Damascus Condemns U.S. Chief of Staff's Visit to Northeast Syria

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned today, Sunday, the visit described as "illegal" by U.S. Chief of Staff General Mark Milley to a U.S. military base in northeast Syria. The Syrian news agency cited an official source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates as saying that "Syria strongly condemns the illegal visit of the U.S. Chief of Staff to an illegal U.S. military base in northeast Syria and affirms that it is a blatant violation of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and unity." The source added that Syria "demands the U.S. administration to immediately stop its continuous and systematic violations of international law and to halt its support for separatist armed militias." The source further stated that "Syria calls on countries seeking security and stability in our region and the world to condemn and stop these American violations." It also clarified that Damascus "affirms that these American practices will not divert it from its path in combating terrorism and maintaining its sovereignty, security, and stability." Milley made a surprise visit to a base in northeast Syria yesterday, Saturday, where U.S. forces and their allies are conducting a campaign against ISIS.