Syria's Assad says Islamic State has expanded since start of U.S. air strikes

Smoke rises during clashes between Islamic state militants and the Iraqi army in Tikrit March 28, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in a U.S. television interview that Islamic State, which has seized swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq, has been gaining recruits since the start of U.S.-led air strikes against the militant group.

Asked how much benefit he was getting from the strikes in Syria that began last September, Assad told CBS' "60 Minutes: "Sometimes you could have local benefit but in general if you want to talk in terms of ISIS, actually ISIS has expanded since the beginning of the strikes."