Iran defiant against int'l community: U.S Chargé d'Affaires

CAIRO - 26 February 2018: Iran stands defiant against the UN resolutions regarding the 30-day ceasefire that adopted to end the deadly bombings in Syrian district of Eastern Ghouta after Iran had announced to continue its strikes on anti-Syrian regime rebels there, U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires in Alexandria Thomas Goldberger said in media remarks on Saturday.

He added that Iranian regime does not respect the resolutions of the international community.

A day after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to impose a 30-day ceasefire in Ghouta, 15 kilometers from the Syrian capital, Iranian military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri said that the pro-Assad troops will continue attacks against “terrorists” in the areas not covered by the revolution, without specifying what those areas are.

The UN resolution stated that the truce should be applied throughout Syria except for the ISIS and Qaeda-directed parts.

According to the U.N. data, about 300 people were killed since attacking Eastern Ghouata on February 19. Also, a total of 23 attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure and seven health facilities. During the seven years of the Syrian war, more than 6.1 million people, out of a population of 13.1 million, were internally displaced, while more than 2.5 million others live in inaccessible parts such as Palestinian refugee camps.

Regarding the U.S.-Egyptian coordination to counter-terrorism, Goldberger said that his country is backing Egypt in this war, particularly in Sinai, referring that most of the military equipment, like Apache and tanks, used by the Egyptian army against terrorists are made in the U.S.A. He also affirmed that the U.S. is keen to enhance bilateral relations with Egypt.