<sod >Mr AssadÃÂ made theÃÂ comments in an interview broadcast by AFP, his first since the US struck a Syrian airbase with missiles in retaliation for the events in the village of Khan Sheikhoun.< eod>< sod > Mr Assad made the comments in an interview broadcast by AFP, his first since the US struck a Syrian airbase with missiles in retaliation for the events in Idlib province.< eod>