way.”

Regarding oil, Mamlouk said that Syria would not allow companies owned by the occupation to operate in the country.

The newspaper said that the two delegations agreed to remain in touch.