Syria's Assad blames US for war in his country

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed terrorists and the U.S. government for the bloodshed in the years-long war, in an interview with The New York Times and other Western journalists on Monday.

Assad insists his ravaged nation is “much better than before" the civil war, which began with a small uprising in 2011.

The nearly six year-long conflict has killed around 600,000 people, mostly civilians, destroyed cities and displaced half of the nation.

“I'm just a headline — the bad president, the bad guy, who is killing the good guys," Assad said, mocking Western coverage of his regime.

“You know this narrative. The real reason is toppling the government. This government doesn't fit the criteria of the United States," he added.

Assad denied that his military for years has been bombing civilians living in opposition-held areas, using the support of his loyalists as proof.

“After five years and a half, who supported me? How can I be a president and my people don't support me?" Assad asked the Times.

Russian and Iranian military support along with the Shi'ite militia groups helped Assad to regain some opposition-held areas in Aleppo and other key cities.

Aleppo has been facing the worst humanitarian catastrophe in recent months, as Assad and its allies launched intensive attacks on eastern Aleppo, held by opposition groups.