( CNN ) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Western nations against supporting rebel groups battling his armed forces , predicting the militants will one day strike against the United States and others . In an hourlong interview with Syria state TV network al-Ikhbariya , al-Assad claimed the West is supporting al Qaeda sympathizers in Syria as he says they did during the Libyan uprising . He compared the support of rebels in Syria now to the backing of fighters in Afghanistan during their war with Soviet troops in the 1980s . `` The West has paid heavily for funding al Qaeda in its early stages . Today it is doing the same in Syria , Libya and other places , and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States , '' he said , according to a CNN translation . Al-Assad also spoke harshly of Jordan , saying thousands of fighters were crossing the border to take part in the civil war in Syria . It called it `` illogical '' for Jordanian officials to deny this was happening . He guaranteed victory in the conflict , which began two years ago and which has led to the deaths of more than 70,000 people . according to the United Nations . `` There is no option but victory , otherwise it will be the end of Syria , and I do n't think that any Syrian citizen will accept such an option , '' he said . He referred to the rebels as `` thieves '' and `` mercenaries '' who are being paid by Western nations . `` There is an attempt to invade Syria , the forces are coming from outside , from different nationalities , they are using different tactics from what the colonization powers have used , '' he said . On Wednesday , U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel ordered up to 200 troops to Jordan . The new deployment will include communications and intelligence specialists who will assist the Jordanians and `` be ready for military action '' if President Barack Obama were to order it , a Defense Department official told CNN . U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was going to meet with envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Syria . `` The prospects may seem dim , but I remain convinced that a political solution is possible . This is the only way to end the bloodshed and bring about a new and democratic Syria . The United Nations will continue to push in that direction , '' Ban said . U.S. updates military options for Syria . Peter Bergen : Rebel group 's dangerous tie to al Qaeda . CNN 's Yousuf Basil and Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report .
Syrian president spoke to state TV network al-Ikhbariya . In interview , he says Western nations are employing thieves , mercenaries in Syria . He said they will pay a `` heavy price '' for backing rebels . " The US and its allies have been bombing the country since September 2013 with no end in sight.