Russia supplying weapons to Syria since Civil War, says Assad

Russia is supplying weapons to Damascus under contracts completed since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, as well as under earlier deals, President Bashar al-Assad said.

Assad's comments, in an interview published by Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta on Monday, appeared to contradict remarks by Moscow suggesting any Russian arms supplies to Damascus were agreed before the conflict began.

"There are contracts that had been sealed before the crisis started and were carried out during the crisis. There are other agreements on arms supplies and cooperation that were signed during the crisis and are being carried out now," Assad said.

"They went through some changes to take into account the type of fighting the Syrian army carries out against the terrorists," he said in the full text of the interviews, excerpts of which were published last week.

Assad gave no details of the weapons being supplied by Russia, the world's second-biggest arms exporter, since the start of the conflict which has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions.

Russia's Defence Ministry, contacted by telephone, declined immediate comment.

Assad also held an interview with a U.S. television on Sunday, making important remarks about the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). He said told CBS' "60 Minutes, ISIS has been gaining recruits since the start of U.S.-led air strikes against the militant group.

Asked how much benefit he was getting from the strikes in Syria that began last September, Assad said: "Sometimes you could have local benefit but in general if you want to talk in terms of ISIS, actually ISIS has expanded since the beginning of the strikes."

Assad said in the interview aired on Sunday there were some estimates that ISIS was attracting 1,000 recruits a month in Syria.

"And Iraq - they are expanding in - in Libya and - many other - al Qaeda affiliate organizations have announced their allegiance to ISIS. So that's the situation," Assad said,.

Washington is seeking a negotiated settlement to Syria's civil war that excludes Assad, but has made clear its top priority in Syria is the fight against ISIS militants.

Asked under what circumstances he would leave power, Assad said: "When I don't have the public support. When I don't represent the Syrian interests, and values."

In reply to a question about how he determined what support he had among Syrians, he said: "I don't determine. I sense. I feel. I'm in contact with them."