Assad says Russian action key to stability

Syrian president says terrorist forces must be crushed before political process begins, accuses West of fueling refugee crisis

Syrian President Bashar Assad said that the only alternative to the success of the ongoing Russian air campaign against terrorists in his country is the destruction of the entire Middle East region, stressing that the fight against terrorism must precede a political process.

In an interview with Iran's Khabar TV, Assad also accused Western nations of fueling the refugee crisis and said the US-led coalition to fight the Islamic State group will only spark more instability in his country and the region.