Assad says he will never work with American officials, isn't dropping barrel bombs


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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says that his government is being kept informed about the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State by third parties like Iraq, but is only hearing "a general message...nothing tactical."
In an interview with the BBC, Assad said he would never join the coalition because "we cannot be in an alliance with countries which support terrorism." The Syrian government often says that both jihadists and members of the political opposition are "terrorists." He wouldn't speak with American officials either, "because they don't talk to anyone, unless he's a puppet." Assad also denies that government forces are dropping barrel bombs on areas held by rebels, calling the allegation a "childish story." Watch the entire interview below. —Catherine Garcia
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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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