Syria Calls For More Iraqi Coordination In Fight Against IS

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem says Damascus wants more coordination with Baghdad to combat Islamic State (IS) militants.

Muallem spoke at a joint news conference with his Armenian counterpart, Eduard Nalbandian, in Damascus on May 27.

He said both Syria and Iraq realized they had to fight together, but that "the coordination has not reached the threat level we are facing."

Muallem also said support from Russia and Iran remained strong and that they would not hold back on helping Syria to remain "steadfast."

The comments come after IS fighters captured last week the Al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq and overran the central Syrian city of Palmyra.

Before traveling to Syria, where he also met with President Bashar al-Assad, Nalbandian paid an official visit to Lebanon.

Since 2011, thousands of Syrian-Armenians have fled the fighting in Syria to take refuge in Lebanon and Armenia.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Civilnet.am