SYRIAN President Bashar al-Assad declared yesterday that his forces’ impending liberation of eastern Aleppo meant a total transformation of the course of the war.

He told the Syrian al-Watan newspaper that all Western and regional states rely on Turkey to implement their “incendiary and destructive project” in Syria and to support terrorist forces.

Mr Assad said that the political process had been stillborn from the beginning because it was not a Syrian-Syrian dialogue but was dictated by outside interests.

“We support dialogue between the Syrians when it is a Syrian-Syrian dialogue between Syrians who do not belong to foreign agendas and do not support terrorism,” he insisted.

The president stressed his support for national reconciliation as a real and practical solution but one that must be carried out in parallel with striking at the terrorists.

Asked whether a decision had been taken to liberate Aleppo completely, he replied: “The decision to liberate the whole of Syria, including Aleppo, was taken right at the beginning. We have never thought of leaving any area unliberated.”

Mr Assad explained why he thought Syria’s international enemies have done everything possible to frustrate the liberation of Aleppo.

“First, after the failure of the battle, or battles, for Damascus in the first years of the crisis and later the failure of the battles for Homs, which was supposed to be a stronghold for the fake or supposed revolution, they moved to Aleppo as their last hope.

“The advantage that Aleppo enjoys for the terrorists and their supporters is that it is close to Turkey and, consequently, logistic supplies to Aleppo are much easier from all aspects.

“So they concentrated on Aleppo during the last two years, and that’s why liberating Aleppo from the terrorists deals a blow to the whole foundation of the project — Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.

“That way, the terrorists and the countries supporting them are deprived of any real cards.” However, the Syrian leader conceded that winning in Aleppo won’t mean an end to war.

“It is a significant landmark towards the end of the battle, but the war in Syria will not end until terrorism is eliminated.”