President Bashar Assad said the Russian campaign has the potential to succeed because it is supported by Iran and has international, if not Western, support

Syria's president Bashar Assad has said the air campaign by Russia against terrorists in his country must succeed or the whole region will be destroyed.

Assad was speaking in an interview with Iran's Khabar TV, parts of which were aired on Sunday.

He said the Russian campaign has the potential to succeed because it is supported by Iran and has international, if not Western, support.

He called on countries that support the armed opposition to stop, which would increase the chances of the campaign succeeding.

Assad's comments are the first since Russia launched an intensive air campaign against rebel positions in Syria on Wednesday, saying it is targeting Islamic State and other terrorist organisations.

Some of the air strikes hit Western-backed fighters.

PA Media