DAMASCUS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that his country will defend itself against any aggression, official SANA news agency reported Thursday.

The media said that the president made the statement when he met with a Yemeni delegation, adding that Syrian army and its people determine to eliminate the terrorism which is backed by Israel and some Western countries.

The official remarks came at a time the U.S. Obama administration is still mulling options to militarily respond to Syria as it holds the administration of al-Assad responsible for the alleged attacks without waiting the results of the UN investigation team, which still continues its mission in Damascus' countryside.