America needs to end its military presence in Syria, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech broadcast on state TV on Friday at the beginning of a trilateral meeting focused on Syria with his Russian and Turkish counterparts.
"The illegal presence and interference of America in Syria which has led to the continuation of insecurity in that country, must end quickly," Rouhani said.
The leaders are scheduled to discuss the looming military assault on Idlib in northwestern Syria, the last major stronghold of active opposition to Syria President Bashar al-Assad's rule.
Rouhani also said the battle in Syria will continue until militants are pushed out of the whole country, especially in Idlib, but that any military operations should avoid harming civilians.