SYRIAN President Bashar al-Assad vowed to rid the country of United States and Turkish occupying forces as he took the oath of office for a fourth term on Saturday.

He said that Syrian forces were determined to retake control of Idlib province, where Turkey and its jihadist allies remain in their last stronghold.

He said that stability was the top priority for Syria and promised to counter the “economic war” being waged by the US and its allies.