Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to retake "the whole country" mere hours after world leaders in Munich said an agreement had been made to cease hostilities in the war-torn country.
Speaking to the AFP in Damascus, Assad said his army would try to retake all of Syria "without any hesitation."
"It makes no sense for us to say that we will give up any part," he added.
He admitted that the involvement of regional players "means that the solution will take a long time and will incur a heavy price."
Assad was referring to Saudi Arabia, which said this week that it was preparing to send ground forces to Syria to fight against the regime, which is backed by Iranian militiamen.
#BREAKING: AFP EXCLUSIVE: Syria's Assad vows to retake whole country, warns could 'take long time'— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 12, 2016
Assad also rebuffed war crime allegations by the United Nations, calling them "politicized."
The U.N. has said the leader is responsible for crimes against humanity, including tens of thousands of deaths that have come as a result of the nearly five-year-long war.
#BREAKING: AFP EXCLUSIVE: Syria's Assad rejects UN war crimes claims— AFP news agency (@AFP) February 12, 2016
A Syrian human rights group on Thursday estimated the death toll to be about 470,000 people. More than 11 million others have been displaced since the war began. Many have fled to Europe in what's become the largest migration of people to the continent since World War II.
Assad's comments cast doubt on the ceasefire agreed overnight by American, Russian and U.N. leaders even before it is implemented.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, in a joint message with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, told reporters just after midnight in Munich on Friday that a "cessation of hostilities" would begin "within a week."
Experts were quick to criticize the deal, saying a complete ceasefire in Syria is unlikely, since extremists form the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front groups -- both considered "terrorist organizations" by the U.S. and Russia -- were not involved in the talks and will likely continue fighting for territory.
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Plus, Assad appears set on continuing his Aleppo offensive, where the Syrian army, backed by Russia's air force, has virtually encircled rebels and severed their main supply route to the Turkish border.
"The main battle is about cutting the road between Aleppo and Turkey, for Turkey is the main conduit of supplies for the terrorists," Assad told AFP.
The offensive seemed to still be underway on Friday, with dozens of Russian airstrikes hitting neighborhoods around Aleppo, according to Syria Civil Defense, a volunteer search and rescue group.
12/2/16. 35+ air strikes targeted the Homs countryside by Ru & SAA helos. 17 killed, incl Ussama Alkhateeb SCD volunteer. #ceasefire now— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 12, 2016
The Aleppo assault has raised concerns of a possible siege and humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands of residents have fled to the Turkey-Syria border, and tens of thousands more may be coming, Turkish officials said Friday.