Saudi Arabia has voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition allegedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations.
“The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against Daesh) may agree to carry out in Syria," Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, an adviser to the Saudi defense minister, told the al-Arabiya TV on Thursday.
Asseri said Saudi Arabia had carried out more than 190 aerial missions as part of the coalition.
He said that Saudi Arabia believes that to defeat the Daesh terrorists, the US-led coalition needs to bolster aerial assaults with ground operations.
"If there was a consensus from the leadership of the coalition, the kingdom is willing to participate in these efforts because we believe that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations," Asseri said.
Asked about the comments, US State Department spokesman John Kirby also said Washington favors having partners contribute more in the so-called fight against Daesh, but added, "I would not want to comment specifically on this until we've had a chance to review it."
