FM: Foreign troops entering Syria would return ‘in coffins’

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem has warned that any foreign ground troops entering his country would “return home in wooden coffins.”

Al-Moallem spoke Saturday at his ministry in Damascus, responding to questions by reporters.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s army spokesman had said his country was willing to send ground troops to Syria as part of a U.S.-led military campaign against Islamic State extremists. The group controls large parts of Syria and Iraq.

Al-Moallem says that any attack on Syrian territory without the consent of his government will be considered an act of aggression and will be dealt with accordingly.

He said conventional wisdom and logic would suggest the idea of Saudi troops in Syria is hard to imagine, but that “with the crazy Saudi leadership nothing is far-fetched.”