U.S. should 'expect everything' in response to any Syria strikes: Assad

[Untouchables]

U.S. should 'expect everything' in response to any Syria strikes: Assad

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad heads the plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling al-Baath party, in Damascus in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA July 8, 2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

WASHINGTON | Mon Sep 9, 2013 7:42am EDT

(Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned against possible reprisal attacks if the United States attacks Syria, saying that if there were military strikes, Americans can "expect every action."

Assad's comments came as part of a television interview with CBS conducted in Damascus in which he also denied involvement in an alleged August 21 attack involving chemical weapons.

He said that if there were U.S. attacks on Syria in response, the United States "should expect everything."

Video of Assad making the comments was aired for the first time on Monday.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by David Brunnstrom)