Assad took part in the inauguration of a thermal plant and a water pumping plant in Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria that the government army took back from rebels in late 2016.
During his visit to the rehabilitated thermal plant, Assad blamed Western forces led by the United States for the devastation and destruction of the plant’s facilities, the state news agency SANA reported.
Syrian experts, technicians, and workers repaired the plant with local expertise and with the help of loyal friends, he added.
Heavy fighting against foreign-backed terrorist groups in the country severely damaged Aleppo’s infrastructure, which is still evident in most areas of the city.
Bashar al-Assad also on Saturday performed Eid al-Adha prayer at Sahabiy Abdallah bin Abbas mosque in Aleppo city.
Following the prayer, Assad spoke to the citizens saying, “As Aleppo is a great city with its history, structure and the patriotism of its people, it has been a target of war and enemies, and because it is great, Aleppo’s people have decided to withstand in this war and to have victory in the war and in the reconstruction process.”
