Syria's president says U.S. threat destabilizes region

DAMASCUS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday that the U.S. threat to strike Syria will further destabilize the region, state news agency SANA reported.

With every victory of the Syrian army, the Western countries raise the rhetoric and try to change the course of actions, Assad said during his meeting with visiting Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Both sides agreed that the threats of military action on Syria by Western countries are "mere lies made up by such countries and their tools of the terrorist groups inside Syria following the liberation of Eastern Ghouta" east of the capital Damascus.

Last Saturday, the rebels in the Douma district of Damascus accused the Syrian forces of using chlorine gas, which led to the death of 40 people.

The Syrian government categorically denied the claims, saying the rebels were fabricating facts to attract foreign strikes on Syria.

U.S. President Donald Trump has overtly uttered his country's willingness to strike Syria, garnering support and the participation of other Western countries in the planned strike.

But Assad said any possible attack would only cause further instability of the region, which could threaten the international peace and security.

Velayati reiterated Iran's firm stance in continuing its support for the Syrian government. Enditem