"Now Idlib is our goal, but not just Idlib," Assad said of the northwestern province. "There are of course territories in the eastern part of Syria that are controlled by various groups... So we will be moving into all these regions," Assad added. 

Among these groups there are Daesh, Al-Nusra Front and other extremist formations, h said, "the military, and it is at their discretion, will decide priorities and Idlib is one of these priorities." 

"White Helmets who refused to hand over weapons will be eliminated like terrorists," Assad told Russian media.

"The presence of Russian military personnel in Syria is necessary for peace and political stability," Assad said. "The length of the agreement between Syria and Russia on the military base in Hmeimim indicates long-term plans for cooperation between the two countries."

Assad also appealed for Syrian refugees, especially those who had their own businesses in the country, to return.