DAMASCUS, Syria—President Bashar Assad vowed Tuesday his troops would “liberate” every inch of Syria, just like they recaptured the ancient town of Palmyra from the Islamic State (ISIS), in a speech that reflected his renewed confidence as the military pressed on toward Raqqa, the extremists’ self-styled capital.
His remarks in parliament came as his opponents, backed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, are struggling for survival and his troops have almost encircled rebel-held neighborhoods of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.
Saying the military situation was much better than it was months ago, Assad told the lawmakers that Aleppo will be “the graveyard where the hopes and dreams of the butcher Erdogan will be buried.”
The reference was to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the staunchest supporters of the rebels fighting to topple Assad. Erdogan has allowed safe passage from his country for fighters and weapons over the border into Syria.
Assad also described Erdogan as a “thug” and a “fascist” in the speech, which was frequently interrupted by applause.
When Assad walked into the chamber to speak, the legislators had stood and chanted, “Our soul, our blood we sacrifice for you, Bashar!”
The civil war, now in its sixth year, has turned in Assad’s favor ever since Russia began a bombing campaign in September, helping Syrian troops recapture wide areas from insurgents.
The biggest victory came in March, when government forces evicted ISIS from Palmyra, a desert town in central Syria world famous for its majestic Roman-era ruins.
“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.
