President al-Assad Appoints Sattam Jad’an al-Dandah as Syria’s Ambassador to Iraq
Oct 09, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday issued decree no. 358 for 2012 appointing Sattam Jad’an al-Dandah as Syria’s Ambassador to Iraq.
Al-Dandah was sworn in before President al-Assad.
Afterwards, the President received al-Dandah and provided him with his directives, wishing him success in his duties.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem.
Terrorist Groups Trying to Cross Border from Lebanon and Turkey Repelled
Oct 09, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA)- The Armed forces on Tuesday carried out qualitative operations destroying a field hospital, three DShK-equipped vehicles, three anti-aircraft machineguns and six cars used by terrorists to transfer weapons and ammunitions near Dar al-Shifa and al-Shaar Hospitals in al-Shaar area in Aleppo city.
The armed forces also destroyed a terrorist center in the same area.
Six cars transporting terrorists, another carrying a number of terrorist groups’ leaders and two DShK-equipped vehicles were destroyed in the area around the Sports Institute in Bustan al-Basha.
All the terrorists inside the vehicles were killed.
An army unit destroyed two vehicles equipped with DShK machineguns and two others transporting terrorists, weapons and ammunition near the Infrimary in the same area.
Another army unit destroyed a truck loaded with weapons and ammunition, killing all the terrorists inside it in the area around the Infirmary.
A sniper and a number of terrorists were killed during the operations carried out by the armed forces to clear Karm al-Jabal area of the armed terrorist groups.
An armed forces unit carried out an operation al-Sha’ar roundabout in Aleppo city, resulting in the destruction of 4 busses full of terrorists, 4 cars equipped with DShk machineguns and two sets of twin-mounted anti-aircraft machineguns, and a gathering of terrorists.
A unit of the armed forces targeted gatherings and centers of terrorists near Sukkar Mosque and al-Thawra School in Bustan al-Qasr, south of the Justice Palace and near Yousef al-Azmeh School in al-Hawooz roundabout in Aleppo, inflicting heavy losses upon them.
Terrorists Target State Cleaning Workers in Aleppo While on Duty
A number of terrorists opened fire at cleaners affiliated with Aleppo City Council, killing the driver Turki l-Naseh and the worker Taleb Bartilo.
Meanwhile, a mortar shell, fired by terrorists in the area of al-Sheikh Maqsoud in the city of Aleppo, caused the martyrdom of cleaner Ammar Na’na’ and citizen Jarrah Ayoub Issa, and the injury of three others.
Another cleaner, Mohammad Khayat, in Qadi Askar area was also martyred in shooting by an armed terrorist group while he was in the line of duty.
Armed Forces Deal Painful Blows to Terrorists in Aleppo Countryside
Units of the armed forces destroyed a convoy of vehicles used by terrorists on Kafr Touran road in the countryside of Aleppo, in addition to destroying three DShK-equipped cars and a number of motorcycles with all the terrorists inside of them.
Another army unit killed a number of terrorists in Zrouneh village to the south of Ebin town in the countryside of Aleppo, destroying a number of motorcycles they were using.
A unit of the armed forces targeted centers of terrorists in Kafr Hamra in the countryside of Aleppo, killing a number of them.
Terrorists Jamal Shamta from Andan, Walid Hmandoush from Deir Hafer and Faisal Kdro from Badees were identified among the dead.
Authorities in Hama Kill, Injure a number of terrorists
The competent authorities clashed with a number of terrorists at al-Hamiydea, Masha’a al-Arabe’en in Hama, killing and injuring most of them and confiscating their weapons.
A source in Hama told SANA reporter that among the terrorists killed were Ammar bin Ahmad Jihad al-Ahmad, known as Abu Hadid and Ahmad al-Khart, known as Ahmad Jero.
Among the weapons seized were snipers, rifles, RPGs and explosives.
Terrorists Killed in Bab Houd, Homs
A unit of the armed forces clashed with an armed terrorist group at Bab Houd neighborhood in Homs, killing most of them
A source in Homs said that another Army unit found 50 explosive devices, 180 booby-trapped gas cylinder planed by the terrorists in the houses of people at Bab al-Turkman neighborhood after forcing the citizens to leave their homes.
Army units clean al-Rawda, al-Midan, Beit Fares and al-Araja villages in Lattakia countryside from the armed terrorist groups
The army units cleaned al-Rawda, al-Midan, Beit Fares and al-Araja villages in Lattakia countryside from the armed terrorist groups.
A source in Lattakia told SANA reporter that during the cleansing operations, the army destroyed a number of DSHK-equipped cars and machineguns, killing all the mercenaries.
Authorities in East Ghouta Pursuit, kill mercenaries
The competent authorities pursued armed terrorist groups in the East Ghouta, Damascus countryside, killing most of them and confiscating their weapons including RPGs, bombs and machineguns.
A source in the Governorate told SANA reporter that the authorities also killed a number of mercenaries in al-Hajera, among them of non-Syria nationalities, destroying their cars equipped with machineguns.
Afghani and Chechen Terrorists Killed in Homs Countryside
A unit of the armed forces on Tuesday killed a number of mercenary terrorists of Afghani and Chechen nationalities in al-Ziraa village in al-Qsier countryside in Homs.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that the armed forces also seized various kinds of weapons, including 2 RPG launchers, M-16 rifles, a sniper rifle, and Israeli-made machinegun and a number of explosive devices with 30-50 kg weight.
Military engineering units dismantled 8 explosive devices planted by armed terrorist groups at al-Dareh al-Kabireh crossroad near Homs-Hama detour.
A source told SANA reporter that the explosive devices were planted under a bridge, noting that they weighed 80 to 100 kg.
Al-Khandaq Street in in Homs City Cleared from Terrorists, Terrorists Killed While Attempting to Flee al-Khalidiye Neighborhood
The armed forces cleared al-Khandaq Street in Bab Hood neighborhood, Homs city, from the terrorist groups killing a number of terrorists.
Authorities eliminated a number of terrorists who attempted to flee al-Khalidiye neighborhood in Homs city to the areas of Jouret al-Shiyah and al-Ghouta via the sewers.
An official source told SANA’s correspondent that the authorities set an ambush for the terrorists, leading to the death of many of them including the leader of a terrorist group called Talal Sa’eq Qamhiye.
The source added that the authorities also clashed with terrorists near Balqis School in al-Khalidiye neighborhood, eliminating most of them, and that a workshop for manufacturing explosive devices was also uncovered opposite Zanoubia School in the neighborhood, while engineering units dismantled many explosive devices planted in one of the streets in the same area.
Terrorists Trying to Cross Border from Lebanon Repelled
Another unit of the armed forces killed a number of terrorists who attempted to infiltrate from the Lebanese territories into Syria near Khirbet al-Nea’mat site in al-Qsier countryside.
Terrorists Arrested in Eastern Ghota, Damascus Countryside
A unit of the Armed Forces carried out a qualitative operation against an armed terrorist group in Deir al-Assafir town in Eastern Ghota in Damascus Countryside.
The army arrested terrorist Mohammad Yassin al-Rifae, one of the most dangerous terrorist groups’ leaders, and a number of his armed group’s members.
Armed Forces Foil Terrorist Infiltration Attempt from Turkish Territories into Syria
A unit of the armed forces foiled on Tuesday a terrorist infiltration attempt from the Turkish territories into Syria in Jisr al-Shughour countryside in Idleb province.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the armed forces clashed with the armed terrorist group and eliminated a large number of its members, adding that the armed forces seized the terrorists’ weapons, while the rest of the group ran away back into the Turkish territories.
The authorities destroyed several vehicles equipped with various machineguns and eliminated tens of terrorists in Maaret al-Numan area in the countryside of the province.
Armed Forces Raid Terrorists’ Den, Seize Weapons in Hama City
In Hama province, an armed forces unit on Tuesday raided a den for the armed terrorist groups in al-Hamidiyeh neighborhood in the city of Hama.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the army members seized amounts of weapons, ammunition and wireless communication devices used by the terrorists in the den.
Two of the most dangerous leaders of terrorist groups in the area, who are Ammar Ahmad Jihad al-Ahmad and Ahmad Mqaffaq Hamameh, were killed in the operation, while the leader of a third terrorist group, called Ahmad al-Kharat, was arrested.
Citizens Injured in Roadside Bomb Blast in al-Zablatani, Damascus
Oct 09, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- A number of citizens on Tuesday got injured in an explosion of a roadside bomb planted by a terrorist group in al-Zablatani area in Damascus.
The explosion caused damage to a number of cars.
29 Citizens from Aleppo Involved in Recent Events Released
Oct 09, 2012
ALEPPO, (SANA) – 29 citizens from Aleppo who got involved in recent events but did not commit murders were released on Tuesday after turning themselves in and handing over their weapons to the authorities.
The released citizens pledged not to take up weapons again or commit any act that might harm Syria’s security and stability.
NPF Parties and National Powers Forum Stresses Political Dialogue, Rejects Violence and Foreign Interference
Oct 09, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The political forum of the coalition parties of the National Progressive Front (NPF) and national and progressive powers on Tuesday affirmed rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs as they are aimed at destabilizing the country and seizing its sovereignty and political decision.
In its concluding statement, the forum stressed that confronting foreign interference is a national duty and the responsibility of all the spectrums and social and political components of the Syrian people.
“Evoking foreign interference is a betrayal whose perpetrators should be held to account according to the laws and rules imposed by the requirements of protecting the homeland and defending its land and people,” the statement said.
It highlighted the participant parties’ stress that there will be no reconciliation with those who have given up their conscience to the homeland’s enemies.
The forum underscored that the political dialogue integrates with the higher national interests and goes in line with the keenness on the homeland and its people and resources.
It affirmed that Syria is now facing universal imperialist conspiracies, hailing the national role and the great sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army and the armed forces in defending the homeland and the unity binding the Syrian people and its army.
The statement said the phenomenon of terrorism in an imported one that is aimed at sabotaging the state in service of powers seeking to deviate Syria from its natural role in the region, stressing that the ongoing mission of combating and uprooting terrorism is in response to reasons of national security and protection of citizens.
The statement called for adopting an economic and social policy that preserves national production, fulfills the citizens’ needs and improves their living conditions through developing productive sectors.
It also underlined the role of the public sector and the need for developing means of the state’s intervention in economic and social domains.
The statement stressed the necessity of protecting state institutions and upgrading their performance and role, in addition to combating all the negative phenomena, especially corruption, through following rationalized economic policies that contribute to ending corruption and achieve social justice.
The forum highlighted that the NPF parties and national powers converged on common national and progressive points to share in embracing them and implementing them on the ground, stressing their commitment to their principles and exerting efforts to be active and enhance their presence in the country side by side with all spectrums of the Syrian people.
The forum’s concluding session continued deliberations on national dialogue as a must to get out of the crisis and the role of the national reconciliation in reuniting the Syrian people, in addition to the role of the Syrian Arab army in the face of the armed terrorist groups to restore security and stability.
Member of the political bureau of the Arab Democratic Union Party, Nassr Ali Younes Ghanem, said that undermining Syria is the main goal for passing the US scheme in the region, integrating Syria into the western strategy, quashing the national and pan-Arab ideology of the Syrian Arab Army and ending Syria’s support to the Arab resistance and forcing it to sign incomplete peace agreement with the Zionist entity.
In turn, Ayman Mikhail Samaan from the Arab Socialists Movement said that Syria is facing an international terrorism as there are several countries that provide financial and military support as well as harbor to the gunmen who carry out terrorist operations against the Syrian state, stressing Syria’s right to defend and protect its citizens and entity.
He called upon the Syrian people to stand by the Syrian army in its war against the armed terrorist groups which target the homeland and its service institutions, infrastructure, worship houses, scientific experts and clergymen.
Iskandar Jaradeh from the Syrian Communist Party underlined the importance of dialogue in reaching a common ground among all sides without giving up national principles.
In turn, Maher al-Jajeh from the Syrian Unified Communist Party said that the Syrian Arab Army with its high morale and spirit provide to be the primary defender of the country, stressing the ened for national reconciliation to focus on the social aspects of citizens who were marginalized by previous economic policies.
Maher Sakkour of the Arab Writers Guild called on progressive and national parties and forces to boost their participation in resolving the crisis, while Laith Ramadan of the Arab Socialists Movement noted that the Syrian Arab Army was the main target of the war against Syria due to weaken it and deviate it from its main task of defending the homeland and protecting citizens.
For his part, Basem Radwan of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party called on all national forces to put the country’s interests above all others and help restore security and safety and continue the process of building and reform, in addition to confronting terrorists and their extremist mentality.
Similarly, Habib Ali Issa of the General Union of Farmers said that resolving the crisis must begin by having parties and national forces assume their role in all neighborhoods, villages and cities and by organizing meetings between popular organizations and citizens to achieve reconciliation.
Najdat Yousef of the Syrian Unified Communist Party said that the National Progressive Front bear part of the responsibility for the current crisis as it didn’t carry out its role effectively.
Meanwhile, chairman of Damascus Trade Union Jamal al-Qadri said that this forum will help find a way out of the crisis with its recommendations and suggestions, calling for a new political discourse that guarantees the rights of all social classes, primarily workers and farmers.
In turn, Ahmad al-Dalati of the Democratic Socialist Unionist Party said that dialogue and reconciliation are the basis of overcoming the crisis and formulating Syria’s future, while Mohammad Muayed of the Arab Socialist Union Party lauded the heroics of the Syrian Arab Army and called for dialogue on the national basis of protecting the unity of Syria and its people, rejecting violence and foreign interference, creating a realistic economic model, providing citizens’ needs, combating monopolists, and controlling spending and consumption.
Nizar Benni al-Marjeh of the Arab Writers Guild said that the vision has become clearer regarding the crisis, with signs indicating that the conspiracy against Syria is falling apart. He also called for an active political role on the ground, involving youths, and establishing an organized popular structure to support the army and help preserve Syria’s security and stability.
The two-day forum tackled the topics of political dialogue, the army as the shield of the homeland, combating terrorism, rejection of foreign intervention, national reconciliation, and protecting the state and its institutions.
China against Any Action to Escalate Tension on Turkish-Syrian Border
Oct 09, 2012
BEIJING, (SANA)- China called for keeping away from any action that could escalate tension on the border between Turkey and Syria, stressing the necessity of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries and showing self-restraint.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Li, expressed at a press conference on Tuesday, reported by Xinhua news agency, his country’s concern about the current conditions in Syria and their repercussions.
The Chinese spokesman’s statement came at a time when the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues escalating the situation and threats of action against Damascus while going ahead with smuggling terrorists and weapons into Syria to disturb its stability.
Abdollahian: Armed Terrorist Groups in Syria Responsible for Lives of the 47 Abducted Iranians
Oct 09, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, affirmed that the armed terrorist groups are responsible for the lives of the 47 Iranians who were abducted while visiting Syria, voicing optimism over the possibility of their release.
In a statement to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Tuesday, Abdollahian said that there are intense communication and discussions currently being carried out by the Iranian Foreign Minister with counterparts in some countries to release the abductees, adding that all 47 abductees are currently in a good physical condition.
On whether Saudi Arabia has withdrawn from the quartet launched by Egypt to resolve the Syrian crisis, Abdollahian said that Saudi Arabia’s failure to participate in the two most recent meetings of the quarter is something that warrants consideration, adding that Iran supports the Egyptian initiative particularly since it’s based on resolving the crisis through political methods only.
He stressed that Iran defended the Syrian people and the Syrian government’s reform project in all conferences, and that it affirmed the need for an immediate cessation of violence, monitoring borders, and refraining from arming irresponsible groups, in addition to underlining the need to hold negotiations between the opposition, the Syrian people’s representatives and the government.
Abdollahian also affirmed that Iran supports Syria strongly regarding the matter of the resistance axis.
Yurt Newspaper: Armed Terrorist Groups trade in Organs of Syrian Martyrs
Oct 09, 2012
ANKARA, (SANA)-Turkish Yurt Newspaper said that the armed terrorist groups in Syria trade in the organs of the Syrian martyrs whom they abduct and kill, then giving their stolen organs to the guerillas of organ trafficking with expensive prices.
The newspaper’s correspondent in Syria has shed the light on heinous events and violations regarding the organ trafficking, quoting a Syrian citizen who works as a director as saying “Most of the Syrians abducted by the armed groups would be killed, then gunmen trade in their corpses through removing their kidneys, eyes and liver.”
It added that the Syrian citizen underlined that “unknown persons contacted him and offered 300.000 Syrian Pounds in return for handing them the body of his brother who was martyred at the hands of terrorists.
Greek Communist Party Newspaper: Syria and the Region Targeted by Imperialist Powers
Oct 09, 2012
ATHENS, (SANA)- Rizospastis, the newspaper of the Communist Party of Greece, stressed that the imperialist powers are targeting Syria and the entire Middle East region through using mercenary armed terrorist groups to hit Syria’s stability under the cover of opposition, with the aim of overcoming Iran and controlling the oil and natural gas transfer lines.
In an article published on Tuesday, writer Dimitris Karagiannis scoffed at the claims for freedom and democracy promoted by the imperialist powers and the Gulf monarchies and emirates like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey as means to justify the targeting of Syria.
The writer ridiculed Erdogan government’s today’s talk about human rights while thousands of political prisoners of left-wing powers and Kurds are languishing in its jails.
The article pointed out that the real objective behind Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey’s arming, funding and training of the mercenary and armed terrorist groups and sending them to Syria over more than a year now is to destroy Syria and divide it into weak cantons that will be unable in the future of confronting the imperialist ambitions.
Karagiannis affirmed that what is happening in Syria is part of the imperialist plots in the region to take control of the gas and oil transfer lines, noting that the government in Turkey is seeking its share from this.
He cautioned against the pretexts used by the Turkish government and the NATO to justify waging an attack on Syria while this government continues shelling areas in north Iraq.
Russian Journalist: What is Happening in Syria is Organized Terrorism Promoted by Arab and Foreign Satellite Channels
Oct 09, 2012
TARTOUS, (SANA) – Russian journalist Anhar Kochneva affirmed that what is taking place in Syria is organized terrorism supported by foreign sides and promoted by Arab and Foreign satellite channels to spread fear among Syrians and shed the blood of civilians and military personnel.
In a lecture delivered on Tuesday at the Arab Cultural Center in Tartous, Kochneva said that she accompanied the Syrian Arab Army during several of its operations and Damascus and its countryside, photographing and documenting them and later publishing.
She noted that the army personnel were committed to protecting the journalists accompanying them, even if it cost them their lives.
Kochneva said that terrorists attack journalists accompanying the army, affirming that terrorist groups failed to affect the Syrians’ awareness and so they resorted to bombings, murder, abduction and massacres to manipulate the world’s public opinion.
She pointed out that biased media broadcasts false urgent news that have no credibility, which is something she verified personally, calling on the Syrian national media to continue carrying out its mission and do so faster to prevent satellite channels from fabricating news.
Kochneva said that the unjust sanctions and decisions against Syrian media constitute a medal of honor for Syrian journalists, stressing that emerging from the current crisis requires resilience, fidelity, sacrifice, confidence and a lot of work.
During the lecture, Kochneva showed video footage she recoded personally showing the Syrian Arab Army entering areas devastated by the terrorists, in addition to videos showing the terrorists using children in their crimes and committing massacres against civilians.
Lattakia Harbor Receives 599 Ships Carrying 3.86 Million Tons of Cargo in Nine Months
Oct 09, 2012
LATTAKIA, (SANA) – During the past nine months, the General Establishment of Lattakia Harbor received 599 ships carrying 3.86 million tons of cargo, primarily soy, lumber, machinery, equipment, cement and iron.
Director General of the Establishment, Hatem al-Mahmoudi, said that the Harbor exported 613,000 tons of goods, mostly consisting of fertilizer, glass and machinery, with the Harbor’s profits amounting to around SYP 1.406 billion since the beginning of 2012.
In September, the Harbor saw the movement of around 214,000 tons of goods; 157,000 of them imports and 57,000 of them exports.
‘Colorful Drops’ Voluntary Team in Lattakia… Initiative to Encourage Social Interaction
Oct 09, 2012
LATTAKIA, (SANA) – Colorful Drops Voluntary team, established one year ago by a group of youth in Lattakia province, is aimed at encouraging the spirit of initiative and interaction among people from different ages and social classes.
The main purpose of the team was to encourage citizens to be active members in any societal initiative that contribute to adding more to the province’s beauty and improving the society and health awareness.
The team coordinator , Nour Ibrahim, said that they started as a training group of “Colors” project, which is a local initiative to promote collective voluntary work in Lattakia, adding that the team trained more 60 boy and girl who in turn will train others with the aim to carry out a certain development project.
Ibrahim added that the team carried out two voluntary projects since its establishment, indicating that the first one aimed to increase health awareness of gibbosity and scoliosis diseases among the youth between ages 12 and 18 given that school bags and desks are among their main causes.
She added that the project was conducted in a number of schools in Lattakia and its countryside over one month and it benefited about 5500 students.
She said that the team collected necessary information and health consultations from several health institutions and associations, after which the team members were trained to introduce the subject and prepare all related releases, in addition to benefiting from the medical expertise of some members.
A supervisor in the team, Nour al-Zaman Haidar, said that the second project’s main idea was to rehabilitate a neglected neighborhood in Lattakia city last summer with the aim of improving life conditions of its inhabitants, who expressed readiness to contribute to the project.
She attributed choosing the area for many reasons since it is a popular neighborhood that brings together all spectrums of the Syrian people , not to mention the distorted urban structure.
Haidar said that the indirect reasons of the project can be summed up in raising environmental awareness of the inhabitants and spreading the culture of voluntary work, in addition to strengthening national unity and encouraging popular initiatives by the inhabitants.
She hailed the aid provided by Lattakia City Council and Directorate of Parks as well as the authorities concerned and other civil organizations to make their project a success within a short period of time.
She added that the work plan of the project, which took ten day, included cleaning the neighborhood and repainting the walls and doors of its houses after which the phrase “With Love We Build Syria” was written on the wall in a puzzle form with Ugaritic letters.
Team of “Colorful Drops” comprises 20 young volunteers from different university specializations.