In an interview published today by the BBC, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has claimed that the United States-led coalition keeps him informed of air strikes directed against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that occur in Syrian territory.

In response to a question from Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s Middle East editor, about whether there was communication between the coalition and Assad, the Syrian president said:

“That’s correct, that’s correct. But again there’s no direct co-operation…

Through a third party – more than one party – Iraq and other countries. Sometimes they convey message, general message, but there’s nothing tactical.”

Similarly, The New York Times reported a few weeks ago that “American officials assure Mr. Assad, through Iraqi intermediaries, that Syria’s military is not their target.” The Times further reported that Washington was mainly training and equipping Syrian rebels to fight ISIS, and not the Assad regime.

Also during the course of the interview Assad denied using barrel bombs, despite extensive documentation of the tactic, and referred to the United States as a “country who support the terrorism.”

Iran has been assisting Assad over the course of the Syrian civil war, in which more than 200,000 have been reported killed, by sending his government military aid and intervening diplomatically on his behalf.

[Photo: BBC / Screenshot ]