News-Middle East-Syria: Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has lashed out at the United States and Turkey for occupying territories in the Arab country, calling on Washington and Ankara to withdraw their forces and stop “plundering” the country's wealth. 

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, Mikdad said Syria’s campaign against terrorism will continue until the entire Syrian territories are purged of the menace, emphasizing no external aggression or pressure will deter it.

“History will record the fact that the Syrian nation not only defended their homeland and civilization in their struggle against terrorism, but also the whole international community,” the senior Syrian diplomat said.

Mikdad noted that the Damascus government is working to end the foreign occupation of its territories by all means guaranteed in international law.

The Syrian foreign minister also condemned oppressive economic sanctions imposed against his country and other states like Cuba, Iran, Venezuela and Yemen, stating that the bans negatively impact human rights, kill people and deprive them of their basic rights to health, food and life.

“It is no secret to anyone that Syria was among the countries most affected by terrorist attacks sponsored militarily, financially, and logistically by states known for their support of terror. Acts of terrorism have resulted in the murder of innocent people, insecurity, destruction of essential infrastructure, plunder of national resources and caused humanitarian crises in a country that was proud of its achievements. Syria recorded economic growth of more than 9.5 percent in the year 2010 prior to the outbreak of the crisis.

“Thanks to the sacrifices and heroism of our people and armed forces, and assistance of our friends and allies, we have scored exceptional gains in the campaign to confront and eliminate terrorism,” Mikdad said.

He went on to say that the Turkish government continues to support terrorism in Idlib, turning the northwestern Syrian province into a sanctuary for foreign terrorists. 

Mikdad pointed out that various war crimes and crimes against humanity, such as forced displacement, assaults on locals, and collective punishment of people by deliberately and repeatedly cutting off water to more than a million citizens of Hasakah city, have been committed by Turkish troops and their allied militants.