February 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan may take part in any joint Islamic and Arab military action in Syria, Sudan foreign minister alluded in statement he made on Monday as his Saudi counterpart met with President Omer al-Bashir.

Following a meeting with the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Monday, the visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters that they discussed the “situation in the Arab region particularly in Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia”.

Al-Jubeir underscored that the two sides held identical views on the Arabic and Islamic issues under discussion, praising Sudan’s participation in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and the Islamic military alliance to combat terrorism.

For his part, Sudan’s foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that it is premature to speak about sending Sudanese ground troops to Syria, but added that “everything is possible as long as Sudan is part of the Saudi-led coalition”.

“However, this issue is not under discussion at this particular time,” he stressed.

Ghandour said that President Bashir and al-Jubeir discussed political issues besides issues of common concern, pointing that Bashir instructed the foreign ministry to continue to cooperate and coordinate with Riyadh on issues of terrorism and the “Decisive Storm” operation.

Ghandour added that al-Jubeir conveyed a message from the Saudi King to Bashir pertaining to the same issues besides the bilateral ties.

Sudan participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led "Decisive Storm" against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.

Sudanese troops are also participating in the “North Thunder” military manoeuvres in Saudi Arabia among 20 other Arab and Islamic nations.

The Sudanese military participation in the military campaign in Yemen and the Islamic alliance reconciled Bashir’s regime with the Saudi government, and marked the divorce with Iran.

(ST)