Assad reiterates Syria would retaliate if US strikes

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned of a possible retaliation against the United States if it intervened in his nation's civil war.

In an interview with CBS News, Assad denied the Obama administration's claim that he had deployed the lethal nerve gas sarin against his own people.

According to ABC News, he, however, did not say whether he has access to chemical weapons.

Assad reportedly said he did not necessarily expect a U.S. attack but if there would be, Syria would retaliate.

The report said that for weeks the White House has been attempting to rally support from the public and Congress for a punitive strike against the Assad regime, accused of killing thousands of people in a chemical weapons attack near Damascus on August 21.

The administration said nearly 426 children were among the dead.

According to the report, Assad was also reportedly very concerned that a U.S. strike would change the balance of power in favor of the rebels in his country.

The rebels are known to include extremist groups with links to the al Qaeda terror network.