Syria's foreign minister told the United Nations on Saturday that a military victory in the six-year war was "now within reach" following a series of battleground gains by government forces.

"The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the seige of Deir Ezzor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach," Walid al-Moualem told the General Assembly.