Confident Al-Assad: Syrian Army Regained Ground Lead, Russia Defending Itself

Local Editor

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stressed that "the Syrian army greatly regained the lead on the ground , and it achieved important results that will be soon unveiled."

Al-Assad's visitors informed al-Akhbar Lebanese daily that al-Assad confirmed: "The armed groups financed from abroad received severe blows during the last period."
"The United States is not ready for a solution at the present time," the Syrian President said, and noted that "Russia will remain supportive to Syria."
He further viewed that "Moscow defends itself, by this position, and not the Syrian regime."
"We won't retreat from the provisions of the Geneva Agreement," he said.
One of these visitors, who met al-Assad for 3 hours, told al-Akhbar that despite the fact that he isn't much affected by the propaganda against al-Assad, he was surprised by what he saw and heard.

According to him, the Syrian President meets many visitors in Rawda Palace in Damascus. "His team continues its work as usual. On the personal level, the man [al-Assad] is quiet and balanced. His satisfaction and confidence are astonishing," the visitor clarified.
In this context, al-Assad recent visitors indicated that he provides an accurate reading to the facts at this stage. "He even speaks of the minutest details in the Syrian provinces."
"His information includes a street here and a small neighborhood there. And the reports tin his hands do not compromise," al-Akhbar sources mentioned.
A-Assad, according to his visitors, "is strictly detailed on the international efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis."
"If it were not so, the Syrian state hasn't been able to withstand all this time, and the Syrian Arab Army wouldn't have managed to maintain this consistency," they commented.

The Syrian President further assured to his visitors that "the army greatly regained the lead on the ground that resulted in great achievement, added to what we achieved during the twenty-two months."
"The Army succeeded in preventing the insurgents from controlling entire provinces. Thus, their only remaining court was some border areas with Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as some pockets in the rural countryside of the capital, which is being handled by the army," Al-Assasd stated.
In parallel, he emphasized that the Syrian capital is in its best, and the strategic points in it, despite all the militants attempts, remained safe, especially the airport road."

Moreover, al-Assad provides more details. He stops at what has happened in the Yarmouk refugee camp. He mentioned that "the camp's symbolism prompted the Syrian leadership not to take a decision to confront the militants, who occupied part of it."
"The dilemma of the Yarmouk camp was left to the Palestinian factions, which provided initiatives that were approved by the Syrian official side," he said.
Asked about what he said in his speech in the Opera House that ‘Syria refuses to be only a hotel for relaxation', Al-Assad refused to argue.
"I was hurt by those who must be witnesses to the fact that we dealt with the Palestinian factions regardless of their sect or religion. They turned to false witnesses, claiming that the Syrian regime is sectarian acting. It is logical to expect that they tell the truth," he said.
The Syrian President also stated: "We understand the circumstances of some of them, and we were to understand their silence if they weren't to tell the truth."
However, al-Assad confirmed that "the positions of some faction's leaders will not prevent Syria, which paid a heavy price to support the Palestinian resistance from the pockets of its people and wealth, to continue this support. "

On another level, he unveiled that "facts already changed on the ground. Around fifteen thousand citizens voluntarily returned to Homs ."
"The Syrian's patient ended in face of those anomalies that destroyed the homes, business, and stores," the head of Syria's state said.
Meanwhile, he predicted that "the closure of Turkish borders in face of the smuggling of arms and militants, means that things can be resolved in just two weeks."
In conclusion, al-Assad stressed the existence of "many logistical arrangements for the next phase. There are plans to return refugees to their home provinces and other plans for reconstruction."


Source: al-Akhbar Lebanese daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org