MOSCOW, April 14 (RIA Novosti) – The civil war in Syria is gradually turning in the government’s favor, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said, according to the French AFP news agency.
"This is a turning point in the crisis, both militarily in terms of the army's achievements in the war against terror, and socially in terms of national reconciliation processes and growing awareness of the truth behind the attacks targeting the country," Assad was quoted as saying Sunday.
AFP reported that troops loyal to the Assad administration have made a series of advances in recent months, recapturing rebel strongholds on the Lebanese border and in the central Homs province.
Assad said the government was redoubling efforts to restore stability and security in Syria, focusing on the regions that have been struck by insurgents. The Syrian leader said the government has now taken the upper hand in what he described as a “war on terror.”
The civil war in Syria broke out following unrest that swept the Arab world three years ago, called the Arab Spring. Since then, over 130,000 people have died in the conflict, according to United Nations’ estimates. The Syrian Army has been engaged in fierce battles with groups of Islamist militants, including foreign mercenaries and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups.
