President Assad admits ‘setbacks’ in war against Syrian rebels

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made his first public admission of defeat to rebel fighters, stating “ups and downs” were normal in a war following a string of defeats in the country’s north. His rare admission follows opposition advances in northern and southern Syria that have punctured the notion that Assad is on his way to defeating the four-year-old rebellion. They also undermined Assad’s claim of being a bulwark against the Islamic State group, which had eclipsed rebels over the past year.

So when setbacks occur, it is our duty as a society to boost the morale of the soldier and not wait for him to raise ours.

President Bashar

Meanwhile Wednesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a spokesman for Kurdish forces in the northeastern city of Hassakeh said suspected Islamic State militants attacked a center affiliated with the force and lobbed missiles at residential areas.

Middle East Syria