Syria's President Assad appeared on television for the first time in two weeks.

During his televised speech, that took place after a meeting with Iran’s security council secretarry Saeed Jalili. Assad stated he would show no leniency quashing the rebellion that has Syria in widespread turmoil. As he spoke to ohis country, he vowed to purge the country of what he called “terrorists.”

For his part, Jalili pledged assistance to Syria from his country Iran. This comes after a statement earlier in the day as Iran blamed the United States for the kidnapping of 48 Iranians taken by the rebels. Iran called the 48 civilians religious pilgrims, but the rebels are calling them Revolutionary Guard that were on a “Reconnaissance Mission.”

The bloody fighting in Aleppo continues as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports 270 deaths in the fighting yesterday. According to the group, 186 of those killed yesterday were civilians.

Assad’s statement comes a day after news came out that the Syria’s Prime MinisterRiyad Hijab stated on Al-Jazeera, “I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution.” Syria’s state media rufutes his claim of defecting from his position and instead stated that he was fired.