This handout picture released by the Syrian Presidency's Telegram channel shows Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (right) meeting Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Damascus on Feb 11, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday expressed concerns that Washington's attacks in different parts of the Middle East threaten to expand the conflict in the region, the state news agency SANA reported.

In a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Syrian capital Damascus, Assad criticized the United States for its approach to the ongoing Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

He expressed concerns about Washington's ongoing provision of "lethal weapons" to Israel and its military operations in various parts of the Middle East, saying they pose a risk of escalating the conflict

During a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Syrian capital Damascus, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad highlighted the need for offering maximum support to the Palestinian people, commending their resilience during the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza

During the meeting, Assad highlighted the need for offering maximum support to the Palestinian people, commending their resilience during the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Assad also discussed with Amir-Abdollahian the Israeli attacks on Syrian territories and the overall regional developments, according to SANA.

They stressed the importance for international institutions, particularly the UN Security Council, to take immediate action to halt the looming Israeli assault in Rafah, the southernmost Gazan city currently sheltering more than half of the displaced Palestinians in the enclave.

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Also on Sunday, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad reiterated that Syria's top priority is to defy the presence of any unauthorized foreign forces on its territory.

At a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Amir-Abdollahian in Damascus, Mekdad said it is a priority of the Syrian leadership to end the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights.

Another top task is to "liberate" occupied territories in eastern Syria from American forces and those in northern Syria from the Turks, he noted.

Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad (right) and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian talk to reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Damascus on Feb 11, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

On Israel's repeated attacks on Syria and the repercussions of such actions, Mekdad said "Syria has fought several wars against the racist Zionist entity and is fully prepared to engage in any other wars in which Syria determines when, where, and how."

For his part, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran condemns the "illegal presence" of foreign parties in parts of Syrian territory.

He noted that Iran's military advisors will continue to support Syria despite recent reports about a possible withdrawal of Iran's military advisors in the wake of repeated Israeli attacks on their positions.

READ MORE: Iran says not looking to expand war in region

The minister also revealed that he conveyed an invitation from Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to visit Iran.