DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s parliament speaker said Sunday that the U.S. should work with Damascus in assembling a coalition to battle the Islamic State extremist group rather than allying with nations that support terrorism.

Speaker Jihad Laham was apparently referring to Saudi Arabia and other countries that back rebels trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. Lahham said during a parliament session that nations that “want to fight terrorism should coordinate” with Damascus rather than Syrian rebel groups.