Syria's Assad says Russian airstrikes paramount for territory gains

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's President says his forces are advancing on almost all fronts thanks to Russian airstrikes that began nearly two months ago and have tipped the balance in his favor in some parts of the country, the Associated Press reports.

In remarks published Sunday, Novemner 22, Bashar al-Assad told China's Phoenix Television that the Russians depend on Syrian ground forces and "cooperate with us." He added Syrian troops had achieved victories in some areas before the strikes began but "could not be present everywhere in Syria."

Russia, which has conducted an air campaign in Syria since Sept. 30, sharply raised its intensity in recent days on President Vladimir Putin's orders after Moscow said it had confirmed that a bomb brought down a Russian plane over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Following the participation of Russian air force in fighting terrorism, the situation improved well. I can say that the army now is advancing almost on every front," Assad said in the interview, which was also carried by Syrian state media.

Assad said the Russian airstrikes are more effective than those of the U.S.-led coalition because Moscow is coordinating with his government, saying "you cannot fight terrorism with airstrikes alone."

Syrian troops have captured dozens of villages in northern and western Syria since the Russian airstrikes began. Their biggest victory so far has been lifting a three-year siege imposed on the military air base of Kweiras by extremist groups in the northern province of Aleppo.

Asked if he is going to run for president again if early elections are held, Assad said: "It is my right but it is early to say whether I will run or not." He added that "I will not say that I will not run if I see that this is needed."