Iran’s Rouhani: Muslims need to unite against Israel

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accuses Muslims of forgetting their common enemy — Israel — as they are distracted by atrocities committed by the Islamic State terror group.

Rouhani says the Islamic State group and other armed groups are defaming Islam by resorting to barbaric acts and that has led to Muslim states forgetting their common enemy: Israel.

Addressing a conference in Tehran, Rouhani suggests that destroying Syria won’t strengthen those governments in the region which support the anti-Assad rebels, and accuses Israel of wanting to see Syria destroyed.

“Does the weakening of Syria benefit its Muslim neighbors? Does the destruction of Syria lead to the strengthening of Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates or other countries? Who is pleased by Syria’s destruction other than Israel,” Rouhani says.

He also accuses archrival Saudi Arabia Sunday of promoting poverty and terrorism by continuing to bomb Yemeni rebels and supporting armed rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syria.

Iran is one of Assad’s main allies and has provided his government with military and political backing for years.

— Agencies