Syrian President Assad admits military setbacks, says he won't be defeated

In a rare public speech, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told economic officials in Damascus on Sunday about the state of the country's military, among other updates.

Assad acknowledged that troops are withdrawing from some areas and there is a shortage of manpower, but said that the military is not facing imminent collapse. "We will be steadfast and will achieve the missions," he said. "Defeat...does not exist in the dictionaries of the Syrian Arab army." He thanked allies like Iran and Hezbollah, and said there has actually been an increase in recruitment numbers over the last several months. He also said that the economic impact of the civil war has been devastating, and there are shortages of basic services like water and electricity, but that in some areas, like the suburbs of Damascus, the government is working on reconstruction projects.

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