DAMASCUS, SYRIA—Syrian President Bashar Assad authorized Iraqi forces on Sunday to attack the Daesh group inside Syria without waiting for permission from authorities in Damascus, the state news agency SANA said, as the two allies co-ordinate their fight against extremists ahead of a planned U.S. withdrawal from Syria. In this July 14, 2016, file, photo, Iraqi Air Force jets take part in a military parade in Baghdad, Iraq. Syria’s state news agency said Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 that President Bashar Assad has authorized Iraqi forces to attack the Islamic State group inside Syria without waiting for permission from authorities in Damascus. ( Hadi Mizban / The Associated Press file photo )Iraqi warplanes and artillery have in the past pounded Daesh positions inside Syria after getting the green light from Syrian authorities. The extremists have been defeated in Iraq but still hold a small area in Syria close to the Iraqi border.

Source: thestar December 30, 2018 17:48 UTC