Syrian Defence Minister Fahed Jassem al-Furaij Friday visited a number of military posts in the country's northern province of Aleppo where he said the place will be liberated from the grip of terrorists.
"Aleppo will remain victorious under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad and the heroic Syrian army and will soon be liberated from the armed terrorist groups," Xinhua quoted Furaij as saying.
The minister's surprise visit to the hard-hit Aleppo came apparently to showcase confidence and power.
Aleppo has emerged as the main battlefield between the Syrian troops and the various jihadist rebels, who have controlled large swathes of the once-called Syria's economic hub.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem recently proposed a ceasefire in Aleppo and possible prisoner swap with the rebels, as part of the government's goodwill signs ahead of the negotiations.
