Coalition Airstrikes Made IS Stronger

Bashar al Assad has said US-led coalition
bombing in Syria helped Islamic State to
expand and recruit fighters.
As MPs prepare to
vote on whether
Britain should join its allies launching airstrikes
in Syria, the country's president accused them of
"supporting terrorists".
But he praised military action by his ally Russia,
which has been accused of targeting moderate
rebels as well as jihadists.
:: War On IS: MPs To Vote On Syria Airstrikes
:: What Happens Next If Airstrikes Go Ahead?
Video: Bombing IS: The British Strategy
Mr Assad said: "Since the beginning of that (US-
led) coalition, if you want to talk about facts, not
opinion, since the beginning of that coalition,
ISIS (Islamic State group) has expanded and the
recruiting from around the world has increased.
"While since the participation of Russia in the
same fight, so-called against terrorism, ISIS has
been shrinking. And al-Nusra (Nusra Front) of
course and the other terrorist groups. So this is
reality. The facts are telling."
Asked what it would take to end Syria's four-year
civil war, which has killed more than 200,000
people, Mr Assad said: "When those countries
that I mentioned - France, UK, US, Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and some other - stop supporting those
terrorists.
"(the next) day the situation will be better and in
a few months we will have full peace in Syria,
definitely. If they stop."
The US, UK, and other Western powers fighting
Islamic State have demanded that Mr Assad
steps down and have backed rebel groups
fighting his forces.
Meanwhile the Syrian president has referred to
all his opponents as "terrorists" and accused
world leaders pushing for his departure of
"supporting terrorists".
The Syrian leader is backed by Russia and Iran
and he praised Vladimir Putin for launching a
bombing campaign backing Assad's forces in
September.
In a wide-ranging interview with Czech TV,
Mr Assad also said:
:: On The Migration Crisis:
"The feeling is very sad. Especially if you think
about every person of those Syrians who left
Syria has sad story behind him.
"It reflects the hardship of the Syrians during the
crisis. From this (rational) way of looking at the
situation, it's a loss.
"Every one of those is a human resources that
left Syria. So that will undermine. Undermine
your society and your country. Definitely. But at
the end we have to deal with the reasons."

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