Armed Forces Take Control of Salah Eddin Neighborhood in Aleppo, Terrorists Crossing Border from Lebanon Repelled
Aug 08, 2012
PROVINCES, (SANA) – The Armed forces assumed full control of Salah Eddin neighborhood in Aleppo on Wednesday and inflicted heavy losses upon the armed terrorist groups there, killing and wounding a large number of their members.
An official source told SANA reported that a large number of terrorists were killed, some of them of Arab and foreign nationalities, and that tens of terrorists were arrested while others surrendered and turned in their weapons.
The source said that large amounts of weapons were seized from the terrorists, and that the armed forces are still pursuing vanquished terrorists in the neighborhood and Saif al-Dawla and al-Sukari areas to which some terrorists fled.
In Bustan al-Basha area, an armed forces unit confronted a terrorist group, killing and wounding many terrorists, while another armed forces unit clashed with terrorists in Bab al-Nasr area and inflicted heavy losses upon them.
An armed forces unit also carried out an operation targeting a large weapon storehouse used by terrorists in Mayer area, destroying it completely along with seven trucks full of weapons and ammo which militants were unloading. Many terrorists were wounded or killed in this operation.
Tens of Terrorists Killed, Cars Equipped with Machineguns Destroyed in Aleppo
In Aleppo, the authorities carried out a “qualitative operation” against the armed terrorist groups in the area of Aghiour roundabout and al-Sighn street in the city of Aleppo.
SANA reporter cited a source in the province as saying that the operation resulted in the death and injury of tens of terrorists and the destruction of 3 SUV cars equipped with DShk machineguns.
Three Pickup Trucks Equipped with DShK machineguns in Bab al-Neirab neighborhood in Aleppo
Authorities pursued an armed terrorist group riding three pickup trucks equipped with DShK machineguns in Bab al-Neirab neighborhood in Aleppo.
A source in the province told SANA correspondent that the authorities destroyed the three cars and killed the terrorists.
Authorities Repel Terrorist Infiltration Attempt from Lebanon
The authorities and the border guards on Wednesday repelled two terrorist groups as they were attempting to cross the border from Lebanon at the sites of Edlin and al-Ghaideh in the Talkalakh city in the countryside of Homs.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the authorities inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist groups’ members killing and injuring most of them while other managed to flee back into the Lebanese territories.
The source also mentioned that the authorities last night ambushed an armed terrorist group that had attacked citizens blocked roads in the area between the towns of al-Shayahat and al-Zirae’ in the countryside of al-Qseir city.
According to the source, 10 terrorists were killed while others were arrested.
Authorities Inflict Heavy Losses on Terrorist Group in Lattakia Countryside
The authorities pursued an armed terrorist group which had been carrying out armed robberies and opening fire on passing cars at Mazyan junction near al-Qasatel village in Lattakia countryside.
The authorities inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, destroyed a number of cars they had been using, and secured the road.
Authorities Storm a Terrorist Hideout in Salma Town, Lattakia Countryside
Authorities stormed a terrorist hideout in Salma town in Lattakia countryside which was used as a media and command center by terrorists.
An official source in the province told SANA reporter that the operation resulted in killing a number of terrorists and arresting the rest.
Terrorists Killed, Four explosive devices Dismantled in Homs
Armed forces clashed with a terrorist group in Jouret al-Shayah in Homs, eliminating its members and leader, the terrorist Obeida al-Naq.
Military engineering units dismantled 4 explosive devices planted by terrorists along the road linking the town of al-Houz abd Modan in al-Qseir countryside in Homs.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that four barrels filled with explosives weighing between 50 to 60 kg were linked to each other with a primer and a wire and they were prepared to blow up all at once.
Meanwhile in Homs countryside, the authorities ambushed an armed terrorist group in al-Qseir.
A source in the province told SANA correspondent that clashes between the authorities and the armed terrorist group led to killing and injuring several terrorists.
Syrian Journalists Organize Solidarity Stand, Condemn Terrorist Act against Syrian TV
Aug 09, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – In condemnation of the terrorism targeting the national media, journalists from various Syrian media outlets organized on Wednesday a solidarity stand outside the General Organization of Radio and TV building which was targeted by a sabotage act on the sixth of the current month.
Journalists waved placards condemning the terrorist acts targeting the national media and stressing that any attack against the media is a direct attack against the society.
In a statement to journalists, Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi expressed appreciation of the wide participation of journalists in this solidarity stand which expresses the feelings of free people who reject the sabotage act which targeted the General Organization of Radio and TV building.
He added that the sabotage act is aimed at silencing the Syrian national media which is broadcasting the complete truth to the people.
The Minister pointed out that the Syrian leadership has decision supported by the Syrian people to restore security and stability to all Syrian territories.
on August 6, An explosive device exploded inside the the third floor of the building of the General Organization of the Radio and Television in Damascus and caused a number of injuries.
Al-Zoubi said there is a real external aggression on Syria, adding that field military hospitals are sent from France to Jordan and gunmen from different nationalities to Turkey and South Lebanon, and recruitment offices are opened for what they call ”Jihad” in Syria.
He added that the issue has never been about reforms or change, but has been directly linked with the others’ desire to deprive Syria of its regional and international role.
Head of the Syrian Journalists’ Union, Elias Murad, said that these terrorist acts are attempts to silence national media, hoping that the kidnapped journalists would return to their families safe and sound.
Murad said that the Syrian Journalists’ Union and the Arab Journalists’ Union condemn such illogical terrorist acts, adding that the Union has sent messages to the Arab Journalists’ Union and international organizations concerned to condemn these acts.
He added that the Syrian journalists will continue their work in national media that represents the Syrian society and is open to all opinions.
Director of the General Organization of Radio&TV, Ramez Torjoman, said that the crime committed against the Syrian TV was plotted by some Western countries and funded by Arab countries involved in the hostile project against Syria, in a desperate attempt to silence the truth.
”We vow to remain at the front lines in defense of Syria under the leadership of President Bashar al-Assad,” he added.
Director of the Syrian TV, Maan Saleh, said that the morale of TV workers are higher than ever, adding that they are determined to continue their work as it is well known that the Syrian government and people are targeted.
Director-General of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Ahmad Dawwa, said that the terrorist acts targeting the Syrian national media are attempts to deviate it from its national role, especially at a time when Syria is facing an all-out war, adding that terrorism won’t weaken the Syrian journalists and media. Dawwa added that there have been several attempts to hack SANA website from several Arab and foreign countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, France, Belgium and Canada, adding that SANA has a qualified cadre that is capable of foiling these attempts.
Editor-in-Chief of al-Thawra newspaper, Ali al-Qasem said that the Syrian media has been a target for these armed terrorist groups as it succeeded in exposing lies and fabrications by satellite channels which became proficient in shedding Syrian blood, in addition to revealing the schemes hatched to topple the Syrian state.
News anchor Ghadir Hassan from the Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV channel said that the response of the Syrian journalists to those killers is that they will continue their work despite the terrorists’ killing and kidnapping acts.
Political, social and cultural figures and youth groups participated in the sit-in. Director of Top News Media network, Former Lebanese MP Nasser Qandil said that the attack against the Syrian media came as an implementation of the Arab League political decisions and those taken on an internationallevel by countries which claimed to call for freedom and democracy.
Qandil said that Syria proved that it possesses an army qualified to face wars and showed that brain washing failed in destroying the Syrian people’s vision of their future and homeland. He added that they thought that Syrian media is dead and they were surprised at its strength and capability for confrontation.
The youth Shebli Roumiyeh, from Damascus voluntary youth team, said that the Syrian media is free and honest and these terrorist acts will not undermine its determination to convey the truth.
In Tartous, journalists and workers in the media institutions in the province staged a sit-in in front of Tishreen newspaper office in the province to condemn the terrorist attack which hit the building of the General Organization of Radio &TV on August 6th.
The participants stressed that the criminal sabotage acts which serve the West’s interests and schemes to fragment the region will consolidate the Syrians’ strength and steadfastness in the face of the conspiracy.
Head of Tishreen newspaper office in Tartous, Mohammad Omran said that targeting the Syrian media reflects the bankruptcy of the western powers in their war against Syria.
In Lattakia, journalists and workers in the media institutions denounced the terrorist attack against the Radio &TV Center in Damascus, stressing their determination to reveal misleading claims circulated by satellite channels to shed Syrian blood.
They stressed that this terrorist act will not dissuade the Syrian journalists from performing their duties to overcome the attack launched by Arab and western powers to undermine Syria’s people, state and stance.
Chief of the Journalists Union branch in Lattakia and Tartous, Dawood Abbas, said that these terrorist acts aim at silencing the voice of truth and hiding the reality of events taking place. R. Raslan/M. Ismael/F.Allafi/al-Ibrahim
Turkey’s Republican People’s Party Leader: Erdogan Responsible for Situation in Syria
Aug 08, 2012
ANKARA, (SANA)_Leader of the Turkish Republican People’s Party, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, held the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, responsible for the situation in Syria, urging him to respond to the accusations against his government of arming the opposition and sending gunmen to Syria.
Kilicdaroglu said that the Turkish people who waged the first national liberation war in the region cannot accept their government’s interference in the internal affairs of other countries, indicating that his party will hold Erdogan’s government responsible by the constitution even if he doesn’t attend the emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Syria and south east Turkey, where fighting rages between the Turkish army and the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) members.
The Turkish authorities have denied media access to the area where the Turkish army is using F-16 warplanes and heavy artillery against the PKK members
Ahmadinejad: Only Way out of Crisis in Syria is Through Political Solutions Based on Syrian People’s Interests
Aug 08, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed the need to resolve the crisis in Syria through political solutions based on the interests of the Syrian People.
During his meeting in Tehran on Wednesday with Special Envoy of the Pakistani President, Sughra Imam, Ahmadinejad criticized the interference of some regional countries in the Syrian countries which further complicates the situation.
He affirmed that earning people’s freedom and the right to vote isn’t achieved through war, and that the upcoming meetings of the foreign ministers in Tehran and of the leaders of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Mecca represent an opportunity to adopt political and local solution to the Syrian crisis rather than armed conflicts.
Salehi: Consultative Meeting on Syria will Discuss Ending Violence
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the consultative meeting on Syria will be held on Thursday, attended by 12 or 13 countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America, adding that the number of participating countries might reach 15.
In a statement to the Iranian News Agency on Wednesday, Salehi said ”The main topic of Tehran meeting will be ending violence and national dialogue in Syria,” adding that Iran is focused on putting an end to violence as soon as possible and the importance of starting national dialogue.
On the 48 Iranian visitors kidnapped by armed terrorist groups in Syria, Salehi said that efforts are underway to release them.
Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister: Consultative Meeting in Tehran on Syria Aims to Help Syrian People Overcome the Crisis
Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdullahian said that the consultative meeting in Tehran on the situation in Syria aims to help the Syrian people overcome the current crisis.
Mehr News Agency quoted Abdullahian as saying that the meeting is due to be held in Tehran on Thursday, with the participation of a big number of influential Arab and regional countries.
”The participants in the meeting aim to stress rejection of violence as a means to settle disputes,” Abdullahian said, indicating that Tehran meeting will be held for enhancing regional and international efforts to help the Syrian people overcome the current crisis.
He said that the participants in the meeting believe that national dialogue is the best way to restore stability to Syria and pave the way for reaching a solution that is satisfactory to both sides.
Abdullahian said his country sees that the political solutions put forward by the UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, pave the way for ending violence in Syria, adding that the meeting embodies the political will of the participating countries to solve the crisis peacefully.
Russian Defense Ministry Refutes News on Assassinating Russian General in Syria
Aug 08, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian Defense Ministry and a security source on Wednesday said that Gen. Vladimir Cugiev, claimed by Syrian opposition to have been Killed in Syria, is safe and sound and lives, since he retired, in Moscow with his family.
The Ministry described the allegation of the so-called ‘Syrian opposition’ as flagrant lies, adding that such reports are aimed at provoking the Russian military personnel.
In the same context, a source at the Russian security forces said that Cugiev had worked as a consultant to the Defense Minister but he has not visited Syria since his retirement in 2010.
Gen. Cugiev: I am Safe and Sound, Rumors Provoke My Homeland
For his part, Gen. Cugiev told Russia Today Channel that these rumors are not only personal provocations, but also provocations against his homeland.
He stressed that he is in good health, and he lives in Moscow , expressing resentment over the rumors of his killing which have frightened his friends and relatives who started to call him asking about his health.
Russian Embassy in Damascus Refutes News on Assassinating Russian General in Syria
The Russian Embassy in Syrian on Wednesday dismissed media reports alleging that a Russian General was assassinated in Syria.
Novosti News Agency quoted a diplomat at the Embassy as saying that these reports are baseless.
In the same context, a Russian security source said that the retired Gen. Cugiev, claimed by Syrian opposition to be Killed in Syria, is safe and sound in Moscow.
Archbishop Hanna: Syria will come out of the Crisis Victorious
Aug 08, 2012
Qunaitera, (SANA)- Archbishop THEODOSIOS Attalla Hanna, Archbishop of Sebastia of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of the occupied Jerusalem underlined that Syria will come out of the crisis victorious, and will remain the Arab compass as it represents history and civilization.
During a visit to the Occupied Syrian Majdal Shams town to congratulate on the release of prisoner Yousef Shams on Wednesday, Archbishop Hanna called on the Syrians to engage in a constructive dialogue to realize a solution that prevents the Homeland form destruction and chaos.
He reiterated the Palestinians and the occupied Golan citizens’ support to Syria, as leadership and people, to overcome this crisis.
The liberated prisoner Yousef Shams and Sheikh Naseeb Farhat appreciated the support of Archbishop Hanna and the Palestinian people for Syria, stressing that the citizens of Golan will remain the faithful soldiers for the Homeland in the face of foreign plots.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Denies News on Connection between Kidnapped Iranian Visitors in Syria and Iran’s Revolution Guards
Aug 08, 2012
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Senior source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied news that claim connection between the Iranian visitors kidnapped by the armed terrorist groups in Syria and the Iranian Revolution Guards.
The source dismissed news on the killing of a number of the kidnapped Iranian visitors as completely baseless.
In the same context, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called for exerting more efforts to release the kidnapped Iranians in Syria and Libya.
In a letter addressing the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Salehi drew attention to the abduction of 48 Iranian visitors by terrorist gangs, which call themselves “the free army”, on Damascus International Airport road.
Salehi added that unknown gunmen kidnapped 7 members of Iranian Red Crescent visiting Benghazi upon invitation from the Libyan Red Crescent on July 31st.
He expressed the concerns of the Iranian government and families of the kidnapped over the health and security conditions of the Iranian nationals.
He called upon the UN Secretary General to cooperate to release the kidnapped Iranians, considering that the use of these people as human shield violates all international conventions and the human rights.
Iranian Official Affirms that All the Iranians Abducted in Syria are Alive
Director of the Middle East Department at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mojtaba Ferdoussipour, affirmed that all the Iranian hostages abducted in Syria are alive, and that Tehran is working to release them.
Ferdoussipour told al-Alam TV that communiqués regarding the fate of the hostages confirm that they are all alive and that there is nothing to confirm that any of them died, saying that news being reported in this regard are incorrect and inaccurate.
He said that intense efforts are being made by countries involved to release them and return them to Iran and that Iran began making contact to this end since the abduction took place, which includes exchange of letters with the US administration, in addition to the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister to Turkey and his meeting with his Turkish counterpart .
He added that due to the relation between the armed groups in Syria and Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, Iran demands that these countries exert efforts to release the abductees.
Syria, China Review Boosting Electrical Cooperation
Aug 08, 2012
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Minister of Electricity Imad Khamis reviewed with the Chinese Ambassador in Damascus Zhang Xun means of boosting future electrical cooperation between Syria and China.
The two sides discussed standing cooperation projects, contracts and memos of understanding with a number of Chinese companies in the field of electricity generating, importing electrical equipment and enhancing electrical system in Syria.
Minister Khamis and the Chinese ambassador discussed the two sides’ vision to enhance bilateral cooperation and overcome potential difficulties.
The minister expressed the Syrian government’s desire to boost cooperation in electricity and renewable energy investment projects.
Minister Khamis called for finding a mechanism to communicate with Chinese companies to present their bids for establishing investment projects in Syria.
For his part, Ambassador Zhang Xun stressed the deep Syrian-Chinese relations, particularly in the field of electricity, adding that the Export-Import Bank of China, the main funder of the Chinese economic investments and projects, is studying possibility of investment in renewable energy in Syria.
He reiterated China’s commitment to contracts signed between the two countries and following up on implementing projects in Syria.
The ambassador added that the Embassy is organizing a visit for businessmen and companies specialized in electrical energy to Syria to discuss available investment opportunities and enhancing bilateral cooperation
Primakov: Russia’s Position on Syrian Crisis is Moral
Aug 08, 2012
MOSCOW, (SANA) – Veteran Russian politician Yevgeny Primakov said that Russia’s position regarding the crisis in Syria is a moral one, the essence of which is preserving the lives of millions and guaranteeing the stability of an important region, warning than any external interference in Syria’s internal affairs will increase violence.
In an interview with Russkaya Gazeta newspaper, Primakov said that Russia’s position is based on political interests and gains and that this position is the only valid one in this situation.
He also affirmed that external forces are taking part in the events by supporting the armed opposition and facilitating the entry of mercenaries and training and arming them to fight the Syrian state, noting that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are funding militants while Turkey provides them with great support.
Primakov said that the orders given by US President Barack Obama to the CIA to support the Syrian opposition is blatant interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign country that poses no threat in any way to the United States or other countries.
He said that the west’s claims of supporting the Syrian opposition because of its desire to achieve democracy and stability in the region are completely false, because the toppling of the Syrian state will not result in democracy nor stability, adding that Al Qaeda’s involvement in the events in Syria alongside the opposition reveals the west’s intentions towards Syria.