US and Turkish occupying forces were accused of prolonging the war in Syria today, as the 16th International Astana Meeting on the future of the country concluded in the Kazakh capital, Nur Sultan.

Syrian Arab Republic representative Dr Ayman Susan accused Ankara of supporting terrorists in the north-east of the country and violating the United Nations Charter.

Turkish forces have deployed a myriad of jihadist gangs during their illegal invasion and occupation of northern Syria as part of the war on the Kurdish population.

Dr Susan accused both Turkey and the US — which is in alliance with the largely Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces — of the continued plunder of Syrian resources, especially oil and wheat.

Earlier this week the Morning Star reported local sources in Hasaka province that witnessed 37 lorries loaded with oil leaving Syria via an illegal crossing in northern Iraq.

The head of the Iranian delegation, Ali Ashgar Jhaji, said that those gathered demanded an end to the crippling US sanctions on Syria, implemented last year under the Caesar Act.

Like Syria, Lebanon — which is also targeted under the economic restrictions — has seen its economy reduced to tatters as people struggle to afford basic items, with national shortages of fuel, electricity and medicine.

A joint statement called for humanitarian aid to be provided for all Syrians across the country “without discrimination, politicisation or preconditions.”

Dr Susan hit out at the US campaign for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the country as one of “the ugliest forms of hypocrisy.”

Washington remains the main reason for the suffering of the Syrian people due to its support for terrorism, he said.

The US provided Islamist groups with millions of dollars in cash, weapons and training under the covert CIA Operation Timber Sycamore, as part of its bid to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.