Kerry confess: Anti-Syria sanctions make safe havens for al-Qaeda

US Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken out about a huge mess created in Syria by a war that Washington has been aiding and supporting for more than two and a half years.

Speaking on the long-awaited peace talks aimed at ending the war in Syria, Kerry said on Sunday that with militants infighting and al-Qaeda’s growing strength things have become complicated for US to search for a political settlement of the conflict.

Kerry said Washington was relying on diplomacy to make an impact on the situation, citing plans for a peace conference next month in Geneva and efforts underway to eliminate the chemical weapons in the Arab country.

“No one really wants to go to war in Syria because it’s a huge mess, with all kinds of implications,” he said in an interview with ABC’s “This Week.”

“So you have to work with the tools that you have that are permissible. And that’s exactly what we’re doing, trying to make the most of the diplomatic tools available in order to be able to have an impact,” he said.

Kerry acknowledged that in-fighting among the Syrian opposition and militant groups had left a void that is being filled by extremists and that entire sections of Syria are now safe havens for al-Qaeda.

“Yes, it’s absolutely true. Al-Qaeda has greater clout there than it had before and it’s an increasing threat. And it’s a threat we’re going to have to confront,” he said.

Source: presstv.ir

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