NEW DELHI: Syrian ambassador to India on Wednesday invited Indian companies, investors and businesses to help rebuild his war-torn country, according to ANI.

“Syria was able to defeat terrorists and all the conspiracies against Syria. Now we are planning to rebuild Syria and we are looking for help from our friends especially India," Dr Riad Abbas said.

Abbas' comment came soon after Syrian President Bashar al Assad told his troops that they were close to winning country's seven-year-long war.

"Our priority is that Indian companies come and help us rebuild Syria and we are open for Indian investors and businesses," the ambassador added.

Assad's announcement of "victory" came soon after his forces inflicted a succession of defeats on rebels.

Early last year, government forces held just 17 per cent of national territory but a series of blistering offensives has since forced the rebels out of many of their strongholds, putting Assad's government back in control of nearly two-thirds of the country.

Much of the territory was recaptured without any ground fighting as the rebels reluctantly agreed to leave their bombed out enclaves in Russian-protected convoys.

The army has been bolstered in its offensives by Russian air strikes, Iranian military advisers and militiamen from Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Government troops are now mopping up the remaining rebel pockets in the south, and last week Assad promised a similar offensive against the rebels' last major stronghold -- Idlib province in the northwest.

(With inputs from AFP)

