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11/22/2024 12:11:02 am

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France Accuses President Assad of Declaring 'Total War' in Syria

Syrian civil war

(Photo : Getty Images) The accusations were made by France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault after a weekly cabinet meeting.

France has accused the Syrian government of taking advantage of the political upheavals in the United States to declare "total war" on the opposition in the country.

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The accusations were made by France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault after a weekly cabinet meeting, where he also added that countries opposed to Syria President Bashar Al-Assad would soon meet to map a way forward.

He did not reveal what the meeting hopes to achieve but insinuated protection of the Syrian population would be a major talking point.

"Today 1 million people are besieged, not just in Allepo, but in Homs, Ghouta and Idlib. That is the reality of Syria," Ayrault said in Paris.

The minister said that France is taking the initiative to confront the strategy of total war by the Syrian regime and its allies, who are taking advantage of the political uncertainty in Washington to further their cause.

Ayrault added that the planned meeting would take in Paris at a later date. Countries opposed to Assad such as the US, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are expected to be in attendance.

France is a staunch supporter of the anti-Assad groups in Syria and has been actively pushing for the UN Security Council to sanction the Syrian government for the use of Chemical weapons.

"It's been proven that the regime and ISIL have used chemical weapons, so we now need sanctions," Ayrault said.

Russia, a staunch supporter of the Assad regime, has said that the Syrian government should be allowed to investigate the claims.

Meanwhile, doctors and activists on the ground are asking the International community to air-drop supplies in opposition-held eastern Aleppo.

They also want safe passage for civilians and want the United Nations to monitor their movement.

This week, the Syrian army released a statement accusing opposition fighters of holding civilians against their will.

"Permit those citizens who want to leave to do so, stop using them as hostages and human shields," the statement said.

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