Assad claims ‘situation has improved after Russian airstrikes’

Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad has claimed that the situation in his country has improved following Russia’s participation in the fight against “terrorism”.

Speaking to Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV, Assad noted that it is now nearly five years since “terrorism infected” Syria. “Of course, because of the support of regional and international states, the terrorists could capture many areas within Syria,” he explained. “Recently, however, after the participation of the Russian air forces in fighting terrorism, the situation has improved in a very good way, and now I can say that the army is making advances along nearly every front; although the front is not very precisely defined, it’s not wrong, but let’s say in many different directions and areas on the ground.”

Russian aircraft have been striking against Daesh facilities in Syria since 30 September. The US and other Western countries allege that the airstrikes target moderate Syrian rebels.

Assad played down the importance of airstrikes by the international coalition against extremists in Syria. “Terrorism cannot be fought from the air alone,” the president insisted. “There should be soldiers on the ground, but the Americans are fighting using their planes.”

The Syrian economy is in a “very bad” way, stressed Assad. “We are talking about damage worth billions of dollars; 10 per cent of schools have been destroyed and 30 per cent of public hospitals are out of service, and the same applies to infrastructure like electricity.”