syria troops advancing thanks to russia strikes
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

President Bashar al-Assad:

Syria troops advancing thanks to Russia strikes

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Syria troops advancing thanks to Russia strikes

Bashar al-Assad (right) speaks with a journalist from China's Phoenix television
Damascus - Arab Today

Syrian government troops are advancing on "nearly every front" thanks to Russian air strikes that began in September, President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview released Sunday.

The embattled president also said he favoured new peace talks to be hosted in Moscow, but stressed that the Syrian conflict could not be resolved without "defeating terrorism".

In the interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix television, Assad said the situation in Syria had "improved in a very good way" since Russia began air strikes on September 30.

"Now I can say that the army is making advancement in nearly every front... in many different directions and areas on the Syrian ground," he said, speaking in English.

Russia is coordinating its air strikes with Damascus, unlike the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, which Assad and his government criticise as ineffectual.
The army has made minimal progress on the ground, according to groups monitoring the war, though the Russian strikes have reportedly boosted morale among government troops and supporters.

Moscow has also sought a leading role in a political resolution to the conflict, participating recently in high-level talks in Vienna with other world powers in a bid to create a framework for peace.

Talks there earlier this month produced a framework for the creation of a transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months.

But there was no agreement on the fate of Assad, whom the opposition and their backers want gone, but allies such as Iran and Russia say should be allowed to run in new elections if he wants.

- 'Defeating terrorism' -

Assad said it was "my right" to run in new elections but it was "too early" to say if he intended to.
(It) depends on how my feeling is regarding the Syrian people. I mean, do they want me or not?"

"You cannot talk about something that's going to happen maybe in the next few years," he said.

Assad said he backed Moscow's efforts to organise new dialogue between the regime and opposition in a "Moscow 3" conference, but insisted a political solution could only be achieved with the defeat of "terrorism".

"We need to make the dialogue, but the concrete steps should follow at least a major defeat of the terrorists and the government takes control of a major area that has been captured by the terrorists,"  he said.

The Syrian leader said it would take "maximum of two years" to produce a new constitution and hold a referendum on it.

Assad's government considers all those who oppose his regime "terrorists," and has framed the conflict that began with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011 as a "war on terror".

He accuses the West and other backers of the opposition of sponsoring extremism, and said the West had exploited a photograph of a young Syrian refugee child, Aylan Kurdi, found dead on a Turkish beach.

"That photo was used as propaganda by the West," he said, accusing opposition backers of driving Syrians abroad by sponsoring "terrorism" and levying sanctions on Syria.

"This boy and... other children suffered and died and are being killed because of the Western policies in this world, in this region," he said.
Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

syria troops advancing thanks to russia strikes syria troops advancing thanks to russia strikes

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

syria troops advancing thanks to russia strikes syria troops advancing thanks to russia strikes

 



GMT 09:51 2017 Sunday ,19 February

Belgium train derailment: One dead and many injured

GMT 23:10 2018 Sunday ,21 January

Air Arabia adds Izmir to Turkey network

GMT 12:42 2016 Wednesday ,10 August

Champs Leicester face renewed challenge

GMT 02:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Masdar, DoT sign MoU

GMT 03:38 2017 Thursday ,28 December

says refs missed three late Durant fouls, one by LeBron

GMT 11:18 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

Reveals plan to get out of financial crisis

GMT 02:13 2017 Wednesday ,04 January

Aerial Attacks Kill 13 Daesh Militants in Iraq

GMT 01:39 2017 Wednesday ,11 January

Mauritanian President Partially Reshuffles Cabinet
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday