DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian president vowed on Tuesday to “liberate” every inch of the country in the same way his troops earlier this year recaptured the historic town of Palmyra from the Islamic State group.
Bashar Assad’s speech in front of the newly-elected parliament came as government forces pushed ahead in their offensive in the northern province of Raqqa, which is home to the de facto capital of IS and the seat of its self-proclaimed caliphate. Government forces have also almost encircled rebel-held neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.
The situation on the ground is much better than it was months ago, Assad claimed, calling on the people “not to worry because the conditions are good.”
“The way we liberated Palmyra and before that many areas, we will liberate every last bit of Syria from their hands. We have no choice but to be victorious,” Assad said to a furious applause from the lawmakers.
“Our war on terrorism will continue not because we like war. They imposed the war on us,” Assad added, reiterating his staple blaming of foreign countries for Syria’s five-year crisis. “The shedding of blood will not end until we uproot terrorism, wherever it is.”
The speech was Assad’s first before the newly elected chamber and his first public remarks since January. He also thanked China for using its veto power at the U.N. Security Council months after the crisis began to prevent the imposition of sanctions on Syria. He also thanks Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group — three key allies that have played a critical role in turning the balance of power in Assad’s favor.