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."

Assad, who has been fighting Islamist and other rebels since 2011, said in the interview aired on Sunday there were some estimates that Islamic State was attracting 1,000 recruits a month in Syria.

"And Iraq – they are expanding in – Libya and – many other – al Qaeda affiliate organizations have announced their allegiance to ISIS. So that’s the situation," Assad said, using another acronym for the militant group.

Washington is seeking a negotiated settlement to Syria’s civil war that excludes Assad, but has made clear its top priority in Syria is the fight against Islamic State militants.

Asked under what circumstances he would leave power, Assad said: "When I don’t have the public support. When I don’t represent the Syrian interests, and values."

In reply to a question about how he determined what support he had among Syrians, he said: "I don’t determine. I sense. I feel. I’m in contact with them."

(Reporting by Peter Cooney; Editing by Eric Walsh)

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Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview Sunday that he’s “open” to negotiations with the United States and that airstrikes conducted by the U.S. in the region are not defeating Islamic State.

“We didn’t attack the American population. We didn’t support terrorists who did anything in the United States,” Assad said on CBS News’ “60 Minutes.” “We always wanted to have good relation with the United States. We never thought in the other direction.”

Assad said that Islamic State, which has taken up swaths of territory in Syria, has been strengthening despite U.S.-led airstrikes against the terror group.

“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.”

He added that “some estimate that they have 1,000 recruits every month in Syria,” and that they are expanding in Iraq and Libya.

When asked why the West questions his legitimacy as president, Assad said his legitimacy comes from the public support. He added that the West is used to having “puppets” and “not independent leaders, or officials in any other country.”

In the interview, Assad said ISIS and Saudi Arabia are one in the same and have similar "ideology."

"It’s Wahhabi Ideology," said Assad." They use the same books to indoctrinate the people."

Assad also called Turkish President Erdogen a "Muslim Brotherhood fanatic" and "somebody who’s suffering from political megaolmania."

Assad also discussed his relationship with Russian President Vladmir Putin and said that Russia wants “to have balance in the world.”

“They want to be a great power that have their own say in the future of this world,” Assad told CBS News’ Charlie Rose.

When asked what Russia wants for Syria and the region, Assad said "stability."

"Syria, and Iran and Russia, see eye-to-eye regarding these conflicts."

He said he doesn’t have an obligation to any of those countries and that they "do it for the region, and for the world. Cause stability is very important to them."