President Bashar al-Assad claimed that both Syria and Iraq had defeated terrorism in their countries but urged the UN to take action over the alleged use of white phosphorus by US forces.

Mr Assad hosted Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and a delegation from Baghdad as the neighbouring countries discussed regional and international issues.

He praised the efforts of both countries that have been successful in their battle against jihadists of Isis and al-Nusra who attempted to establish Islamist caliphates as they swept across the region.

However the Syrian government warned their efforts were being undermined by the US “continued support for terrorism and its use of terrorists and separatist militias to achieve its objectives and aggressive plans aimed at undermining the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.”

Damascus branded the alleged use of prohibited weapons one of “a series of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Syrian people” aimed at ousting Mr Assad.

In a letter to the UN security council, it called for the body to condemn the actions and call for an “end to the aggressive presence of US and other foreign forces illegally present on the Syrian territory.”