In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad said his military was capable of confronting any “aggression” targeting the country, his first comments since the airstrike.

Syrian state television said Mr. al-Assad spoke during a meeting with visiting top Iranian official, Saeed Jalili.



Mr. al-Assad saidSyriais capable of facing current challenges and can “confront any aggression” that would target the Syrian people.



Assad Sunday accusedIsraelof seeking to "destabilise"Syria, four days after an Israeli air raid on a military complex nearDamascus, state news agencySANAsaid.



The raid "unmasked the true roleIsraelis playing, in collaboration with foreign enemy forces and their agents on Syrian soil, to destabilise and weakenSyria," Assad said during a meeting inDamascuswith a top Iranian official.