KSA slams Iran, Hezbollah intervention in Syria

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said the involvement of Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in Syria is “dangerous” because it threatens to destabilize the region.
“Syria can only be described now as an occupied country,” said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at a news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah.
Prince Saud said the Kingdom “cannot be silent” at the recent decision by Hezbollah to send fighters into Syria.
“The most dangerous development is the foreign participation, represented by Hezbollah and other militias supported by the forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” the prince said, repeating a call for the rebels to be armed.
“Syria is facing a double-edged attack. It is facing genocide by the government and an invasion from outside the government ... (It) is facing a massive flow of weapons to aid and abet that invasion and that genocide. This must end,” Prince Saud said.
“The Kingdom calls for an unequivocal international resolution to halt the provision of arms to the Syrian regime and to state the illegitimacy of the regime,” he said.
Kerry has returned to the Middle East after a two-day visit to India and, his aides say, will continue efforts to strengthen the Syrian opposition and revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
US President Barack Obama has said he will arm the rebels but has not disclosed what type of assistance he would provide.
Kerry is trying to ensure that the aid to the rebels is properly coordinated among the allies, in part out of concern that weapons could end up in the hands of extremist groups.
“Our goal is very clear, we cannot let this be a wider war. We cannot let this contribute to more bloodshed and prolongation of the agony of the people of Syria,” he said at the conference.
“I came to the Kingdom to meet with Prince Saud and understand the role of Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region in order to reach a solution we are looking for.”
The secretary of state emphasized the important role being played by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to establish a just and lasting peace in the region. In this respect, he referred to the Arab peace initiative originally proposed by King Abdullah.
A meeting between Kerry and his European and Arab counterparts in Doha last week agreed to increase support for Syria’s rebels although there was no consensus over providing arms, with Germany and Italy strongly opposed.
“The regime has lost its legitimacy and has no right to participate in determining the country’s present or future,” Prince Saud said while emphasizing the need for a strong international stand to end the Syrian crisis.
Prince Saud emphasized the need to change the balance of power in Syria in favor of the Syrian people to reach a peaceful solution.
He praised the US for its decision to send arms to the rebel forces.
Kerry spoke about the Geneva 2 conference, saying the US would exert efforts to reach suitable resolutions.