(VOVworld) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that military operations will not end after liberating Aleppo from rebel groups.

Syrian soldiers patrolled on a street in Aleppo (Photo: VNA)

In a televised interview on Wednesday, he said military activities will only stop in areas where rebel groups are prepared to hand in their weapons and leave. He said that the recent attack by ISIS on Palmyra in large numbers and over a large area means that ISIS is receiving direct support from certain countries. Assad said the timing of that attack was linked to the battle for Aleppo, in an attempt to distract the Syrian Army. He called on businessmen who emigrated during the crisis to return to assist Syria’s reconstruction.