DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian president has lauded his military troops, saying they are fighting the "fiercest" war but that he is confident they will win in the country's conflict.

Bashar Assad's comments came in a statement marking Syria's Army Day on Thursday.

Assad says: "Had we in Syria not been confident of victory, we wouldn't" have been able to resist" for over two years.

More than 100,000 people have been killed since the uprising against the Assad family's four-decade rule began in March 2011. The revolt later escalated into a civil war, which has uprooted millions of people from their homes.

Assad's forces have been making significant gains against the rebels on several key fronts recently, mostly in the central province of Homs and near the capital Damascus.