Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned the success of Russia's military intervention in his war-torn country was vital for the entire Middle East, as Moscow ramped up its bombing campaign Sunday.
Russian raids against what Moscow says are Islamic State group targets took place for a fifth day despite accusations in the West that the strikes are mainly targeting moderate opponents of the regime.
"The alliance between Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran must succeed or else the whole region will be destroyed," Assad said in an interview broadcast by Iranian state television.
"The chances of success for this coalition are great and not insignificant," he added.
Russia said it had dropped concrete-buster munitions on new IS targets and destroyed command posts, storehouses and other infrastructure.
"From the airbase of Hmeimim, the Russian aviation group is continuing to ramp up air strikes using high-precision missiles against the ISIS facilities in Syria," said the defence ministry, referring to IS.
Western and Gulf countries insist Assad must step down after presiding over more than four years of a civil war that has killed more than 240,000 people.
"If the solution was me stepping down I would not hesitate," a defiant Assad said in the interview.
Washington accuses Russia of seeking to buttress Assad and of targeting Western-backed moderate opposition and IS fighters alike.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday to "change direction" in Syria and recognise that Assad must be replaced.
