Air Force Formations Conduct Live Fire Tactical Operational Project with Bombing Aircrafts and Attack Helicopters
Jul 11, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The Syrian Armed Forces on Tuesday continued military exercises for the fourth consecutive day with the participation of units from the air force formations which conducted a tactical operational project with live fire simulating real battle conditions.
Fighter aircrafts performed the tasks of repelling virtual counter air strikes in the project, while bombing aircrafts took part in carrying out the tasks of fire impacting and destroying hostile targets, with attack helicopters providing fire support to the forces.
The project included an airdrop behind proposed enemy lines in which the Special Armed Forces members were able to take control of the specified area at the right time with great efficiency and high combat spirit.
Transport aircrafts successfully conducted a cargo airdrop operation, in which healthcare vehicles and medically-equipped helicopters participated in evacuation and first aid tasks on battleground.
Chief of General Staff of the Army and the Armed Forces, Gen. `Fahd Jassem al-Freij, attended the exercises, accompanied by a number of senior General Command officers.
Gen. al-Freij praised the high morale of the Air Defense Forces and their successful performance at all the stages of the project.
He stressed that there is no need to fear for Syria as long as it has such men who have devoted themselves to defending the homeland and its air, sea and land.
Terrorists Assassinate Doctor, Farmer Martyred, Two Border Infiltration Attempts Foiled
Jul 10, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – An armed terrorist group on Tuesday assassinated Dr. Adbul-Baset Arja at al-Kura al-Ardyyah Roundabout in Aleppo.
A source at the province told SANA that the armed terrorist group monitored Dr. Arja and opened fire at his car, Dr. Arja was hospitalized and martyred at the hospital.
Infiltration Attempts of Terrorists Coming from Lebanon Foiled
Authorities and border guards have foiled infiltration attempts by armed terrorist groups coming from Lebanon into Syria from several locations in Talkalkh, Homs countryside. Huge losses were reported among the terrorists.
SANA correspondent quoted a source at the province as saying that the terrorist groups opened fire on the sites of border guards on the Syrian side in Jisr Qumar, Jisr Abo Swaid, Harmoush crossings, al-Armouta, al-Arida, Noura, and al-Dalia and tried, several times, to infiltrate to the Syrian territories by several (SUV) cars equipped with machine-guns.
The source added that the clash resulted in the killing and injury of a number of terrorists. One person of the competent authorities was wounded.
Authorities Arrest Two Terrorists, Disable Four IEDs, Prevent Border Infiltration Attempt in Idleb Countryside
The authorities chased down a terrorist group which had opened fire on a food transport belonging to law-enforcement forces in Jisr al-Shughour area in Idleb countryside.
After returning fire, the authorities chased the terrorist and managed to arrest two of them: Ammar al-Ammoura and Mohammad al-Gharib, and confiscated their weapons.
On a relevant note, engineering units disabled four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by terrorists on the Jisr al-Shughour-Darkoush road. The IEDs ranged in weight from 40 to 50 kilograms and were rigged for remote detonation.
Authorities in Idleb also managed to prevent an attempt by an armed terrorist group which tried to infiltrate the Syrian borders and enter Syria from Turkey at Khirbet al-Hoz area in Jisr al-Shughour.
The authorities clashed with the armed group, injuring some of its members and confiscating their weapons.
Farmer Martyred, Three Citizens Injured by Terrorists’ Gunfire in Lattakia
Farmer Mufeed Mohammad Badour was martyred while three citizens, including a mother and her daughter, were injured in an attack by a number of terrorists on their fields in al-Balateh and al-Kharateh villages in al-Haffeh in Lattakia countryside.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the authorities clashed with the terrorists, killed many of them, injured others and seized their weapons.
Authorities Confront attack by gunmen in al-Qseir, Homs
The competent authorities confronted an attack by armed terrorist groups on a number of law enforcement checkpoints near al-Qseir in Homs.
SANA reporter quoted a source in Homs as saying that the authorities clashed with the gunmen, destroying a Doshka vehicle used by the armed men in the attack, and killing a number of them.
Cabinet Approves Providing 25,000 Job Opportunities in One Year, Approves Bills on Combating Illicit Gains and Corruption
Jul 10, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Prime Minister, Dr. Riad Hijab, on Tuesday called on ministers to continue their field tours and intensify meetings and communication with citizens to fulfill their daily and basic demands.
In a session held on Tuesday, the cabinet discussed job opportunities currently available through the Youth Employment Program. The cabinet approved providing 25,000 job opportunities this year with annual contracts, with emphasis on appointing employees in their own areas.
The Cabinet also discussed economic and services issues as deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs and Minister of Local Administration Omar Ghallawanji and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Qadri Jamil briefed the Cabinet on the economic and services situation.
Within the context of completing the Administrative Reform Program, the cabinet approved a bill on illicit gains, a bill on establishing a commission for combating corruption, and a bill on establishing a department for inspection and supervision in every ministry.
For his part, Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs, Dr. Ali Haidar, briefed the cabinet on the ministry’s activities and meetings with some opposition figures to reach joint cooperation and common denominators to achieve national reconciliation and prepare for holding a conference on national reconciliation soon.
In a statement after the session, Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Tayseer al-Zou’bi said that the Cabinet reviewed the economic, service and infrastructure issues which concern citizens.
He added that the cabinet took several decisions including offering services and rehabilitating infrastructure and public facilitations in the areas badly affected by the armed terrorist groups
Annan Holds Talks in Tehran and Baghdad on the situation in Syria
Jul 10, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi stressed that the ominous interference of some foreign countries in the crisis in Syria led to its continuity despite that the Syrian leadership has adopted constructive steps to meet demands of the Syrian people.
In a joint press conference with the UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan in Tehran on Tuesday, Salehi said “The political issues are complicated ones and the region and the world are on the brink of sensitive developments, ”
” All efforts should unite to prevent the extension of the crisis in Syria and limit its repercussions and we should not allow the situation to become worse,” he added.
The Iranian Minister pointed out that “Democracy, independence and combating corruption are preserved rights for the Syrian people,” asserting that the Syrian government committed to achieve its promises to meet all the legitimate demands of the Syrian people as it achieved tangible steps in this regard.
” We concentrate on ending the crisis in Syria which, if continued, will not be in the interest of anyone in the region, ” Salehi said.
Salehi advised the regional countries to exercise prudence over the crisis in Syria and warned against the ‘catastrophic’ upshots of a ‘wrong’ decision on Syria.
“We should not allow the situation to become worse, which would not be to anyone’s benefit.”
For his part, Annan said that his talks in Tehran aim at ensuring Iran’s support to find peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria, expressing hope to cooperate together to reach important upshots and steps to resolve this crisis, prevent its spreading to reach the whole region and to limit its repercussions which would not be to anyone’s interest.
On disarming the armed terrorist groups in Syria and preventing countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia from sending weapons to them and the role of the UN in implementing that, Annan said “The international organization seeks to defuse the violence in Syria by all sides,” asserting that if we want to halt the acts of violence we should talk to all those who carry weapons who should not kill the innocents.
Annan stressed that the disarmament of the armed terrorist groups is a very important thing in such crisis and after its end.
” I believe that the Syrian government should be able to control the weapons and we should have a strong state to prevent the spreading of the armed groups, ” he said.
The UN Envoy added “Regarding sending weapons to the armed terrorist groups, we discussed this issue in details in Geneva Conference and we clearly confirmed that we don’t wish the crisis to continue or to use a military solution but we should search for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria,”
He went on to say the use of arms is not consistent with the search for a peaceful solution. On the Iranian role in the crisis in Syria, Annan said “Iran plays positive role in this crisis and seeks to find a peaceful solution to it through dialogue which should start soon with the participation of all sides and that is a pivotal point in the six-point plan I had proposed, ”
Annan called on all sides to work together to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria and defuse it to prevent its bad consequences on the region.
Jalili: Solution in Syria Should Be Reached Without Foreign Intervention
For his part, Secretary General of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili stressed that the solution to the crisis in Syria should be reached in Syria and without foreign interference.
During his meeting with the UN Envoy Kofi Annan, Jalili added that the political dialogue and the efforts to reach a ceasefire should be synchronized.
He highlighted that the solution in Syria will be achieved by reaching the real democracy not by sending weapons and committing criminal acts.
“The International Observers should prevent the flow of weapons to the armed terrorist groups in Syria. The history of the USA proves that it is unable to play a positive role in solving the crisis in Syria, so it can’t be part of the solution,” Jalili said.
In return, Annan talked about the results of Geneva meeting, hailing the role of Tehran in solving the crisis in Syria.
Annan.. I held good Talks with al-Maliki on Syria
The UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan said that he held good talks with the Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad on the situation in Syria, adding that al-Maliki showed support to the six-point plan.
“I came to the region to discuss the crisis in Syria.. my trip took me to Damascus, Tehran and Baghdad, I had the opportunity to discuss this issue with the leaders to stop killing for the sake of the Syrian people, and to guarantee no spread of conflict to Syrian neighbors,” AFP quoted Annan as saying at a press conference following his talks with al-Maliki.
Annan underlined that he will brief the UN Security Council tomorrow on the outcome of his talks in the region about Syria, saying that the UN will take the suitable measure and will adopt another decision regarding the task of observers whom mission end on July 12th.
“I believe that we have to continue pressures and we need to do so in a constructive way,” Annan concluded.
Boroujerdi: Syria Has Overcome the Difficult Circumstances
Chairman of the Iranian Shura Council’s Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security Alaeddin Boroujerdi, in a statement on Tuesday, stressed that Syria has overcome the difficult circumstances and is heading towards stability.
He underlined Iran’s pivotal role in solving the crisis in Syria
Moscow Denies Reports by some Media about Russian Warships Sailing into Syria
Jul 10, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA)-An informed source at the Russian Foreign Ministry Tuesday denied reports of some media that Russian warships sailed into Syria, expressing astonishment at the attempts of stirring up this issue again.
“Simply, it is ridiculous what occurs in the mass media of rumors about alleged sailing of Russian ships that carry landing units into Syria,” the source stated, clarifying that Russia has nothing to hide.
” Russian Defense Ministry announced that a number of the North Sea fleet ships left Severomorsk Navy and sailed into the north part of the Atlantic Ocean to run regular trainings that have no relation to the events in Syria.” The source said.
It added that in spite of the noise about the Russian ships, no one talks about the maneuvers of the Western States’ fleets in the region.
Russian Defense Minister: Russia will not accept any foreign intervention in the Syrian domestic affairs
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that his country supports any steps leading to a settlement for the crisis in Syria with peaceful means, adding “Russia will not accept any foreign intervention in the Syrian domestic affairs.
Russia Today site quoted a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that Serdyukov held talks with his Italian counterpart in Roma, reiterating that Russia will not accept any foreign intervention in the Syrian affairs.
In a relevant context, a Russian military source stated that 3 helicopters, of MI-25 style, have been mended in Russia and they will be sent back to Damascus via sea.
Bogdanov: Russia Ready to Host International Conference on Syria
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Tuesday that Russia is ready to host a new meeting of the world powers on Syria, adding that Moscow calls for holding such meetings periodically and extending representation.
In a statement, Bogdanov said that the Geneva meeting results provided that UN Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, calls for another meeting of the international group which met in Geneva on June 30, adding that the Russian side is waiting for tangible results out of Geneva’s negotiations.
He expressed Russia’s regret for the absence of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Geneva meeting, adding that these two countries have enormous influence on the situation in Syria and they can contribute to the joint efforts exerted by Syria’s neighbors such as Lebanon and Jordan, which were not represented at Geneva meeting, to restore security and stability to Syria.
He added that talks on the failure of Annan’s plan are harmful politically and morally as they directly or indirectly lead to escalating violence in Syria.
On some interpretations of Geneva meeting outcome, Bogdanov said that any international meeting cannot decide the fate of Syria and its president.
“The fate of a particular leader should be decided by the people in accordance with international legislation,” Bogdanov said.
He pointed out that the final document of Geneva meeting provides that members of the current government and the opposition can enter the governing transitional body in Syria according to mutual agreement.
On the military technical cooperation between Russia and Syria, Bogdanov pointed out that the two countries had established various relations since the 1950s. military technical cooperation is an essential component of these relations.
Margelov: Map of Africa and Middle East May Be Changed by Crisis in Syria
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Russian Federation Council Mikhail Margelov said that Syria’s understanding of the Middle East in general and Syria in particular is deeper than that of its partners.
In a radio interview, Margelov said that the crisis in Syria may lead to changing the map of Africa and the Middle East, stressing the need for this process to be civilized and controllable.
He said that Russia presented an initiative presenting alternatives for resolving the Syrian crisis, and that he’s due to hold his seventh meeting with a delegation from the Syrian opposition on Wednesday.
Margelov pointed out that the Syrian opposition is fragmented and divided, and that the opposition – whether in Syria, Turkey, France, Italy, the US or elsewhere – and are against the Syrian government often have conflicting positions to a degree that makes it seem hard to bring them all under one roof.
He noted that this is what prompted Russia to attend the Geneva meeting on Syria in June, and that some of Russia’s concerns and suggestions were heard.
Margelov stressed that Russia doesn’t want the Libyan scenario to be repeated in Syria, nor do its western partners, and that there must be dialogue to reach an agreement as differences do not necessarily mean hostility.
Youths and Children of Martyrs Present Shield and Letter of Thanks to Chinese Embassy
Jul 10, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – A youth delegation including children of martyrs visited on Tuesday the Chinese Embassy in Damascus and presented the ambassador with a commemorative shield and a letter of thanks in a gesture of appreciation for China’s support for the Syrian people and leadership.
In the letter, the children of martyrs voiced appreciation of China’s honorable stance and its tireless efforts to achieve peace and security and benefit Syria and its people.
China’s Ambassador in Damascus Zhang Xun voiced hope that Syria will emerge from the crisis soon through political solutions, expressing support for the political process led by the Syrian people and the plan of UN Envoy to Syrian Kofi Annan.
He also affirmed that China will work diligently to direct the course of the Syrian issue in a political and peaceful direction.
For their part, members of the delegation said their visit aims to thank China’s government and people for their support of the Syrian people and for their rejection of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, stressing that showing gratitude is the least that can be done.
They also said that the children of martyrs hold all those who conspired against Syria – including Arab and western countries – responsible for their fathers’ deaths.
The delegation members said that by supporting Syria, China stood up to the US hegemony and proved that China is a main and effective pole in the world.
New Health Center to Provide Medical Services to Douma Citizens
Jul 10, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Ministry of Health established a temporary health center in Adra region in Damascus Countryside with the aim of providing health services to people in Douma and its surrounding who were forced under the current circumstances to move to Adra.
In a statement on Tuesday, Minister of Health, Wael al-Halqi said that establishing a health center in Adra came in line with cooperation between the Ministry and the civil sector to improve health services.
He added that the center is equipped with all medical equipment and medicine, including those for diabetic , heart and high-blood pressure patients and vaccines for children.
Al-Halqi stressed the Ministry’s continuous efforts to meet the citizens’ growing health needs, particularly in the affected areas.
People of Golan Refute Allegations of Zionist Media, Stress Adherence to Syrian Identity
Jul 10, 2012
QUNEITRA, (SANA) – People of the occupied Syrian Golan reiterated their adherence to the Syrian nationality and their rejection to all practices of the Israeli occupation forces.
In a statement made by religious and social bodies in Majdal Shams town, people of Golan refuted the allegations of Zionist media outlets saying that they halted excommunication measures against the Syrians who accepted the Israeli IDs.
They stressed their commitment to the national document made on March 31st 1981, adding that the Golan is an integral part of the homeland, Syria.
Sheikh Atef Shaalan from Ein Qniyyeh town told SANA that “We are Syrian Arab people, we were and we’ll continue to be. occupation will go eventually as several armies came to this region and went out throughout centuries.”
Sheikh Hayel Sharaf from the occupied town of Mas’ada said that “These media allegations are an attempt to target the people of the occupied Golan as they preserved their Arab identity despite more than four decades of occupation.”
Hassan Fakhr Eddin from the occupied town of Majdal Shams said that the ‘excommunication’ measure is taken against any person from the Golan who disobeys the will of his society and refuses the national principles
275 Citizens Involved in Recent Events Set Free
Jul 10, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- 275 citizens who got involved in the recent events in the country and whose hands are clear of the Syrian blood were released on Tuesday in a seventh process of the kind.