Mohsen Rezaei expressed his concern over Saudi Arabia’s intention to deploy ground troops to Syria, and predicted that in the case of confrontation between Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Syria and the US involvement, a ‘great regional war’ would be waged in the Middle East.
The official’s warning came in response to the US welcoming reaction to Saudi Arabia’s offer to send ground troops to Syria and Russia’s subsequent warning that Saudi Arabia's proposed troop deployment in Syria would be regarded as a declaration of war.
“Following the defeat of ISIL and the al-Nusra Front in Iraq (Ramadi) and Syria (particularly Aleppo), Saudi Arabia and the US decided to deploy Saudi troops to Syria in order to save the rest of the ISIL terrorists and come into clashes with the Syrian Army,” Rezaei wrote in a post.
“In such circumstances, confrontation between Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Syria and after that the involvement of the US is very likely and may lead to a major regional war,” he added.
“Undoubtedly, with such a move by the Saudi government who undertakes any insane measure, the whole region including Saudi Arabia itself will be entangled in the flames of war, which would not be too far away from Iran either,” he said.
Saudi Arabia on Thursday voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition allegedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations. US State Department Spokesman John Kirby welcomed the Saudi decision.
Following the announcement, the Head of the State Duma Committee Pavel Krasheninnikov told Interfax on Friday that any military ground operation in Syria without the Damascus government's consent amounts to a declaration of war.
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