"If we in Syria were not sure of victory, we would not have had the will to resist nor been able to persevere in the face of more than two years of aggression," he said.

"I have great faith in you and confidence in your ability to... fulfill the national mission that has been assigned to you," Assad told troops in the message.

"You have shown rare courage in the battle against terrorism and you have impressed the whole world with your resistance... in one of the most brutal and ferocious wars of modern history," he said.

“You are defending the country’s dignity, security and stability”, Assad added.

President Assad also stressed on the Syrian Army role to preserve the Arab nation identity and that of Syria.

His comments came after troops recaptured a key neighborhood of the strategic central city of Homs on Monday in the biggest gain so far of a month-long assault.

The army has also gained more progress in the eastern suburbs of the capital and west of the main northern city of Aleppo.

NJF/NJF