Assad says Syria will be 'victorious' against US: Report

BEIRUT - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has vowed that his country would emerge "victorious" in any confrontation with the United States and its allies, in comments published Thursday by a Lebanese daily.

Washington and other Western powers have warned of imminent military strikes against Assad's regime following a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed civilians, including dozens of children, in Damascus suburbs on August 21.

"Since the start of the crisis, as you know, we have waited for our true enemy to reveal itself," Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted Assad as telling Syrian officials.

"I know that your morale is good and that you are ready to face any attack and to save the homeland," he added.

"It's a historic confrontation from which we will emerge victorious," the paper quoted the embattled Syrian president as saying.