Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government received “messages” from the coalition forces about the air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in an interview with the BBC.
“Sometimes, they convey a message, a general message, but there’s nothing tactical,” Assad said in a Tuesday interview. “There is no dialogue. There’s, let’s say, information, but not dialogue.”
President Barack Obama has refused any suggestions of dialogue with the Syrian leader, as government troops wage a campaign against opposition forces which has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, many of them civilians.
Assad denied evidence from human rights groups that the Syrian army had dropped barrel bombs in populated areas. “I haven’t heard of the army using barrels, or maybe, cooking pots,” he said.
Syrians Dig Out After Deadly Attack on Rebel Stronghold
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com