Assad views Trump as promising on ISIS: agency SANA

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that U.S. President Donald Trump prioritising the fight against jihadists led by Islamic State (ISIS) was promising although it was too early to expect any practical steps, state news agency SANA reported Tuesday.

The Kremlin- Assad’s most powerful ally- said that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed setting up genuine coordination in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria during a phone call last month.

Assad was quoted as telling a group of Belgian reporters that Trump’s position was promising.

“I believe this is promising but we have to wait and it’s too early to expect anything practical,” he said.

Assad was also quoted as saying that U.S-Russian cooperation in stepping up the fight against the militants would have positive repercussions.

Trump has previously indicated he might cut U.S. support for Syrian rebels that have been fighting Assad, and that he could cooperate with Russia in the fight against ISIS in Syria.

Trump has made defeating Islamic State a core goal of his presidency and signed an executive order asking the Pentagon, the joint chiefs of staff and other agencies to submit a preliminary plan on how to proceed within 30 days.

This story has been refiled to remove reference to Trump indicating he might cooperate with Syria, replaces with reference to Trump indicating that he could cooperate with Russia in Syria.

Source: Reuters