Kremlin watches situation around Saudi Arabia’s plans to launch ground operation in Syria

MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. The Kremlin watches situation around plans of Saudi Arabia to launch a ground operation in Syria, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. Journalists asked Peskov to comment on British media reports that Saudi Arabia plans to launch a ground operation in Syria in coordination with Turkey. In a response to a question about Kremlin’s reaction to this, the spokesman said: "There is none yet. We are closely monitoring the situation, watching. I cannot say anything concrete now. The question should be addressed to the Defense Ministry." Peskov added that the Kremlin does not know whether Saudi Arabia really plans to launch a ground operation in Syria. TASS earlier reported citing The Guardian newspaper that Saudi Arabia offered to send ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in coordination with Turkey. The Guardian reported that both Ankara and Riyadh are committed to removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad and have serious doubts about prospects of political settlement without additional pressure on Damascus. Saudi Arabia and Turkey set up a military coordination body a few weeks ago. Saudi Arabia’s military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri said previously that "the kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against IS) may agree to carry out in Syria." The statement came on the following day after inter-Syrian talks in Geneva under UN auspices were temporarily suspended. Read more