Foreign-backed militants operating in Syria (file photo)[/caption]Iran and Turkey have stated that they share common concerns over the increasingly sectarian overtones to the ongoing conflict in Syria.
"I believe sectarian conflict is even a greater threat and it is not confined to one region," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Friday.
He added, "If the flames of sectarianism rage in the Middle East, you will see the results in the streets of London, New York, Rome and Madrid."
Zarif further noted that there is common ground between Tehran and Ankara on many issues, including the need for Syrians to decide their own fate at the ballot box.
Davutoglu said, "Sitting here together with the Iranian foreign minister you can be sure we will be working together to fight these types of scenarios which aim to see a sectarian conflict."
The Turkish foreign minister also said that he would visit Tehran later this month.
Human Rights Watch said in an October 11 report that Takfiri militants had killed 190 civilians and held over 200 others hostage during several days of operation that began on August 4 around Alawite villages in the western province of Latakia.
According to the report, most of the killings apparently took place on the first day of the offensive. In some cases, the extremists executed or gunned down entire families. A vast majority of the hostages were also women and children.
A recent British defense study shows that about 100,000 foreign-backed militants, fragmented into 1,000 groups, are fighting in Syria against the government and people.
The extracts of the study by defense consultancy IHS Jane's were published on September 16 inThe Daily Telegraph.
IHS Jane's estimates that some 10,000 militants are fighting for groups affiliated with al-Qaeda such as al-Nusra Front and the rest fight for different militant groups.
On September 10, militants affiliated with the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front killed 12 Alawite civilians after they attacked Maksar al-Hesan village on the outskirts of Homs city, located 162 kilometers (101 miles) north of the Syrian capital Damascus.
On June 11, 60 Shia Muslims were massacred by foreign-sponsored militants in the village of Hatlah in Syrias eastern province of Deir Ezzor.
By Press TV
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