Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Despoiler of Deraa...
vowing to "retake every area from the terrorists."
Assad spoke after prayers marking the Moslem holiday Eid al-Adha in the battered city of Daraya, which the government recently retook from rebel forces, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported. The once-bustling city outside Damascus is now virtually abandoned, with rebel fighters allowed to retreat and civilians evacuated by the government.
"By coming to this area, (we) send a message that the Syrian state is determined to retake every area from the terrorists," Assad said, adding that his government is committed to "freedom that starts with restoring security and safety, goes through reconstruction and ends with the independent national decision."
Assad and his allies Russia and Iran have endorsed the cease-fire, which began at sundown in Damascus, or around noon ET.