Iran slams US plan for ‘border security force’ in Syria

By Khalilur Rahman Salahshoor and Mustafa Melih Ahishali

ISTANBUL (AA) - Iran on Tuesday criticized U.S. plans to draw up a “border security force” inside Syria, describing the move as “interference in another country’s domestic affairs”.

On Sunday, U.S.-led coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon announced plans to establish a 30,000-strong border security force in Syria in tandem with the SDF -- a U.S.-backed group drawn up largely of PKK/PYD terrorist elements.

The PKK/PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group, which has been designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

Since the mid-1980s, the PKK has waged a wide-ranging terror campaign against the Turkish state, in which an estimated 40,000 people have been killed.

"U.S. plans to establish a ‘border security force’ in Syria constitute flagrant interference in another country’s affairs,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Kasimi said in a Tuesday statement.

“Along with complicating the situation in Syria, this decision will only serve to further destabilize the country," he added.

According to Kasimi, Iran -- along with Turkey and Russia -- is striving to end the years-long conflict in Syria by promoting dialogue and establishing cease-fires.

The spokesman also called on the U.S. to withdraw all its forces from Syria at the earliest possible opportunity.