Assad says yet to see real steps on IS by US

BEIRUT - Syrian President Bashar Assad said he had yet to see "anything concrete" from US President Donald Trump over his vow to defeat the Islamic State group and called US forces in Syria "invaders" because they were there without government permission.

Assad, in an interview with Hong Kong TV station Phoenix, said "in theory" he still saw scope for cooperation with Trump though practically nothing had happened in this regard.

Assad said Trump's campaign pledge to prioritize the defeat of the IS had been "a promising approach" but added: "We haven't seen anything concrete yet regarding this rhetoric".