Iran Pledges Support For Syria

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki (left) with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Muallim, in Damascus in May (epa) July 17, 2006 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki today pledged Iran's support to Syria in the face of "any threat or aggression."

The official Syrian news agency Sana reports that Mottaki handed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a letter of support from Iranian President Mahmud Ahmedinejad after arriving in Syria for talks with senior officials.

Both Iran and Syria are seen as backers of the Hizballah movement in Lebanon, which is currently under attack from Israeli forces.

Tehran and Damascus have warned Israel of dire consequences should Israeli forces expand their military operation against Hizballah and target areas in Syria.

(IRNA, AP, dpa)