Syrian UN envoy censures states backing ISIL

Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations has denounced countries that back Takfiri militants of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Bashar al-Ja’afari made the remarks at a Wednesday press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, saying the militants are an outcome of the invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain back in 2003.

“The media focuses on ISIL but the issue is not ISIL. The issue is who is behind the ISIL,” Ja’afari said, adding, “Somehow, the ISIL is the outcome of the American-British invasion of Iraq.”

The Syrian envoy slammed the Western media for the hypocritical approach adopted against the ISIL, although the Takfiri group is included “in the (UN) Security Council’s list of entities sponsoring terrorism.”

He also denounced Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and a number of Arab countries of the Persian Gulf for backing the ISIL.

Meanwhile, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad condemned the West’s support for terrorism in Syria.

Assad made the remarks at a meeting with a visiting delegation from North Korea.

He said the countries that back terrorists inside Syria would eventually have to face the consequences of their policies.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 160,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants.

According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.