The support from Russia and Iran has contributed a lot to the progress of Syria's army, Syrian President Bashar Assad said.





MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� Since September 2015, Russia has been conducting an aerial operation against�terrorists in�Syria at�Assad's request.

"The support of�Russia and Iran has been, without�any doubt, a key to�our army's success [in its advance],"�Assad�said in�an interview with�Spain�s El Pais daily published Saturday.

According to�the Syrian president, his country needs this support due to�the fact that "there are 80 countries that back terrorism by�different means."

Assad also urged to�ban countries, especially Turkey, from�supporting terrorists by�sending militants and arms to�Syria.

Syria�has been in�a state of�civil war since�2011, with�government forces loyal to�Assad fighting against�a number of�opposition factions and extremist groups.

By Sputnik