President al-Assad: The Scheme Directed against the Entire Region Not only Syria…the Syrian People Will Not Allow the Scheme to Pass whatever the Cost
Aug 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said the scheme currently taking place is not only directed against Syria but also against the entire region in which Syria is the cornerstone, which is why the foreign powers are trying to target Syria to complete their plots in the whole region.
The President’s statements came during his meeting with the Chairman of Iran’s Shura Council’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi.
President al-Assad reaffirmed Syria’s firmness in its approach of resistance and defending the legitimate rights of the people notwithstanding the scale of cooperation between the Western and some regional countries that is aimed to deviate Syria from its stances.
He stressed that the Syrian people will not allow this scheme to pass and reach its goals whatever the cost.
The talks during the meeting dealt with the brotherly relations and strategic cooperation between Syria and Iran in the various fields.
Boroujerdi, for his part, underscored the common interests shared between Syria and Iran, stressing that the security of Syria is Iran’s security.
He reaffirmed Iran’s continued support for Syria, government and people, on all levels and its constant consultation with Damascus regarding any initiatives proposed for getting out of the crisis in Syria, considering this an essential issue for the success of any initiative.
The Iranian official said that in the same way Iran suffered from terrorism and has overcome that difficult period, Syria is likewise able to do so as both countries are like “steel”, stressing that the foreign powers, no matter what level their conspiracies could reach, cannot undermine Damascus and Tehran’s resistant role in the region.
Afterwards, Vice-president Farouk al-Shara received Bororjerdi and discussed with him the bilateral relations, with al-Shara expressing appreciation of the objective stances of Iran towards what is taking place in Syria.
Earlier, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Walid al-Moallem, had met with Boroujerdi and discussed with him the situation in Syria and the role of the anti-resistance axis foreign powers in targeting Syria’s security and stability.
On August 7th, President al-Assad met with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, and discussed with him the solid cooperatiin and strategic relations between their countries and the situation in the region.
The meeting also touched upon the attempts of the Western countries and their allies in the region to strike the axis of resistance through targeting Syria by supporting terrorism in it.
Large Number of Terrorists Killed in Aleppo, Damascus Countryside and Homs
Aug 26, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA)_Units of the armed forces on Sunday clashed with terrorists, causing them heavy losses in different parts of Aleppo and its countryside.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that an armed forces’ unit clashed with terrorists in Bab al-Hadid in Aleppo, killing and injuring a number of them.
The source added that the military units clashed with terrorists near the Cultural Center in Hanano neighborhood, killing most of them. In Aleppo countryside, the Syrian Arab Army carried out a qualitative operation in Manbij area, causing heavy losses among the terrorists near the Agricultural School, the source also mentioned.
SANA also reported that units of the armed forces destroyed a den of terrorists near the Directorate of Land Reclamation HQ in Deir Hafer village in Maskana, according to the source.
The source said that the army forces killed a number of terrorists, including a sniper, near a mall in Saif al-Dawla area, as they also killed several snipers stationed on buildings’ roofs in Mahalt Sayyed Ali area overlooking al-Aziziyeh and al-Suleimaniyeh neighborhoods in the city.
The source pointed out that several terrorists were killed and injured near the Industrial School in al-Saliheen region, as three cars equipped with DShK machineguns were destroyed in Tal Hidyeh, south of the province.
A unit of the armed forces targeted terrorists near al-Tananir Square in Aleppo.
An armed forces unit cleared the Scientific Institute of Aleppo of armed groups which vandalized it, killing many terrorists and arresting others.
Spiritual leader of the Arab Anglican Church in Aleppo, Father Ibrahim Nassir, told the Syrian TV that terrorists wrought havoc in the Institute because they oppose intellect and words, stressing that the targeting of this academic establishment which educated generations of Syrians for over a century is an act of vandalism against the entire country
Nassir thanked the Syrian Armed Forces who are fulfilling their duty and responding to citizens’ appeals to save them from terrorists.
Armed forces units targeted gatherings of terrorists in the areas of Maysaloun, Saif al-Dawla, Bustan al-Basha, al-Marja roundabout, al-Sakhour roundabout and al-Baidin roundabout in Aleppo, killing several terrorists and destroying vehicles equipped with DShK machineguns.
On Saturday, a unit of the armed forces clashed with terrorists near Serbian swimming pool in Aleppo.
The clash resulted in the killing of a number of terrorists and destroying their cars which were equipped with DShK machineguns.
The Syrian armed forces also carried out a qualitative operation near the Sports Institute roundabout in Aleppo, inflicting huge losses among the mercenary terrorists and destroying a number of their cars which were equipped with DShK machineguns.
Armed Forces Continue Clearing Darayya Area from Terrorists
The armed forces continued their work to clear the area of Darayya in Damascus countryside from terrorist groups, pursuing terrorists and raiding their hideouts.
These operations resulted in the deaths of a large number of terrorists, the arrests of others, and the confiscation of large amounts of weapons.
Confiscated weapons include RPG launchers, US-made sniper rifles, mortar rounds, homemade rockets and improvised explosive devices, and materials and equipment for making them, in addition to silencers, night-vision goggles and wireless communication devices.
In addition, engineering units dismantled three explosive devices planted by terrorists in the streets of Darayya.
Terrorists Severely Hit in al-Hosn and Talkalakh
An armed forces’ unit pursued an armed terrorist group that attacked citizens and law-enforcement members near al-Ouja roundabout in al-Hosn town in Homs countryside, killing and injuring its members.
SANA correspondent quoted a source in the governorate as saying that the authorities in Talkalakh city repelled on Saturday an armed terrorist group which tried to attack the law-enforcement members and inflicted huge losses among them.
Authorities Hunt Terrorists in Idleb Province
The authorities for the 5th day continued pursuit of the armed terrorist groups in Ariha, Idleb and the surrounding areas, inflicting heavy losses among them through qualitative operations that target the mercenaries.
A source told SANA reporter that the authorities hunted the terrorists at al-Sina’a neighborhood in Ariha, killed and injured a number of them while others were arrested.
The source added that during the operation two cars equipped with Dushka machineguns were destroyed.
An armed forces unit clashed with a terrorist group that attempted to block Harem road in Idleb and seized cars containing food bound for Idleb city, with the armed forces eliminating a large number of terrorists and recovering the stolen goods.
In the villages and wilderness surrounding Dama area in Idleb, an armed forces unit chased down terrorist groups and killed many of their members.
Authorities Arrest Wanted Terrorists in Hama
Following investigations, the authorities chased down terrorist groups in the neighborhoods of al-Sabouniyeh and al-Ulaylat in Hama, arresting several wanted men and confiscating their weapons.
An official source told SANA that confiscated items include 11 7.62 automatic rifles, an Israeli-made sniper rifle, a NATO sniper rifle, 6 explosive devices, 2 Israeli-made bazooka launchers, and 30 mortar rounds.
Terrorists Assassinate Preacher of al-Imam al-Nawawi Mosque in Front of His Home in Damascus
A terrorist group assassinated sheikh Hasan Bertawi, preacher of al-Imam al-Nawawi Mosque in Rukneddin neighborhood in Damascus.
A source at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) said that the terrorists lay in wait for sheikh al-Bertawi and shot him dead in front of his home in Rukneddin.
Armed Terrorist Group Burns and Destroys Seven Tankers Loaded with Fuel and Gasoline
An armed terrorist group today attacked 7 tankers loaded with fuel and gasoline near al-Nairab bridge in Aleppo, burning and destroying them.
A source in Aleppo told SANA reporter that the tankers were heading for Aleppo to supply the citizens with those two materials, but the terrorists sabotaged them to prevent the people from their basic needs.
Salehi, Jalili and Larijani Meet Haidar, Affirm Iran’s Support for Resolving Crisis in Syria via Dialogue
Aug 26, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday discussed with Syrian National Reconciliation Minister Dr. Ali Haidar bilateral relations and regional and international issues, particularly the crisis in Syria and means for restoring security and stability in it.
Salehi stressed the need for restoring security and stability in Syria, reiterating Iran’s readiness to host dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.
He also stressed Tehran’s commitment to restoring stability to Syria via peaceful methods, lauding the six-points plan and the principles of the recent meeting in Tehran on Syria, affirming that the Syrian crisis can only be solved by dialogue, and that sustainable calm and stability can only be realized through ending violence, finding mechanisms for meeting the people’s demands, providing an atmosphere for dialogue between the government and the opposition, and supporting political participation of all parties and national dialogue.
In turn, Haidar lauded Iran’s position and the help it provides to restore sustainable calm and security in Syria, praising Iran’s efforts to establish communication with the Syrian opposition.
He also affirmed that the crisis in Syria can be resolved through dialogue, and that any political projects for resolving the crisis must involve a complete cessation of violence, rejection of foreign interference, and preventing the sending of weapons and foreign militants into Syria.
On a relevant note, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili underlined during his meeting with Haidar that Iran has always emphasized the need for national dialogue and finding a Syrian solution to the crisis.
Jalili underscored the need for ending violence, disarming the opposition, and ending some countries’ support of militants, calling for benefiting from new initiatives and involving new sections of the Syrian people in national dialogue.
For his part, Haidar said that Syrian-Iranian relations are deep-rooted and without peer, and that the Syrian people wish to determine their fate on their own through democracy and without foreign interference, which is why Syria is prepared to launch national dialogue.
He affirmed that Syria will overcome the current conditions in the end and will remain part of the resistance axis.
In a similar meeting, Minister Haidar discussed bilateral relations and the situation in Syria with Speaker of Iranian Shura Council Ali Larijani, with Larijani reiterating his country’s support for Syria’s people and leadership in the face of the conspiracy targeting it.
In turn, Haidar reviewed the efforts being exerted in order to restore Syria to normal, affirming that the solution lies in inclusive national dialogue which can only be achieved if violence ends and if foreign sides cease arming and funding militant groups.
Boroujerdi: Only Way to Resolve Crisis in Syria is Through Political Option
Aug 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Chairman of Iran’s Shura Council’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, reiterated his country’s rejection of any foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, affirming that holding the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran is an opportunity to help resolve the crisis in Syria.
During a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on Sunday, Boroujerdi said that his country’s initiative regarding Syria which will be presented at the NAM summit follows up on the consultative meeting held in Tehran which saw the participation of 30 countries that reject foreign intervention in Syria and believe in a political solution, with a special meeting due to be held on the sideline of the summit leading to forming a communication group.
He said that the main element in this issue is the approval of the Syrian government which welcomed dialogue as a positive preliminary step until the militant opposition and the countries supporting them decide to adopt the political solution, noting that the numbers iof those who support dialogue and a political solution are increasing each day as most countries realized that the militant actions of armed terrorist groups are futile.
Boroujerdi said that Iran is prepared to provide a suitable environment for dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition, saying that the Iranian initiative can be launched as soon as the opposition agrees to enter dialogue, adding that the names of the opposition groups who voiced readiness for dialogue will be announced after the NAM summit.
He also reiterated his country’s opposition of the suspension of Syria’s membership in the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, saying that these steps were prompted by US pressure.
On whether there’s coordination between Iran and the US regarding the Iranian initiative, Boroujerdi said that the US is one of the main reasons for the crisis in Syria as it worked since the beginning to direct its allies in the region towards military action against Syria. Therefore, there is no coordination with the US regarding the initiative.
He pointed out that the US provided weapons and support to terrorists in Syria, and worked to prevent Iran’s participation in the Geneva meeting, affirming that the idea of the US being able to impose its will and to achieve all its goal is erroneous.
Boroujerdi noted that Russia and China oppose the US policy against Syria, and that their use of veto at the Security Council and the presence of their fleets in the Mediterranean show their commitment to defending Syria’s independence.
He said that the main reason for trying to change the polticial structure in Syria is due to its support for resistance against Israel.
Boroujerdi pointed out that some members of the opposition who aren’t looking for polticial solutions rejected the government’s calls for withdrawing gunmen and weapons, voicing Iran’s faith in the reforms in Syria and in the fact that security and calm will help speed them up.
He affirmed that military intervention in Syria has become very unlikely after Russia and China opposed it strongly, saying that the media campaign against Syria has been exposed as negative media distorts the reality of what is happening in Syria.
On Iran’s coordination with regional countries to resolve the crisis in Syria, Boroujerdi said Iran is working to alter the Turkish policy towards Syria and that detailed talks were held in this regard.
Regarding the recent Iranian-Saudi talks which were held in Mecca, Boroujerdi hoped that Saudi Arabia would encourage armed groups to adopt the political option and abandon the militant option.
He also said that it’s possible to negotiate over forming a communication committee including Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as per Egypt’s suggestion, affirming that any such step should be done in coordination with the Syrian government to ensure its success.
On the role of UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in resolving the crisis, Boroujerdi noted that Brahimi has experience in resolving crises, and that Iran hopes that he will engage in resolving the crisis in a practical manner without being influenced by the countries who call for military action against Syria.
Regarding the abduction of Iranian visitors in Syria, Boroujerdi said that this is a humanitarian matter and a human rights issue, calling on all countries to fulfill their humanitarian obligation to help resolve this issue.
As for Israel’s threats to Iran, Boroujerdi affirmed that Israel doesn’t have the courage to carry out its threats as it knows very well the results of such stupidity, particularly after its defeat in July 2006 and the failure of its aggression against Gaza.
Salehi Stresses Iran’s Rejection of Foreign Interference in the Internal Affairs of Countries
Aug 26, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA)_ The preparatory expert-level meetings of the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) kicked off in Tehran on Sunday, with the participation of 120 delegations, among them the Syrian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi stressed in the inaugural speech his country’s rejection of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region under any pretext, indicating that foreign interference poses an obstacle to the development of the peoples of those countries. He called for not using human rights to exert pressure on countries.
”The world has been witnessing major developments over more than a year, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, which we support the demands of their people in freedom and justice that can be achieved through dialogue and respecting human rights,” Salehi said.
“We are now faced with many major developments and we have to invest all the potentials of the NAM for establishing security, peace and justice all over the world, particularly in such a sensitive period where an atmosphere of contradiction and disagreement prevails the international relations,” stressed the Iranian Foreign Minister.
He added that “This makes us in great need of collective and decisive steps that take the current world to another oworld that moves the cultural levels to a higher place and elevates respect to all internationally acknowledged rights, especially the right of self-determination and the right to have democratic governments.”
Salehi continued that “We as a movement must beware of the policies of interference and selfishness and adopt the approach of peaceful dialogue among civilizations and cultures as the way for putting an end to disputes, achieving peace and terminating racial discrimination.”
He saw that the UN, six decades on its inception, needs political reforms, calling upon the UN General Assembly to shoulder its responsibilities in solving the issues of international security and peace.
The Iranian official affirmed that the policy of terrorism and threats minimizes the international presence and weakens the position of the UN that is based on common interests, underscoring Tehran’s denouncement of any interference in the countries’ affairs under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
Salehi said that the Zionist entity represents international terrorism, stressing that achieving peace in the region is contingent upon ending the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands and the return of Palestinian refugees to their lands.
He considered the time being appropriate for moving ahead with eliminating terrorism, including the daily increasing international terrorism backed by the Western countries.
Salehi reaffirmed the peacefulness of Iran’s nuclear program, saying “Iran doesn’t want confrontation with anybody. What it wants is its internationally acknowledged rights to peaceful use of nuclear energy.”
He pointed out that the world today needs effective cooperation among the NAM members on the basis of justice and equality with the aim to effectively counter the main issues threatening humanity, stressing the necessity of finding a just system capable of confrontation to resolve the main international issues transparently.
The 16th NAM Summit in Tehran lasts from August 26 to 31. The expert-level meetings are scheduled for August 26-27, to be followed by foreign ministers’ meeting on 28-29. The leaders are due to meet on August 30—31.
The summit discusses international issues, regional crises, the situation in the Middle East and Latin America. Human rights issues, food security and heath are also on the table.
Mehmanparast Stresses Proposal of Plan on Confronting Foreign Interference against Syria on Sidelines of NAM Summit
The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, stressed that the Syrian crisis will be raised on the sidelines of the NAM conference to confront foreign interference in it.
Mehmanparast said on Sunday that members of the Non-Aligned Movement reject any foreign interference or activities of international extremist and terrorist groups in Syria, pointing out that the Syrian crisis will be discussed on the sidelines of the Summit in the framework of the regional issues, as members are to exchange viewpoints and discuss the issue of confronting any foreign interference in this country.
He added that members of the Movement are willing to hear the viewpoints of the Syrian people, follow up reforms and provide a comprehensive plan to solve the problems of this country.
The Iranian official underlined the importance of providing suitable atmosphere in Syria to fulfill the popular demands of the Syrians in a democratic course, expressing belief that this aim could be met in the framework of Annan’s six-point Plan.
He stressed that the Syrian people are meant to take the decision regarding the issues of their country, pointing out that whatever decision should be accompanied with the halt of violence and through a democratic framework.
On the possibility of achieving the Iranian proposal regarding the formation of an international contact group to settle the Syrian crisis with the Iranian membership, Mehmanparast said that this issue will be posed and discussed on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in Tehran.
Information Minister Hails Iranian Media’s Role in Conveying Reality in Syria
Aug 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Information Minister, Omran al-Zoubi, hailed the role played by the Iranian media via its various channels, particularly those speaking Arabic, in conveying an objective image of the reality of what is taking place in Syria.
During his meeting on Sunday with Chairman of Iran’s Shura Council’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, al-Zoubi stressed that parts of the war on Syria is a media war that is based on circulating a large amount of fabricated news items to convey an image that is contrary to the reality with the aim of misleading the Arab and international public opinion.
He highlighted the shift in the course of media since the war on Iraq, during which he said media was side by side with the occupation forces, only to now turn into a tool and a party in the aggression on Syria.
Minister al-Zoubi affirmed the solid cooperation between Syria and Iran in the field of media on several levels including those of training and qualification and expertise exchange, stressing the necessity of expanding the prospects of this cooperation in service of the common interests in both countries.
For his part, Boroujerdi reiterated Iran’s stand in support for Syria in the face of the crisis it is going through, underlining the scale of international and regional pressures practiced on Syria since the start of the crisis.
He cited among those pressures the suspension of Syria’s membership in the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, noting that this crisis has uncovered who are the real friends of Syria and who are its enemies.
Boroujerdi highlighted also the scope of the misleading media practiced by some channels in terms of falsifying facts and fabricating news about Syria so as one can see two scenes of Damascus: the Damascus living normal life, “which we saw firsthand,” and the Damascus seen on some channels like al-Arabiya and al-Jazeera reflecting a contrary image.
The Iranian official expressed deep regret over the martyrdom of a number of Syrian journalists and media figures at the hands of armed terrorist groups which are targeting the civilians in Syria.
Libyan Terrorist Relates Details of How Terrorists are Trained in Libya with Funding from Arab Gulf Countries and Sent to Syria
Aug 26, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – In confessions broadcast by the Syrian Arab TV on Sunday after the 8:30 PM news, Libyan terrorist Ibrahim Rajab al-Farajani said that societies and organizations funded by Arab Gulf countries and affiliated with Al Qaeda train terrorists in Libya then send them to Syria via Turkey.
Al-Farajani, a Libyan from the city of Benghazi born in 1993, said that he joined a militant group after the events in Libya, and that during his time with this group he became aware that its members were in contact with people in al-Zantan area where Qatari and Emirati planes loaded with weapons, Toyota SUVs and Qatari officers who trained militants in the use of AK-47 rifles and machineguns of various calibers and gave them monthly payments of 2000 Libyan dinars.
He revealed that sheikhs from Qatar and the Emirates funded Jihadists in order to establish an Islamic emirate in Libya, while some mosque Imams in Libya urged people to bear arms and go to places like Chechnya and Algeria to take part in their version of Jihad.
Al-Farajani said that eventually he joined a battalion affiliated with Al Qaeda which trained Syrians in the use of rocket launchers and grenades then sent them to Syria gradually to fight the Syrian army.
He pointed out that the battalion made a passport for him without even telling him that he was to be sent to Syria, then he was sent to Turkey by plane and arrived in Antioch, where a Syrian took them to a house containing people from Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Syria, all of them wearing masks and well-trained.
One of these men, a Syrian from Damascus referred to as Abu al-Bara’a, showed them videos and gave them books to prepare them mentally for fighting in Syria, then al-Farajani was sent into Syria along with people from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, arriving in a house in the village of Atma in Idleb which contained RPG launchers and PKC machineguns, with a car equipped with a DShK machinegun parked outside.
Afterwards, al-Farajani accompanied four terrorists into the town of Saraqeb in a pickup truck to where a group of Syrians were using a girls’ highschool to train in the use of DShK and PKC machineguns and RPG launchers.
He went on to say that he went with two terrorists into the a number of towns then headed towards Aleppo, ending up in Tel Rifa’at in Aleppo countryside where they met Syrian militants hiding in a school, and later met terrorists from Kuwait, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Syria in a house in the town of Mare’a.
He concluded by saying that he left that house with the terrorists and was given weapons and USD 50,000 to be given to people in Damascus and its outskirts.
The Sunday Telegraph: Fundamentalist Groups Recruit More Britons to Fight in Syria
Aug 26, 2012
MANCHESTER, BRITAIN, (SANA)- Fundamentalist groups are recruiting increasing numbers of young Britons to head to Syria and fight along the armed terrorist groups, according to the British newspaper of the Sunday Telegraph.
An investigation by the Sunday Telegraph published on Saturday, revealed that “fundamentalist groups in the Syrian civil war are recruiting growing numbers of young people from Britain with no previous links to the country,” noting that many of those are from Pakistani and Sudanese origins.
The investigation, prepared by Andrew Gilligan, has established that the young British people travelling to Syria are mainly of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sudanese parentage and are separate from the hundreds of British residents of Syrian descent who have been recruited by those groups and sent to Syria.
The Sunday Telegraph said “MPs, community leaders and anti-extremism campaigners are deeply worried that a new generation is being radicalised in Syria, in the same way as British bombers and terror plotters of the past decade were schooled along the Afghan-Pakistan border. But the British security authorities appear to be taking little or no action.”
The investigation referred to one of those ‘Jihadi Britons’ called Alshafie Elsheikh, 23, from White City in west London, who, the newspapers said, travelled to Syria this spring, according to Dr Salah al Bander, a former Liberal Democrat councilor and director of the Sudanese Diaspora and Islamism Project at the Sudan Civic Foundation.
The newspaper quoted al-Bander as saying that Elsheikh “is of Sudanese, not Syrian, ancestry – and told Dr al Bander that he knew of more than 20 others like him preparing to travel to the fight.”
“He told me before he left that he was going to join the jihad brigades in Syria, describing it as a holy cause,” said al Bander, adding that “[Elskeikh] said he was joining two other UK-based mujahideen, one of Somali origin and the other from Morocco.”
Al-Bader continued that Elsheikh told him that they were not trained in using firearms “but had been preparing for the trip since last year by doing very advanced physical exercises.”
“When I asked him about the numbers of his associates that were planning to go to Syria, he said that as far he knew there were 21 individuals ready to leave the UK very soon,” said al-Bader.
Elsheikh’s mother, Maha Elgizouli, told the Sunday Telegraph, who could not contact Elsheikh himself, that her son had left her a note saying he had “gone to fight for God”, but refused to speak further.
The investigation showed that at least 30 young Britons who are not of Syrian origin have travelled to take part in the fighting in it, quoting Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingam Perry Barr.
“There are a lot of sheikhs [religious leaders and scholars] in the West Midlands who are involving young people in this activity,” Barr told the British newspaper.
Barr expressed extreme concern “because I see similar things to what happened at the original stages of the Afghanistan war where we were supporting the mujahideen against the Russians. We wanted to get the Russians out and we armed people, we encouraged people to go out there and fight in the jihad.”