Macron says Daesh fight in Syria to end in February

By Omer Aydin

PARIS (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he thinks the Daesh terror group will be defeated in Syria by February and that Bashar Al-Assad must one day answer for his crimes.

Speaking to France Two Televisions, Macron said that Assad can be accepted in the peace talks and transition process to end the civil war in Syria.

Macron claimed that Assad's presence would continue in the country as Russia and Iran are protecting him, adding: "We can't say we won't talk to his representatives."

However, he described the regime leader as “an enemy of the Syrian people."

The French leader said last week that the coalition operation in Syria which has remained since Sept. 2015 would end when Daesh is defeated.

Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov also claimed last week all Daesh terrorists have been eliminated from Syria.