Authorities Arrest Dozens of Terrorists in Aleppo, Destroy Several Cars Equipped with DShK Machineguns
Aug 15, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA)- The authorities on Tuesday arrested dozens of terrorists near Souq al-Hal area in Aleppo. The authorities also destroyed 7 cars equipped with DShK machineguns with the terrorists inside them in al-Bab area in Aleppo.
In the same context, units of the Syrian armed forces pursued an armed terrorist group in the areas of al-Kura al-Ardiya, the Radio and Saif al-Dawleh in Aleppo, killing and injuring a number of terrorists.
In Kafar Hamra, a group of armed terrorist was killed during an attempt to enter the city of Aleppo, and their vehicle, equipped with DShK machinegun, was destroyed.
Armed forces units cleared the area of the Science Faculty in Aleppo from terrorist and confronted a terrorist group that attempted to attack the Traffic Department, killing a large number of terrorists.
Another armed forces unit clashed with terrorists who were using Abdelrahman al-Dakhel school in Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood in Aleppo as a hideout, eliminating a large number of them.
In Aleppo countryside, armed forces units carried out two operations against terrorist groups in al-Atareb area, destroying two cars equipped with DShK machineguns and killing large numbers of terrorists.
Syrian heroic Army pursues vanquished armed groups in a number of areas in Aleppo, Killing an arresting scores of them
The Syrian heroic Army today pursued the vanquished armed terrorist groups in a number of areas in Aleppo, killing a big number of mercenaries, arresting scores of them and seizing their weapons.
A source in Aleppo told SANA reporter that a unit from the army confronted terrorists who took al-Shifaa Hospital in al-Shaar neighborhood and al-Kifah school as base for their crimes, killing a big number of them.
During its cleaning of Salah al-din neighborhood from the remnants of the mercenaries, the army dismantled 3 explosives put by the terrorists inside three government stolen cars to be bombed in crowded areas.
The Army soldiers seized big quantities of weapons in the surrounding areas of Salah al-Din, including RPGs, Russian rifles, pistols and ammunitions.
At al-Atareb region in Aleppo countryside, a unit from the Army carried out two specific operations against the armed groups, destroying two cars equipped with Dushka machine guns, killing and injuring many mercenaries.
The army arrested scores of terrorists in Suok al-Hal, al-Ezaa and Saif al-Dawla.
The security forces also destroyed 7 cars equipped with machine guns coming from al-Bab region, destroying other cars equipped with Dushka machine guns at Kfar Hamra area in Aleppo countryside.
Assistant Director of Health Directorate in Daraa Assassinated
In Daraa, an armed terrorist group on Tuesday assassinated doctor Ma’moun al-Zoubi, Assistant Director of the Health Directorate in the city.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that a number of terrorists waited for Dr. al-Zoubi while leaving the Directorate at the garage and opened fire on him causing his martyrdom.
The source added that the martyr’s car was stolen by the terrorists.
Security Forces Continue Pursuing Terrorists in al-Tal, Damascus Countryside
The security forces continue pursuing terrorists in the town of al-Tal in Damascus Countryside, arresting a number of them and confiscating their weapons and killing others.
Authorities Clash with Terrorists in Daraa Countryside
While canvassing the area of Tafs in Daraa countryside, the authorities clashed with terrorists, killing a large number of them and arresting others.
Among the terrorists who were killed were Maamoun al-Manbesh, Mohammad Mousa al-Ghanem, Mohammad Kiwan, Mohammad Barakat, Mohammad Horani, Ziyad al-Hourani, and Salim Ouaymer.
In the town of al-Hara in Daraa countryside, security forces clashed with a terrorist group and killed a number of its members, including the group’s leader Barakat Nayef al-Barakat.
The armed forces also continued to pursue terrorists in the areas of Izra’a and Ghabagheb in Daraa countryside.
Infiltration Attempt from Jordan Thwarted
Border patrols managed to thwart an infiltration attempt by terrorists who were trying to cross into Syria from Jordan in Tal Shihab area. A large number of terrorist were killed in the ensuing clash, one of whom was Attaf Abdelrazzaq al-Masalmeh.
Authorities Raid Terrorist Hideout in al-Qseir, Homs
The authorities raided a hideout used by a terrorist group among the farms in Tal Dosar area in al-Qseir countryside, Homs Province.
The ensuing clash resulted in the killing of a number of terrorists, including the group’s leader who is known as Abu al-Hareth, and some of the terrorists were injured.
At al-Adra bridge near Rableh in al-Qseir countryside, the authorities ambushed a group of four terrorists who were using a pickup truck equipped with a DShK machinegun, destroying the car along with those inside it.
Also in al-Qseir countryside, the authorities took out a sniper who was attacking passersby and cars on one of the roads of Blada al-Zira’a.
Stand in Honor of Martyr Journalist Ali Abbas
Aug 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The Syrian Journalists’ Union and workers in the private and public media institutions staged on Tuesday a solidarity stand outside the building of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) in honor of the martyr journalist Ali Abbas and in solidarity with the kidnapped Syrian journalists.
Martyr Abbas, who was the head of the Internal News Department at SANA, was assassinated by an armed terrorist group in his home in Jdeidet Artouz in Damascus Countryside.
The participant journalists stressed that targeting the Syrian media and its cadres will not deviate them from performing their duty in conveying the truth and exposing the lies and fabrications broadcast by some misleading Arab and foreign satellite channels.
The journalists condemned targeting Syrian qualified cadres, wondering at those who raise slogans of freedom meantime they do their best to silence any opposing opinion.
Head of the Syrian Journalists Union Elias Murad said that the recent development in the conspiracy hatched by foreign powers with the aid of some tools inside Syria in is the direct targeting of journalists.
He stressed that the killing of journalists violates the religious and social values, considering it as an example of the behavior of those who claim to call for freedom and do the contrary, which proves that they have no cause as they are mere tools.
Chairman of the National Media Council, Taleb Qadi Amin said that targeting the Syrian media is because of its role in revealing the reality of the war against Syria and the media machines recruited for this purpose and conveying the real image to the Syrian and international public opinion.
For his part, Director General of the Syrian Arab News Agency, Ahmad Dawa, said that the martyr Abbas was an example of the resistant national journalist in his devotion to duty and morals.
He reiterated the Syrian journalists’ determination to continue carrying out their national duty, adding that these criminal terrorist acts will not affect them.
Dawa said that the foreign intervention in what is taking place in Syria escalates the situation and hinder finding a solution to the crisis in the country, stressing Syria’s ability to come out of the crisis thanks to its army and people.
In turn, Director General of al-Wahda Establishment for Press, Printing, Publishing and Distribution, Khalaf al-Miftah, said that the terrorists’ crimes against the Syrian people reflect their primitive culture which does not belong to the nature of the Syrian people.
He added that the assassination of journalist Abbas indicates that these criminals want to silence every voice that divulge their lies and crimes.
Ali Kassem, editor-in-chief of al-Thawra newspaper, said that the stand came in honor of the souls of our martyr colleagues and all Syria’s martyrs, adding that targeting the media is not accepted.
Managing Editor of the Syrian Al-Thawra newspaper, Mustafa Al-Miqdad, said that anyone who follow the attack against the Syrian media whether through blocking channels, targeting press teams and journalists or through imposing sanctions is aware of the real impact of the Syrian media on its audience.
Member of the People’s Assembly Omar Osi expressed solidarity with Syrian journalists against terrorist acts, adding that the Committee for Freedoms and Human Rights issued a statement in solidarity with the Syrian media in the current stage.
He hailed the Syrian media’s ability to shoulder its responsibilities against the western media and Zionist-US circles which try to destabilize Syria through its tools in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
Iranian TV reporter, Issam al-Hilali, said that targeting the Syrian journalists indicate that the enemies of the Syrian people have lost the battle, adding that the national media in Syria proved that it serves the interest of its people.
Reporter of the Cuban Prensa Latina News Agency, Luis Beaton, condemned the assassination of Syrian journalists, adding that these crimes came within the media campaign launched by western media to hide the reality of what is happening.
He called upon all western media not to fabricate news or convey information that might falsify the reality of events on the ground.
He offered condolences, on the behalf of all Cuban journalists and his own behalf, to the Syrian media institution, stressing that Cuba and Syria are in one line against the imperialism and western colonialist powers.
Solidarity Stand outside Tartous TV and Radio Center in Condemnation of Terrorism against National Media
The Teachers’ Association in cooperation with other popular and youth organizations in Tartous province staged a solidarity stand outside the TV and Radio Center in condemnation of the systematic terrorism targeting the national media, and to salute SANA’s Journalist Martyr Ali Abbas who was assassinated by terrorists.
Participants waved placards condemning the terrorist acts against the national media institutions and cadres, expressing solidarity with the Syrian media which proved credibility and capability to confront the misleading media.
They stressed that targeting the national media cadres will increase Syria’s resolve to go ahead in national work.
Prime Minister, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Discuss Cooperation
Aug 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Prime Minister Dr. Wael al-Halqi discussed on Tuesday with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valery Amos cooperation between Syria and international organization in humanitarian fields.
Dr. al-Halqi reviewed the economic, political and social reforms taking place in Syria and the considerable efforts exerted by the government to provide services to citizens despite the fact that terrorists are targeting developmental sectors, affirming that Syria can persevere, overcome the crisis, achieve reconciliation and restore security and stability in all areas.
He also detailed the results of the inhumane economic sanctions imposed by the US and some European and Arab countries, which only affect innocent civilians.
Amos also met with State Minister for National Reconciliation Affairs Dr. Ali Haidar, with the meeting focusing on the humanitarian situation in Syria and the need to restore the relations which were established before between Syria and the UN.
In a statement to the press following the meeting, Haidar said that humanitarian situations in any area in Syria cannot be tackled without considering the security situation in it and stopping violence, noting that the government has an ambitious plan for returning citizens who were forced out of their homes for one reason or another to their original places of residence.
He stressed that violence is still the main element that is hindering his ministry’s fieldwork, and that the cessation of violence is a priority of his ministry and the government as a whole.
Haidar also said that the government isn’t relying on international organizations in terms of the Syrian issue as some of them have become a part in the war on Syria and proved ineffective in serving peoples’ interests over the year, adding that instead, Syria depends on friends who are honest in dealing with the Syrian people.
For her part, Amos said that her visit to Syria aims to review commitments in the humanitarian field and discuss the Syrian authorities” evaluation of what is happening on the ground.
In the same context, Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad discussed with Amos the relations between Syria and the Humanitarian Relief Coordination Office at the UN.
Mikdad lauded the progress made in the plans for evaluation and response to answer the needs of people affected by the current events, while Amos voiced satisfaction over the cooperation achieved since her visit in March, stressing that her office is working to gather as much humanitarian aid as possible to help Syria overcome this crisis in a framework of neutrality and independence.
Russian, Iranian Foreign Ministries Condemn Terrorist Acts against Journalists in Syria
Aug 14, 2012
MOSCOW, TEHRAN, (SANA)- Russia on Tuesday condemned the terrorist acts committed against the journalists in Syria, urging the concerned international organizations to exert pressures to put an end to these acts.
Russia Today website quoted Maria Zakharova, Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, as saying in a statement “We vehemently condemn the terrorist acts against journalists. Countries with influence on the Syrian opposition in addition to the regional and international organizations should not be neutral in not responding to these facts.”
She added that Moscow receives, with great concern, the news on the escalation of the attacks committed by the illegal armed groups against journalist in Syria.
Iran Condemns Terrorist Groups’ Killing and Kidnapping Acts against Innocents in Syria
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also condemned the terrorist acts of killings and kidnapping perpetrated by the armed terrorist groups against the innocent civilians and the journalists in Syria.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast offered condolences over the martyrdom of the journalist Ali Abbas, the head of Internal News Department at the Syrian Arab News Agency.
He underlined Iran’s continuous efforts with other influential countries to solve the crisis in Syria through peaceful means to ward off its repercussions on the region.
Mehmanparast said that his country has devoted all its efforts to achieve security and stability in Syria and create the appropriate atmosphere to hold dialogue between the government and the opposition.
He added that there is a US-Zionist scheme to sow sedition and undermine stability in Syria in service of the US and Zionist interests, regretting the US role along with its allies to destabilize the region, describing it as “destructive”.
The Iranian Spokesman pointed out that after the massacres committed against the people of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, the US wants to carry out such plot in Syria to ensure its interests through increasing losses of the Syrian people.
Mehmanparast said that Iran opposes suspending Syria’s membership at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, calling for taking the Islamic world’s higher interests into consideration instead of such proposals.
Regarding the kidnapped Iranians in Syria, he stressed that Tehran is working in coordination with other countries to get them released as soon as possible.
Lebanese Foreign Minister: Solution to Crisis in Syria Should Be an Internal Political One
Aug 14, 2012
BEIRUT, (SANA) – The Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stressed that the “self-distance” policy adopted by Lebanon regarding the crisis in Syria is based on that the solution in Syria should be an internal political one.
Addressing the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah, Mansour said that the solution in Syria depends mainly on dialogue between the leadership and the opposition and on implementing reforms.
He stressed that the foreign interference will complicate the crisis instead of helping in solving it, adding that the flow of money and arms into Syria threatens its sovereignty, unity of its people and territorial integrity and escalates the killing and violence.
Mansour warned that the systematic media instigation, igniting religious discord and sectarianism and the continuation of violence will have serious repercussions not only on Syria’s people and land but also on the security and stability of all the countries in the region.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on the Syrian issue included in the concluding statement of the 4th Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference on suspending Syria’s membership, distancing itself from the decision on it.
He hoped that Syria will come out of the crisis soon and restore its national and Islamic role.
Mansour criticized the concluding statement for not including a firm decision on ending and suspending all forms of political, trade and economic cooperation with the Israeli enemy and exerting practical pressure on it through tightening the economic boycott.
Russian Diplomatic Source: Bogdanov Made No Statements to Saudi Website
Aug 14, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) – A Russian diplomatic source on Tuesday said that the Russian President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, made no statement to the Saudi Website al-Watan.
In a statement to Russia Today TV channel, the diplomatic source added that circulating the so-called interview of Bogdanov to al-Watan is “a new media provocation”.
“I didn’t speak to any newspaper inside or outside Russia,” Bogdanov told Russia Today reporter by phone, adding that he is on a vacation.
He stressed that what was attributed to him regarding the destiny of the Syrian President is “complete nonsense”.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that he does not know any journalist at al-Watan newspaper who claimed to have called him, dismissing as baseless everything that was ascribed to him in the alleged interview.
Reuters: Libyan Fighters among Terrorist Groups in Syria
Aug 14, 2012
BEIRUT, (SANA) – Fighters of last year’s civil war in Libya have joined the armed terrorist groups in Syria, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The news agency quoted a Libyan-Irish terrorist as saying that Libyan “veteran fighters…have come to the front-line in Syria, helping to train and organize rebels.”
Hussam Najjar, who has a Libyan father and Irish mother, has entered Syria, said the agency, noting that Najjar, who goes by the name of Sam, is a trained sniper and was “part of the rebel unit that stormed Gaddafi’s compound in Tripoli a year ago, led by Mahdi al-Harati, a powerful militia chief from Libya’s western mountains.”
Harati, Reuters added, now leads a terrorist group in Syria known as the Umma Brigade.
Harati’s brigade, according to Najjar, “is made up mainly of Syrians but also including some foreign fighters, including 20 senior members of his own Libyan rebel unit.”
The agency said that Harati asked Najjar to join him in Syria from Dublin a few months ago.
The Libyan fighters, Najjar told Reuters, “include specialists in communications, logistics, humanitarian issues and heavy weapons.”
He noted that thousands more fighters from the Arab world were gathering in neighboring countries prepared to join the armed groups in Syria.
First Interactive Youth Media Agency and Radio Launched on the Internet
Aug 14, 2012
TARTOUS, (SANA)- A group of youth from the coastal province of Tartous has launched a first interactive youth media agency on the internet under the title ‘Al-Aaan Agency’ to provide minute-by-minute coverage of all the activities and events taking place in the Syrian provinces.
The coverage depends on photos and footages particularly for the events happening in Syria under the current stage with the aim of confronting the campaigns of falsification and misleading undertaken by various tendentious media outlets.
‘Tartous al-Aaan’ internet radio station was also launched to contribute to bolstering the role of the agency.
Editor-in-chief of al-Aaan Agency, Tarek al-Qaht, stressed in a statement to SANA the importance of interactive and social media which depends on reporting the events and news at the moment of its occurrence and posting it on the agency’s social networking sites on the internet.
Al-Aaan Agency includes the launching of websites in a number of provinces with Tartous being first along with Lattakia, Homs and Damascus, while websites will be started soon in Aleppo and Hasaka and later in all the other provinces.
Al-Qaht, who is a student at the Faculty of Political Sciences, told SANA reporter that the main objective of the project is to uncover the fabrication and media misleading targeting the Syrian people and its national unity and back the national media in terms of honestly reporting the reality.
He noted that Tartous al-Aaan page is available in the English language with the aim to reach out to a larger number of expatriate youths.
He also highlighted that the agency seeks to bridge the gap between the citizens and officials by making it possible to receive complaints on every website which will be published transparently along with the responses after being followed up with the officials and parties concerned.
The managing editor, Ali al-Kinj, hailed the quick success achieved by Tartous website in terms of the speed and honesty in reporting the events, referring also to Homs website which was the first to succeed in entering into several tense neighborhoods and areas in the province and reporting the situation suffered by the citizens due to the practices of the armed terrorist groups.
He hailed the determination and strong will of the youth working for the agency, particularly those of the photographer of Homs website who had been shot in his leg by a sniper in a neighborhood in Homs and is continuing his duty with more persistence.
For his part, Ali Wannous, the technical coordinator at the agency, said that the number of visitors to the agency websites has reached 10,000, while the number of those communicating on the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube amounted to 23,000.
He mentioned that the number of people listening to the internet radio, which is currently broadcasting a program through which youth communicate to express their ideas and proposals to overcome the crisis in Syria, has exceeded 1500.
Terrorist Gharibo: I Issued Several Fatwas Upon which the Terrorists Perpetrated Crimes Against Civilians
Aug 14, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Terrorist Ahmad Ali Gharibo, one of the armed terrorist groups’ Muftis in al-Maliha, Damascus countryside, admitted that he has issued several fatwas to the armed groups that permit killing upon which terrorists have depended to perpetrate a number of crimes against civilians.
“I was born in Aleppo countryside in 1964 and live in al-Maliha, East Ghouta.. I work as the Imam and preacher of Khadija mosque,” Terrorist Gharibo said in confessions to the Syrian TV broadcast Monday.
“One day, a car came to my house at 12 midnight.. four armed men came down and asked me to go with them for one hour.. they threatened me of my son if I rejected to go with them.. they took me to Dir al-Asafeer town.. when we arrived in there, we entered a tent where a group of people were inside with drugs in front of them,” the terrorist added.
He said “After interrogating me by the armed group, I pleaded to them to inform me about the person which threatened me.. they answered that his name was Mazen Zamzamm, a leader of an armed terrorist group in al-Maliha.”
Terrorist Gharib added that those evil persons were drug addicts, and one of them has raped a married woman.
“Later, they introduced me to a man called Abu Adi from Homs who has escaped from the army in Saqba.. they told me that they will give him the leadership of the group and they will name themselves as the free army, I told them you are free, it is up to you,” terrorist Gharibo said.
He added that a fatwa has been issued on a website, known as the fatwa No. 107, because it was issued by 107 Sheikhs inside and outside Syria.. it permits to kill anyone who deals with the State if he was proven a killer, they asked me about my opinion, I answered yes, it is true.
“It was my first fault to give a fatwa to kill.. they were killing in a unnatural way.. they were mutilating the bodies.. I remember that they have killed five persons and threw their bodies in the sewage and rubbish containers,” he said.
Terrorist Gharibo went on to say that al-Qaeda and Jabhat al-Nasra in Syria are takfiris, they believe in sectarianism, they regard bloodshed as lawful and they have no problem to kill civilians during their evil acts.