The U.S. has declared war on Syria and Syrians should use all means necessary to launch a pre-emptive strike, a Syrian cabinet minister reportedly said on Sunday.
“I am among those who call for a preemptive” response by Syrians, Syrian Minister for Reconciliation Ali Haidar reportedly told Bloomberg News in a phone interview on Sunday.
Haidar was responding to a set of firm remarks delivered by President Obama on Saturday in which the president said he would seek congressional authorization for a military strike on Assad regime strongholds in Syria.
“It’s unacceptable that a Syrian is afraid to leave his home for fear of the U.S. threat, while an American ambassador can wander about as he pleases,” Haidar said.
“It’s unacceptable that our leaders have to go into hiding to protect themselves while U.S. interests are proceeding normally," the minister continued.
A Protester waves a Syrian flag bearing the picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad during a demonstration in Hatay, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013. A Syrian state-run newspaper on Sunday called President Barack Obama's decision to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Syria "the start of the historic American retreat." (AP)
“He’s kept the sword in his hand, he just hasn’t chosen to limit himself to a date,” Haidar added. “When Syria is targeted, every Syrian has the right to respond with all possible means available and against any U.S. or Western interest or any country linked to the aggression."
According to Bloomberg News, the U.S. has no known interests in Syria. The Syrian government expelled U.S. and other Western diplomats in June 2012.
On Sunday, Syria hailed a "historic American retreat," mocking Obama for allegedly being too timid to strike, according to Reuters.
Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter
--
[related]
