The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad , in an interview aired on Thursday night with Russian television network, RT, has said he believes that Damascus has nearly won the seven-year conflict in Syria, despite continued US “interference.”
President Assad said: "With every move forward for the Syrian Army, and for the political process, and for the whole situation, our enemies and our opponents, mainly the West led by the United States and their puppets in Europe and in our region, they try to make it farther – either by supporting more terrorism, bringing more terrorists to Syria, or by hindering the political process."
The Syrian president also indicated that the recapture of the key cities of Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor, and Homs by government forces over the past two years, meant that Washington was “losing its cards” and could be brought to the negotiating table.
President Assad also said "The Americans have to leave Syria. This is our land and it is our duty to liberate it. The Americans should leave Syria. They Americans came to Iraq illegally, and look what happened to them. They have to learn that lesson. Iraq is no exception, and Syria is no exception. People will not accept foreigners in this region anymore !!"
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Assad said "We don't have Iranian troops in Syria. There are Iranian officers advising and helping the Syrian army, but we don't have Iranian troops in Syria. (The Israelis claimed ) a few weeks ago that they attacked an Iranian base and an Iranian camp in Syria, allegedly, but we had tens of martyred and wounded Syrian soldiers, and not a single Iranian soldier (wounded or martyred). So how can they say there are Iranian troops in Syria. It is a lie !! We have always said there are Iranian officers helping the Syrian army, but there are no Iranian troops in Syria".
In further comments, President Assad said: "Moscow deterred the West from launching a devastating country-wide air strike on Syria in April".
