Twenty-Two Army, Law-enforcement and Civilian Martyrs Laid to Rest
DAMASCUS/ LATTAKIA, (SANA)- On the music of the ‘Martyr’ and the ‘Farewell’, the bodies of 22 martyrs from the army, law enforcement forces and civilians on Thursday were escorted from the military hospitals of Tishreen in Damascus, Zahi Azraq in Lattakia and the Police Hospitals in Damascus to their final resting place.
Solemn funeral processions were held for the martyrs who were targeted by armed terrorist groups while they were in line of duty in Lattakia, Homs, Aleppo and Daraa.
The martyrs are:
Chief Warrant Officer Hussam Mohammad al-Laimouni, from Lattakia.
Chief Warrant Officer Mohammad Adnan al-Ali, from Lattakia.
Chief Warrant Officer Ali Ma’arouf Dibo, from Hama.
Chief Warrant Officer Alaa Younis Ali, from Lattakia.
Warrant Officer Mohammad Jawad Asaad, from Tartous.
Sergeant Zaher Hatim, from Hama.
Corporal Hamad Okla Saud, from Deir Ezzor.
Corporal Wisam Ali al-Sa’adi, from Daraa.
Conscript Zakariya Subhi al-Khalil, from Aleppo.
Conscript Imad Eiyadeh al-Hamad, from Deir Ezzor.
Conscript Ibrahim Taktouk, from Hasaka.
Conscript Moussa Hasan Zamzam, from Lattakia.
Conscript Abdul-Rahman Shahadeh Ali, from Damascus Countryside.
Conscript Tamer Jassem al-Izzo, from Damascus Countryside.
Conscript Mouhannad Munir Mayya, from Lattakia.
Conscript Saeed Khaled Jabr, from Daraa.
Policeman Abdullah Mohammad al-Jabali, from Quneitra.
Policeman Osama Saeed, from Tartous.
Civilian Nizar Salim Salameh, from Lattakia.
Civilian Amer Mualla Ibrahim, from Lattakia.
Civilian Rabea Samir Abbas, from Lattakia.
Civilian Ali Samir Abbas, from Lattakia.
The families of the martyrs expressed their pride in the martyrdom of their sons who sacrificed their souls to defend Syria’s security and stability.
They called for enhancing the national unity, expressing rejection of the foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs.
Authorities Arrest Al-Qaeda terrorist member who would blow himself up during Friday prayers
Damascus, (SANA)-The competent authorities on Thursday arrested terrorist Mohammad Houssam al-Sadaki, from al-Qaeda- Jabhat al-Nasra- who was planning to blow himself up inside al-Rifae mosque in Damascus during Friday prayers.
Al-Sadaki confessed that there are other persons supposed to explode themselves in a number of Damascus mosques today during Friday prayers.
Russia Expresses Deep Concern over Terrorist Attacks in Syria
MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russia expressed on Thursday its deep concern over escalating the terrorist attacks perpetrated by the armed groups and extremists in Syria and other regional countries, highlighting condemnation of the terrorist and inhuman attacks in Iraq yesterday.
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it is dangerous that extremists forces such as al-Qaeda are increasingly getting involved in the tragic events in the region.
The statement expressed Russia’s belief that a peaceful settlement to solve the crisis in Syria without foreign interference or military intervention serves the interests of Islamic countries and the international community.
Bogdanov: Settling the Crisis in Syria in accordance with the UN Envoy to Syria
The special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia M.L.Bogdanov reiterated Russia’s calls for settling the crisis in Syria in accordance with the UN Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan’s plan.
In a statement released by Russian Foreign Ministry, Bogdanov, during his talks with Jacques Audibert, a political director at the French Foreign Ministry , underscored the necessity to speed up the convening of an international conference about Syria as to effectively contribute to the implementation of Annan’s plan, asserting the need for all forms of violence to be halted.
The Russian and French officials, added the statement, exchanged views about prospects of diplomatic and political settlement to the crisis in Syria on the basis of Annan’s plan.
Earlier, Reuter News Agency disclosed that the armed opposition in Syria has received ‘newly armed with mortars, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades smuggled across borders by truck and donkey’ quoting sources in the opposition as saying that they ‘have taken advantage of a shaky truce to regroup against a Syrian army .
Thousand of shells and hundreds of sniper rifles, as well as anti-armour missiles, have been smuggled in via Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq in recent weeks, much of them from suppliers in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to opposition figures quoted by Reuters.
Russian Emergency Ministry: Humanitarian Factor should be basic in Solving Crisis in Syria
Director of the International Directorate at the Russian Emergency Ministry Yuri Brazhnikov today said that the humanitarian factor should become a basic element in solving the Syrian crisis.
Russia Today Site quoted Brazhinkov as saying after a meeting between Russian Emergency Minister Vladimir Puchkov with Undersecretary General of the UN Humanitarian issues Valerie Amos “We will cooperate with the UN World Food Program and with the Red Cross to offer nutritional aid to the needed.”
Amos, for her part, said that she inspected the situation in Syria and the residents’ needs, adding “the UN food programs include now 500.000 needed people.”
Authorities Seize Large Amounts of Weapons in al-Haffeh
LATTAKIA, (SANA) – Authorities seized on Thursday large amounts of weapons in al-Haffeh district in Lattakia countryside.
A source at the province said that the seized weapons include boxes of ammunition for machineguns, 36 Russian rifles, 48 RPG launchers, 33 sniper rifles, mortars, a reconnaissance aircraft and a field hospital.
The authorities also seized advanced communication devices, IDs, maps, military suits and explosive devices.
Engineer Jaber al-Assi, Head of the Electricity Department in al-Haffeh, said that the vandalism acts of terrorists targeted the electricity departments in the city and smashed their contents, adding that work is underway to fix the breakdowns.
He said that the losses are estimated in the millions of Syrian pounds.
8 Explosive Devices Dismantled in Aleppo, Terrorists Arrested, Killed and Wounded in Idleb
The military engineering units dismantled 8 explosive devices planted by the armed terrorist groups on Khan al-Asal road which lead to the Police Academy, near Prophet Yousef Mosque, in Aleppo.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that the weight of the explosive devices, which were ready for remote detonation, ranged between15 to 40 kg.
Authorities Arrest, Kill and Wound Terrorists in Idleb
Authorities in Idleb clashed with an armed terrorist group that committed sabotage acts and planted explosive devices killing and wounding a number of terrorists.
In the same context, the authorities on Wednesday evening stormed a hideout of a terrorist group in a farm near Idleb city and clashed with it killing all of its members.
In Jabal al-Zawiyeh in the countryside of Idleb, the authorities clashed with an armed terrorist group which attacked the law-enforcement forces in Deir Sunbul and killed its members.
The authorities also clashed with an armed terrorist group which terrified locals in Harem area, arresting two of them, killing and wounding others.
14 Citizens Involved in Recent Events Turn Themselves In
14 citizens who were misled and got involved in the recent events in the country and whose hands are clear of the Syrian blood handed themselves and their weapons in to the authorities in Homs and Damascus Countryside on Thursday.
The citizens were released to go back to normal life after pledging not to take up arms again or take part in vandalizing public and private properties.
Authorities Storm Dens of Armed Terrorist Groups in Douma, Kill and Arrest Several Terrorists
In cooperation with the residents and after investigations, authorities stormed dens of armed terrorist groups in Douma city in Damascus Countryside.
A source in the province told SANA reporter that clashes between the authorities and the armed terrorist groups resulted in killing and wounding many terorrists and arresting others and seizing their weapons.
The source added that the clashes also led to the martyrdom of three authorities’ members and wounding others.
14 People Injured in a Booby-trapped Car Blast near Damascus
DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE, (SANA)- Fourteen people were injured Thursday morning when a booby-trapped car exploded at a garage for buses and cars near Imam al-Sadr Hospital in al-Sayeda Zainab near Damascus.
A source at Damascus Countryside Police Department told SANA reporter that a suicide bomber was driving the booby-trapped car who blew himself up in an open garage injuring 14 persons and causing great material damage at and nearby the place of the explosion.
China Reiterates Rejection of One-sided Sanctions and Pressure to Solve Crisis in Syria
BEIJING, (SANA) – Spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Weimin, on Thursday reiterated China’s rejection of one-sided sanctions and pressure to solve the crisis in Syria.
In a press conference on Thursday, Liu said that “The international actions on Syria should be conducive to easing tension in the country, promoting a political resolution to the issue and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East region.”
He added that his county has maintained communication and coordination with all parties concerned in the crisis in Syria.
Liu stressed that the international community should provide full support for Annan’s mediation efforts and encourage the parties concerned to implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and Annan’s six-point plan.
He urged all Syrian parties to positively cooperate with the UN observers, halt all forms of violence and protect civilians, so as to defuse tension as soon as possible.
Regarding Russia’s proposal to convene an international conference on Syria and establishing a contact group on Annan’s initiative, Liu said that China adopts a positive stance towards the Russian proposal.
Liu added that his country believed the international community should adhere to the peaceful political solution.
“China has repeatedly said that it has no intention of siding with any Syrian party, and the Syrian people have the right to decide Syria’s development path and political system,” Liu said, adding that his country is open to all sides in Syria to reach a political solution that is based on dialogue and acceptable to the international community.
“China calls for patience and international solidarity, given the complicated situation in Syria,” said the spokesman, expressing his country’s hope that Annan’s efforts will make more progress as soon as possible.
Iran: Continuing Organized Terrorist Operations in Syria and Iraq Will Destabilize the Whole Region
TEHRAN, (SANA) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hussein Amir Abdullahian warned parties involved in the organized terrorist operations in Iraq and Syria of that continuing these acts will destabilize the security of the whole region.
In a statement to the Iranian News Agency IRNA, Abdullahian condemned the recent terrorist acts in Iraq, expressing sympathy with the martyrs’ families, indicating that the enemies of the region are the only beneficiaries of such acts.
UN Observer Teams Continue Tours in Syrian Provinces
PROVINCES,SANA_ A delegation of UN observers on Thursday inspected the site of the explosion that rocked al-Sayeda Zainab near Damascus injuring 14 persons and causing great material damage at and nearby the place of the explosion.
The terrorist explosion was carried out by a suicide bombers driving a booby-trapped car.
Another delegation visited Ma’aloula and met a number of citizens.
The observers also visited al-Haffah city in Lattakia countryside and were briefed on the acts of sabotage, looting and destroying public and private properties by gunmen to terrify civilians.