Reuters/Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Sunday it was ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to fight against Islamic State.
Asked if the UAE was ready to send troops if need be, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said at a media briefing in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi: "This has been our position throughout."
"We have been frustrated at the slow pace .... of confronting Daesh," he added, referring to Islamic State.
"We are not talking about thousands of troops but we are talking about troops on the ground that will lead the way ... that will support ... and I think our position remains the same and we will have to see how this progresses," he said.
Gargash added "US leadership on this" would be a prerequisite for the UAE.
Saudi Arabia said last week it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq decided to start such operations.
Syria would resist any ground incursion into its territory and send the aggressors home "in coffins", its foreign minister said on Saturday, in comments clearly aimed at Arab countries that have said they were ready to join such an operation.
Last updated: February 07 2016 05:42 PM
Iraq sandstorm grounds flights, sends 1,000 to hospitals
Lebanese authorities begin removing barriers around parliament after polls
Six dead, dozens hurt in Iran tower-block collapse
Covid-19 restrictions: Saudi bans citizens from traveling to 16 countries
Sandstorm forces closure of Iraqi airports, public buildings
Iran Revolutionary Guards member assassinated in Tehran: state media
Palestinian teen fighter killed in West Bank clash
Lebanon pro-reform candidates win at least 13 seats: results
Thousands hospitalised as latest sandstorm brings Iraq to a halt
There are no comments.