Assad's regime is committing is the main reason for the emergence of armed terrorist groups that found Syria a fertile environment for terrorism. Such groups raised the banner of Islam, though Islam abhors all forms of violence. Yet, under its banner, they practiced what Islam incriminates. The crimes committed by such groups are no different than those the Syrian regime has been committing, Ambassador Trad said. Ambassador Trad reiterated the stance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards the contents of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which criticized the foreign military support the Syrian regime receives from Lebanese Hezbollah, the Badr Brigade, Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and extremist militias. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia agrees with the Commission's report that restricting support for the Syrian moderate opposition has allowed the emergence of extremist organizations such as ISIS, al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda. Ambassador Trad announced the Kingdom is committed to the principles of the preservation of Syria's sovereignty, independence and integrity of its national territory, and is resolved on the implementation of the Geneva Agreement 1 (June 2012), which aims at achieving a peaceful transition of power in Syria.
