Syria's Assad: army to reinforce besieged troops in northwest
Syrian President Bashar Assad said Wednesday that army troops would head to the outskirts of an insurgent-held town to help besieged soldiers holed up on its outskirts, and justified recent army setbacks as part of normal warfare.
Last month Islamist insurgents captured the town of Jisr al-Shughour in Syria's Idlib province, edging closer to the government-held heartland of Latakia along the coast.
He was speaking at an event to commemorate martyrs at a school in an undisclosed location. In a rare public appearance, he was surrounded by crowds of people who chanted in support.
