Mufti of Syria: Obama pulled back, Syria has won
Syria's Mufti sees his country's triumph in Obama's decision to await congressional approval for attack
The Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassoun, said in response to statements of US President Barack Obama at a White House press conference on Syria, "Obama backed off of his decision. He must admit the victory of Syria."
Referring to the US president's decision to seek congressional approval for an attack on Syria – meaning that if an attack is launched it will take place only after Congress returns from recess on September 9 and states its support – the Mufti added that Syria was winning "thanks to its leader, its people and its army, and this proved that the issue is not one of ethnic groups, but of homeland, which does not to yield to anyone except Allah."
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A member of the Syrian opposition told Ynet following Obama's announcement, "If there is a postponement of (military) action, it will be an insult to the West in general and the US specifically." The source estimated that an intervention will eventually be launched, seeing as the US' "credibility is tested."
The source added that "Obama has no other choice, no matter what Congress says. He added he did not believe the attack would be postponed, "seeing as it is not in Obama's best interests. There will be an intervention and hopefully it'll be soon."
Deputy Syrian Prime Minister Qadri Jamil also responded to the developments saying, "The Syrian army's readiness is what warded off US aggression against Syria,” following US President Barack Obama's decision to postpone the attack.
He added that the government is in a state of permanent alert and ready to respond to any aggression against the Syrian people. According to Jamil, the Syrian government does not need chemical weapons and the Syrian people desire real change without external intervention.
US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to the Syrian opposition leader on Saturday to underscore the determination of the United States to hold the Syrian government accountable for using chemical weapons, a US official said.
Kerry spoke with Syrian Opposition Coalition President Ahmed Assi al-Jarba to underscore President Barack Obama's "commitment to holding the Assad regime accountable for its chemical weapons attack against its own people on August 21st," a senior State Department official said.
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