President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday that Iraq and the region need a political settlement to the Syrian crisis, stressing that the US withdrawal from Syrian territory should be a factor in achieving peace, not to start a new phase of violence and interference. 

"President Barham Salih received a telephone call today from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and during the telephone conversation he discussed the latest developments on the regional and international arenas," the presidency said in a statement received by Alsumaria News.




The presidency added that "the US Secretary of State briefed President Saleh on the requirements and reasons for the decision to withdraw from Syria," pointing out that "Pompeo told Saleh that the United States continues its obligations to fight dithering and terrorism in Iraq." 

"Iraq and the region need a political settlement of the Syrian crisis, and the importance of ending the state of violence and the absurd conflict there, which has caused the Syrian people a heavy price as a result of terrorizing cities and committing the worst crimes," he said.

Saleh stressed that "the withdrawal should be a factor to achieve peace based on respect for the rights of the Syrians and their independent decision, not to start a new phase of violence and interventions." He stressed "the need to take into account the situation of Iraq and not to raise it and overcome regional and international tensions and protect Iraqi sovereignty and national interest. Iraq must be the basis in dealing with the stabilization of the stability and protection of the victory against terrorism. " 

The White House announced last Wednesday (December 19, 2018) that America will withdraw its troops in Syria, saying that the US forces have completed their mission to eliminate the organization "Daash" in Syria.