Assad ‘confident of victory in civil war’

Syrian president Bashar Assad said in an interview broadcast on Thursday that he is ‘confident in victory’ in his country’s civil war and warned that Damascus would retaliate for any future Israeli airstrike on his territory. Assad told Lebanese TV station Al-Manar that Russia has fulfilled some of its weapons contracts recently, but he was vague on whether this included advanced S-300 air defense systems.

The comments were in line with a forceful and confident message the regime has been sending in recent days, even as the international community attempts to launch a peace conference in Geneva, possibly next month. The strong tone coincided with recent military victories in battles with armed rebels trying to topple him.

Assad, who appeared animated and gestured frequently in the interview, said he has been confident from the start of the conflict more than two years ago that he would be able to defeat his opponents. 

‘Regarding my confidence about victory, had we not had this confidence, we wouldn’t have been able to fight in this battle for two years, facing an international attack,’ he said. Assad portrayed the battle to unseat him as a ‘world war against Syria and the resistance,’ referring to Lebanese Hezbollah, a close ally. ‘We are confident and sure about victory, and I confirm that Syria will stay as it was,’ he said.