SBS’s exclusive interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus has aired on Australia television, covering a wide range of critical global and regional issues.
In the interview, which took SBS World News reporter Luke Waters two years to secure, President Assad says the solution to the conflict in Syria is obvious: dialogue. But he says that this is impossible because of outside interference in the conflict.
He tells Waters that his forces could easily conquer the IS capital Raqqa but he is wary of how Turkey, who he accuses of supporting IS, will respond.
Also in the interview, President Assad denies reports of recent clashes between his army and Hezbollah north of Aleppo, and says Russia and Iran are not propping him up but are rather defending their own interests. In addition, he rejects allegations of brutal human rights violations.
The interview covers diverse issues including Brexit, the Assad government’s “back channel” contact with the US government, the potential for co-operation with the US in Syria, and accusations of western government duplicity.
Learn more about President Bashar al-Assad's , the and SBS' commitment to .
Dateline
In Syria, rubble is the playground for the next generation.
Video journalist previously spent 16 months negotiating his way into war-torn Syria to document the daily life of its men, women and children. Discover more about his experiences speaking with the , dining , and examining the .
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