The head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, has said that the need for Iran and “Hezbollah” will continue for a long time as gunmen assassinated a member of a committee charged with negotiating with Syria's regime the fate of Daraa.
"At dawn, armed assailants killed a doctor who is part of the Daraa reconciliation committee," said on Thursday the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, adding the attack took place in a rebel village in the northwest of the province.
Another 11 committee members have been killed by unidentified assailants since the end of May, said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
The killings come as regime ally Russia holds talks with regional powers to sort out the future of the region bordering Jordan and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, and attempt to avoid a regime military operation.
"We are giving the political process a chance. If that doesn't succeed, we have no other option but to liberate it by force," Assad said in an interview with Iranian channel al-Alam News.
In response to a question whether he had asked “Hezbollah” to leave Syria, Assad said the group would remain until "Hezbollah, Iran, or others believe that terrorism has been eliminated".
"Hezbollah is a basic element in this war - the battle is long, and the need for these military forces will continue for a long time," he added.
