Dateline: July 31

The little known leader of the Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad al-Asaad, has given his first western TV interview to Dateline video journalist Yaara Bou Melhem (pictured).

This exclusive report airs 9:30pm Tuesday on SBS ONE.

Bou Melhem is also smuggled into Syria and is the first journalist to film in the secret labyrinth of tunnels under the Idlib province, which are used by the rebels to escape attacks by the Syrian regime and to secretly move men and supplies.

For the interview with Colonel al-Asaad, Bou Melhem was taken undercover into a Turkish military camp near the city of Antakaya, where the Colonel is protected by Turkish security forces following several attempts on his life. The camp is meant to be strictly off limits to journalists.

Colonel al-Asaad, who defected from the Syrian military in July 2011, tells Bou Melhem he is deeply concerned about a lack of military support from the West.

“There’s too much required of you and you have very little. That’s why I find myself tired, exhausted. There’s a duty to fulfil, but on the other side your hands are tired, there’s no one standing beside you.”

Colonel al-Asaad says when the regime falls he has plans for securing the country “…until we have elections or a democratic government.” He also strongly denies that Al Qaeda is fighting alongside his rebel soldiers.

As the interview proceeds, word reaches the Colonel of a suicide bomb attack on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle, killing four key regime figures including the Defence minister. This decisive strike by the rebels against the Assad regime quickly becomes headline news around the world.

“The operation was special and will raise the morale of the people and lower the morale of the regime,” Colonel al Asaad told Bou Melham.