Assad: ISIL has expanded since U.S. strikes began

Syrian President Bashar Assad says he is “always open” to negotiations with the United States, but airstrikes on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets are not getting rid of the threat posed by the terrorist group.

“Sometimes you could have local benefit, but in general, if you want to talk in terms of ISIS, actually ISIS has expanded since the beginning of the strikes,” Assad said, using another acronym for ISIL, during an interview with Charlie Rose aired on “60 Minutes” on Sunday night. “Not like some — American — wants to sugar coat the situation as the — to say that it’s getting better. As — ISIS is being defeated and so on. Actually, no, you have more recruits. Some estimates that they have 1,000 recruits every month in Syria. And Iraq — they are expanding in Libya and many other Al Qaeda affiliate organizations have announced their allegiance to ISIS. So that’s the situation."


Assad said that ISIL and Saudi Arabia share the same ideology and the same background, calling the Saudi kingdom a “marriage between the Wahhabi and the political system for 200 years now,” referring to the fundamentalist form of Islam embraced by Saudi Arabia.

Asked under what circumstances he would give up power, Assad said he would do so when he felt he did not represent “Syrian interests and values.” Pressed on how he would determine that, Assad said the war in the country was a “very important” indicator.

“I mean, they could have — if they don’t support you, they could have — go and support the other side. They didn’t. Why? That’s very clear. That’s very concrete,” he told Rose.

Assad said American officials should be ready for talks, adding that no wise person would think of having bad relations with the U.S.

He agreed with Rose that the situation in Syria could not end militarily.

“Every conflict, even if it’s a war, should end with a political solution,” Assad said.