Saudi Arabia says military option in Syria still viable

Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Thursday that a military option in Syria was still viable and support for the Opposition fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad would continue.

Speaking at a press conference with visiting Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, Mr Jubeir also said Riyadh was in contact with various Syrian Opposition groups about a potential meeting in the kingdom to unify their position ahead of upcoming peace talks in Vienna. Mr Jubeir did not give a date for any meeting.

“The military option is still viable and the support to the Syrian Opposition is still continuing,” Mr Jubeir told the press conference.

“If it (the conference) happens, its aim will be to unify the Syrian Opposition and help them to come out with one vision so that it can play an active role in the talks to reach a peaceful solution that leads to the removal of Bashar al-Assad,” he added.

International talks were held in Vienna earlier in November in which Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — laid out a plan including formal talks between the government and the Opposition by January 1.

Division in Syrian Opposition ranks is often cited as one of many obstacles facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

The Opposition includes the Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition, a political body, and a wide array of rebel groups that are not united in a single military structure and do not answer to any of the political factions.