The Syrian President claims victory in Aleppo would help his army liberate other areas of the country from what he calls "terrorists".
Bashar Al-Assad has been speaking to Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, as rescue workers say his military, with Russia's backing, has killed more than 150 people in the east of the city just this week.
Al-Assad has been defending his army's aerial bombardment of Aleppo, saying it will help free the country from what he calls 'terrorists.'
He says taking back control of the besieged city is key if his army is to push so called terrorist groups back into Turkey.
Syrian government forces have encircled eastern Aleppo trapping more than a quarter of a million people who they say are being used as human shields by "terrorists".
Syria's civil war, now in its sixth year, has killed 300,000 people and left millions homeless.
Newly appointed General Secretary of the United Nations Antonio Gutteres says the war in Syria will be his biggest challenge.
Kim Buckley has this report:
