Bad Time to Be 'Hysterical'

While Damascus made plans to liberate Idlib province, Turkey, the United States and its European allies warned against an offensive, with Washington and Paris threatening to intervene militarily in the event of the use of chemical weapons by Syrian troops.

Commenting on the Western governments' staunch opposition to the anticipated Damascus' offensive in Idlib, President Bashar Assad described their reaction as "hysterical", and declared that a victory by the Syrian Army in that region would foil the West's aggressive plans to divide Syria.

Assad also pointed out that the deal between Moscow and Ankara which effectively prevented the Idlib offensive is but a "temporary" measure, and was implemented in order to prevent further bloodshed.