President Bashar al-Assad says 'Russian help is vital'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war is vital to the security of the whole Middle East.

In an interview with Iranian state television, the Syrian leader also criticised the US-led coalition and its air strikes against Islamic State extremists.

He said it had failed to stop terrorism from spreading, adding only the coalition of Syria, Russia, Iran and Iraq could save the region from destruction.