Assad says Syria steadily moving towards victory

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stated that Syria is steadily moving towards victory, expressing his gratitude to the "sacrifices the army and the steadfastness of the Syrian people."

During a meeting with a delegation of cultural, educational, religious and social representatives from the Hama province, Assad said that Syrian authorities will continue to support and boost the national reconciliation efforts until security and stability are restored in all Syrian areas.

He also noted that the Syrian state is focusing on the file of missing persons, emphasizing that several achievements have been made in this regard.

Syria's conflict started as largely peaceful protests against Assad in March 2011 but later degenerated into a civil war in which more than 140,000 people have been killed, according to activists.

The UN's human rights office said in January it has stopped updating the death toll from the war, confirming that it can no longer verify the sources of information that led to its last count of at least 100,000 in late July.

Millions have been driven out of their homes, seeking shelter in neighboring countries and in safer parts of their homeland.