DHAKA: Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad has vowed that his country would emerge ‘victorious’ in any confrontation with the United States and its allies, in comments published Thursday by a Lebanese daily.

Washington and other Western powers have warned of imminent military strikes against Assad’s regime following a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed civilians, including dozens of children, in Damascus suburbs on August 21.

‘Since the start of the crisis, as you know, we have waited for our true enemy to reveal itself,’ Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Assad as telling Syrian officials, reports The Voice of Russia.

‘I know that your morale is good and that you are ready to face any attack and to save the homeland,’ he added.

‘It’s a historic confrontation from which we will emerge victorious,’ the paper quoted the embattled Syrian president as saying.

While it seems that the only issue left to be settled by Western leaders is the timing of the military strike on Syria, people in Damascus are preparing. Syrians prefer to stay inside their homes or flee for neighbouring Lebanon. The military are being evacuated.

BDST: 1555 HRS, AUG 29, 2013
RoR/Jck