Dubai: The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shaikh Fawaz Bin Mohammad Al Khalifa has denied remarks attributed to him by a news agency, regarding the situation in Syria.
The ambassador stressed that these remarks were inaccurate and reiterated the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to fighting terrorism alongside its allies. Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria as part of a US-led coalition against Daesh, the country said on Friday, a day after its larger neighbour and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge.
On Friday, Reuters published comments attributed to Shaikh Fawaz that Bahrain would commit troops to operate “in concert with the Saudis” under what he called a unified military command of Gulf Arab states.
According to the statement, he added that the UAE was also ready to commit troops, echoing an assertion made late last year by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash.
Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led alliance decides to start such operations, an adviser to the Saudi defence minister said.
The Bahraini ambassador allegedly said the Saudi initiative in Syria was meant to combat both Daesh and “the brutal Al Assad regime”, a reference to President Bashar Al Assad, a bitter foe of Saudi Arabia.
Shaikh Fawaz also allegedly announced that the GCC had decided to base a new unified GCC naval operations centre in Bahrain.
“The establishment of a joint [Gulf Arab] force shows clearly and unequivocally that under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states are determined to take positive action within the region and globally to combat terrorism and extremism, from whatever quarter they emanate,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
