Syrian army chief of staff: Syria is always ready to confront the enemy

In an interview granted to the Syrian local daily al-Baath on Wednesday, Syrian armed forces chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Ali Aslan, said the Syrian army has become one of the big and developed armies, "deriving power from the nation's categorical rejection of capitulation and surrender."

Lt. Gen. Aslan's statements, which were made to mark the anniversary of the Syrian army's foundation, which falls July 29, reiterated Syria's adherence to the firm stances based on unswerving national principles embodied by "President al-Assad's national ideology and governed by Syria's serious quest for a just and comprehensive peace without selling out a grain of Arab rights and lands."

He added that year after year, the Syrian army has achieved large strides in mobilizing its potential and developing various combat training ability, stressing the Syrian army's national drive. He confirmed that the Syrian army is always ready to confront its enemies in different circumstances.

He also referred to the policies of successive Israeli governments which pursued aggression and expansion, describing the current Likud-led government of Benjamin Netanyahu as anti-peace. Aslan said, "The Israeli leaders are totally mistaken if they think that aggression and occupation and the use of force can bring peace and security to the Israelis. Genuine peace must be based on justice and comprehensiveness and should give each party its own rights."

Concerning the Turkish-Israeli military alliance, the Syrian general said the alliance aimed at dominating the Arab region, pressuring the Arabs in general and Syria in particular, with a view of meeting Turkish-Zionist ambitions of expansion and hegemony.