Syrian official tells U.N. that regime closing in on victory
UNITED NATIONS — Syria’s top diplomat told the world’s nations Saturday that his country’s belief in military victory is greater now because the army “is making great strides in its war against terrorism” with support from Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah fighters.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Syria is more determined than ever to eliminate “terrorism” from the country. The Syrian government refers to all those fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad as “terrorists,” including Western-backed opposition groups.
Al-Moallem accused the “moderate armed opposition” of committing crimes and massacres against Syrians “that are no less barbaric” than those of the Islamic State and al-Qaida.
The Syrian government has been accused by the U.S. and other Western nations of the indiscriminate killing of civilians.
The Syrian official addressed the U.N. General Assembly’s annual ministerial meeting after frantic but unsuccessful efforts by the U.S. and Russian foreign ministers to revive a cease-fire that came into effect on Sept. 12 but collapsed after a week following attacks by both sides.
As of Saturday, rebelheld parts of the city of Aleppo had come under a blistering wave of airstrikes that residents said was without precedent in the 51⁄ 2- year conflict, which has killed over 300,000 people and driven half the country’s population from their homes. The airstrikes killed dozens.