ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Tuesday that he will "liberate" all of Syria from his opponents as he did Palmyra from Islamic State (ISIS) last March, arguing that he "has no alternative but to be victorious" against his enemies. "As we liberated Palmyra and before it many areas, we will liberate every inch of Syria from their hands," Assad said. The regime "has no alternative but to be victorious, otherwise Syria will not continue," Assad added while addressing a newly elected parliament in Damascus. His address was broadcast on Syrian state television. The Syrian president claimed his regime is advancing on the battlefield against its various enemies, a turnaround from last year before the Russian intervention when Syrian regime forces were mostly on the defensive. "Aleppo will be the graveyard of [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan's dreams," Assad said in a reference to Turkish-backed groups in Syria's northern province who have been fighting Damascus. Syrian forces are close to encircling the entire opposition-held eastern neighbourhoods of Aleppo. Syrian aircraft recently bombed the Castello road, the only supply route left to the opposition there. Assad also condemned the opposition negotiating at Geneva. "It's clear that the other side was forced to come to dialogue," he claimed. "They have been imposing preconditions, supporting terrorism and hindering ceasefire efforts." Assad previously said he would retake the whole country, but admitted it would be very difficult and would take time. His comments came as the US and Russia were negotiating the ceasefire which went into effect on February 27. His remarks led Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, to clarify that Assad's vow was "not in accord with the diplomatic efforts that Russia is making." Many sides in the Syrian conflict, including the terrorist organizations Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, have been accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Syrian army has been accused of ceasefire violations, deliberate targeting of civilians and medical centres, in Aleppo particularly, and denying access to international organizations delivering aid to besieged areas of the country. Human rights advocates and legal experts are gathering documentation to build a case linking senior Syrian officials to mass atrocities. The Commission for International Justice and Accountability, an independent investigative body, was founded in 2012 to gather information on the Syrian war with the possibility of preparing a case against the Assad regime.
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