DAMASCUS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the U.S.-led attack on Syria reflects the "failure" of Western powers to achieve their goals in Syria after the defeat of the foreign-backed militants.

Assad made the remarks during a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who called Assad after the U.S-led attack on Syria, the state news agency SANA reported.

"The attack took place after the colonial forces supporting terrorists realized they have lost control got the feeling that they have lost credibility in front of their people and the world," Assad said.

He highlighted his country's continued determination to fight terrorists across Syria.

For his part, Rouhani expressed his strongest condemnation of the joint missile attack by the U.S., Britain and France, while reaffirming Iran's support for the Syrian government.