President al-Assad Decrees Establishing Veterinary Medicine Faculty affiliated with Damascus University in Daraa City
The decree stipulates for establishing a veterinary medicine faculty affiliated with Damascus University in Daraa city.
Sixteen Army and Law-enforcement Martyrs Laid to Rest
Solemn funeral processions were held for the martyrs who were targeted by armed terrorist groups while they were in line of duty in Damascus Countryside, Homs, Daraa and Aleppo.
The martyrs are:
- Lieutenant Colonel Ma’an Ahmad Shakkouf, from Homs.
- Aspirant Mazen Bader Hussam-Eddin, from Lattakia.
- Warrant officer Ya’el Hamed Wannous, from Hama.
- Sergeant Major Alaa mohammad Suleiman, from Tartous.
- Sergeant Suleiman Hamad Seif, from Sweida.
- Sergeant Youssef Khalil al-Jasem, from Raqaa.
- Corporal Ayham Diyab al-Saleh, from Hama.
- Corporal Hussam-Eddin Abu Mudirah, from Damascus Countryside.
- Conscript Abed Ali Ali, from Aleppo.
- Conscript Assad Mamed Bakko, from Aleppo.
- Conscript Mohammad Dib Hussein Sarraj, from Aleppo.
- Conscript Abdul-Rahman al-Ghabani, from Hama.
- Conscript Ahmad Mohammad al-Jaber, from Raqaa.
- Conscript Najm-Eddin Diyab, from Raqaa.
- Conscript Mohammad Zakariya Barakat, from Lattakia.
- Policeman Ghandi Mohammad Maryam, from Hama.
The families of the martyrs expressed confidence in the Syrian people’s ability to overcome the crisis through adhering to the national unity, asserting that the blood of the martyrs is the guarantee for fortifying Syria in the face of the challenges.
They expressed rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, calling for confronting the armed terrorist groups and striking with an iron fist those who try to tamper with the homeland’s security and stability.
§Two Military Engineering Members Martyred in Aleppo… Terrorists Attack Oil Pipelines in Deir Ezzor and Homs, Kill Two Children, Assassinate a Nurse in Damascus
PROVINCE, (SANA)_ Two members from the military engineering units were martyred, one was injured and a law-enforcement member was injured on Tuesday as an explosive device was detonated by an armed terrorist group in Al Azizieh neighborhood in Aleppo.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that the military engineering units had just dismantled an explosive device when the armed terrorist group detonated another one in the same area.
The source added the explosion led to the martyrdom of Sergeant Ali Hassan Marouf, Bishing Abdo Alik, adding that Sergeant Maher al-Hakim and Warrant Officer Rami Qashqa’ from the law-enforcement forces were wounded.
Oil Pipelines in Deir Ezzour and Homs Attacked
An armed terrorist group on Tuesday detonated with an explosive device oil derivatives pipeline extending from Homs to Damascus and the Southern region at al-Sultaniya area in Homs causing fire to erupt at the site of the blast.
Earlier, an armed terrorist group detonated with an explosive device an oil transfer pipeline between Eyin Ali area south of al-Quriya city in Deir Ezzour causing fire to erupt at the site of the blast.
A source at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources told SANA reporter that the 24-inch diameter oil pipeline,which belongs to al-Furat Oil Company, transfers crude oil from al-Omar field to T2 station.
The source added that pumping operations were halted after the explosion, adding that the maintenance workshops will start repair works soon to restore pumping oil in the next few days.
The same pipeline has been targeted twice during the past two weeks as an armed terrorist group detonated the pipeline near Abu Hamam area.
Terrorist Infiltration Attempts from Lebanon to Syria Thwarted
The competent authorities on Monday confronted two infiltration attempts by armed terrorist groups near al-Jousieh crossing in al-Qseir city and near Qumar Bridge in Talkalakh countryside.
A source at Homs Governorate told SANA reporter that the clash between the authorities and the armed groups resulted in the killing of a number of terrorists and the injury of others at the aforementioned sites and the destruction of a war that an armed group was driving at al-Jousieh crossing.
The source added that the rest of the terrorists fled towards the Lebanese territories.
An armed terrorist group exploded Tuesday morning a gasoline pipeline – Homs-Adra Pipline at Babamro-al-Sultaniah in Homs Governorate.
According to an official source at the Ministry of Oil and Petroleum, the competent authorities are taking the necessary measures to extinguish the fire caused by the explosion and repair the pipeline as to re-start pumping operations.
Another armed terrorist group launched a similar attack yesterday against an oil pipeline affiliated to al-Furat Company at al-quoria village in Deir Azzour Governorate.
Meantime, in Damascus Governorate, competent authorities clashed with armed terrorists at Douma outskirts killing the terrorists who were in Dushka machinegun –equipped four cars.
Other four terrorists were killed and four others injured, some of them captured, in the clashes with terrorists between Rankous and Azzabadani in Damascus Countryside.
Car Bomb Kills Two Terrorists in Idleb Countryside
A car bomb killed two terrorists on Tuesday in Jisr Hileh in Idleb countryside.
SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that the two terrorists were in the car when it exploded causing damage in the area.
Meanwhile in Hama province, competent authorities clashed with an armed terrorist group in al-Qusour neighborhood.
SANA reporter said that the clashes resulted in killing many terrorists, arresting others and seizing their weapons which included machineguns, RPG launchers, night-vision goggles, remote-control devices and a large amount of ammunition.
Authorities Uncover Workshop for Manufacturing Explosives in Douma
The authorities raided a terrorist hideout in Douma, Damascus Countryside, and clashed with a number of terrorists hiding in it, killing some of them and arresting the rest.
An official source told SANA’s correspondent that inspection of the hideout uncovered a workshop for manufacturing explosives devices and rigging car bombs.
Terrorists Storm Citizen’s House in Qudsaya and Kill His Sons, Assassinate a Nurse in Rukn Eddin
An armed terrorist group stormed the house of citizen Ammar Shamiyeh, behind al-Badr Hospital in Qudsaya in Damascus Countryside.
A source at the Police Command told SANA reporter that the terrorists opened fire on Shamiyeh’s sons Murhaf (19 years old) and Yazan (15 years old), causing their immediate death.
In Rukn Eddin area in Damascus, two terrorists assassinated the nurse Jamileh Aziz Ahmad.
A source at the Police Command in the province told SANA that the two terrorists intercepted the way of the 40-year-old nurse and shot her while she was walking in the street.
Engineering units explode a number of explosives planted by armed terrorist groups in different areas of Idleb
The Engineering units today exploded a number of explosives planted by armed terrorist groups in different areas of Idleb that were prepared to target the citizens and law enforcement personnel.
A source in Idleb told SANA reporter that the engineering units blew up explosives with 100 KG at the southern entrance of Maarat al-Numan and two others with 75 KG each on Ariha- Jisr al-Shoughour road.
It added that the explosives were put by terrorists within the populated areas.
§Shaaban and Bogdanov Discuss Latest Developments on Events in Syria
MOSCOW, (SANA)- Presidential Political and Media Advisor, Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, discussed on Monday with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, the latest developments regarding the events in Syria and the Russian efforts to consolidate stability in Syria and help launch the dialogue in it.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Dr. Shaaban expressed thanks over Russia’s stance of rejecting foreign interference in the Syrian affair and its role seeking to create the conditions for a diplomatic political settlement and prevent the supply of money and weapons to the gunmen in Syria.
Lavrov Stresses Importance of Unifying Efforts of External Players to Reach Peaceful Settlement
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the Russia-proposed international conference on Syria would provide appropriate conditions for starting a political dialogue among the Syrian parties.
The Ministry was quoted by Russia Today website as saying that Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, having discussed the crisis in Syria on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Los Cabos in Mexico, stressed the importance of unifying the efforts of external players to reach peaceful settlement to the situation in Syria.
The Ministry added that Lavrov drew attention to the necessity of creating appropriate conditions to start political dialogue among the Syrian parties, through which they themselves are to solve the issues of “overhauling the political system in the country”.
It pointed out that the Russian initiative on an international dialogue on Syria is particularly aimed at achieving this end.
§Al-Hamwi Denounces Biased and Subjective Statements Issued by Pillay Based on Provocative Media Reports
GENEVA, (SANA) – Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG), Dr. Fayssal al-Hamwi, stressed that the armed terrorist groups are still violating the plan of UN Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, with the support of some regional countries and the United States of America.
Dr. al-Hamwi’s remarks came in response to the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s allegations and some states’ representatives that support the armed terrorist groups in Syria during the 20th meeting of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva on Monday.
Dr. al-Hamwi expressed the Syrian delegation’s disapproval of the biased and subjective statements made by the High Commissioner based on some provocative media reports.
On Pillay’s allegations that the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) did not manage to reach some areas in Syria, Dr. al-Hamwi pointed out that the good standing cooperation between the international observers and the Syrian Government was certified by the head of the mission who affirmed that his team was moving freely in the country.
Dr. al-Hamwi also refuted the allegations of the representatives of Qatar, Libya and the USA about the casualties in Syria, pointing out that these countries are supplying the armed gangs with weapons and money.
For his part, Russia’s representative stressed the importance of solving the crisis in Syria through peaceful means, calling for supporting Annan’s plan.
§Homs Governorate: Armed Terrorist Groups Thwarted Efforts to Evacuate Civilians
HOMS, (SANA) – Homs Governorate said on Tuesday that its efforts to rescue civilians trapped in neighborhoods where armed terrorist groups are located have failed, and that mediators dealing with other sides informed the Governorate that the terrorists refused to allow any citizen to leave these areas.
In a statement, the Governorate said that this situation endangers the lives of innocent civilians, especially children, women, elderly and individuals with special needs, and that it shows that the terrorist continue to threaten and terrorize civilians and refuse to comply with the efforts being exerted for around a week to evacuate these citizens.
The Governorate called upon all those who sincerely want to help to participate in rescuing the citizens trapped in these neighborhoods and help end this tragic situation, affirming that the terrorist groups are accountable for the lives of these citizens due to their refusal to let them leave.
The statement concluded by affirming that the Government took all necessary steps to evacuate these citizens without any restrictions or conditions, and that it complied fully with the UN observer mission and prepared all possible necessities that citizens will need when they leave the neighborhoods afflicted by terrorist groups.
§State Ministry for Environmental Affairs Denounces Terrorists’ Infringements upon Forests
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The State Ministry for Environmental Affairs denounced the infringements carried out by armed terrorist groups and those who support them upon forests in Syria, primarily in the northern and northwestern areas on the borders with Turkey.
In a statement, the State Ministry said terrorists have been using Syrian forests in the aforementioned border areas as a convenient hiding place and starting fires in them to facilitate and cover their entry from Turkey to Syria, noting that these infringements are taking place because of the logistic support and weapons supplied to terrorists by Turkey and its providing them with a temporary haven and allowing them to use Turkey’s forests to pass into Syria.
The statement noted that the Turkish sides’ readiness to douse the forest fires started by terrorists indicates prior knowledge of where and when they will occur.
§Russian Defense Ministry Denies News on Preparations for Military Exercises in Syria
MOSCOW, (SANA)- The Russian Defense Ministry denied news on preparations to conduct large-scale military exercises on the Syrian territories with Russia’s participation, a statement by the Ministry said on Tuesday.
It added that the recurrence of such media misinformation recently by influential media based on various intelligence and satellite data aims at further intensifying the situation in Syria and do not reflect the reality on the ground.
The Russian Defense Ministry also dismissed news that the Russian Baltic Fleet large landing ship, Kaliningrad, is soon to set sail to the Mediterranean and enter Tartous Port in Syria.
The Ministry’s statement said that the only correct piece in this news is that Kaliningrad ship is indeed part of the Russia Baltic Fleet.
§Four Parliament Committees on Public Freedoms and Human Rights, Youths, Women’s Rights and Press Approved
DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The People’s Assembly on Tuesday agreed on establishing four new permanent committees on public freedoms and human rights, youths, family, children and women’s rights and the press, printing and publishing.
During a session chaired by Speaker Jihad al-Laham, a number of MPs said that this logical reform step came in line with the new constitution as it also reflects keenness on the people’s interests and enhancing freedoms, rights, social justice, national unity and cultural diversity.
They stressed the need for specifying the tasks assigned to the committees to ensure better performance.
They indicated the importance of following up on the requirements of youth and meeting their needs as they are the future of the country through the youth committee, particularly providing job opportunities and establishing a ministry for youth issues.
The members highlighted the role of the family, children and women’s rights committee in empowering women and preserving their rights as they are the main pillar of the society, in addition to drawing special attention to child labor.
They stressed the importance of the freedoms and human rights’ committee in the current stage since freedom is a holy right guaranteed by the constitution, in addition to enhancing the values of justice and trust between the citizens and the state so that Syria would remain an example of unity, amity and fraternity.
They called for changing the name of the press, printing and publishing committee to become media, printing, press and publishing and to task it with supervising the performance of the Ministry of Information, stressing the importance of having a media institution that is able to direct the public opinion in the interest of the homeland and reform process.
The members called for forming committees for combating unemployment, strategic studies and scientific research and care provision for the martyrs’ families.
A committee for accountability and corruption fighting was also called for to be in charge with following up on the affairs of the Central Commission for Control and Inspection and the Central Apparatus for Financial Control, the two bodies charged with corruption issues.
The members also called for forming a committee to supervise the work of civil society organizations and syndicates and another for education, higher education and Arabic language empowerment.
They stressed the need for forming a special temporary committee to study the situation of the affected and displaced citizens due to the current events in the country and the families of civilian and military martyrs to ease their suffering. The committee is to include all the Assembly’s members and operate all over the Syrian provinces.
Stress was also placed on forming a committee to follow up on the implementation of the ministries’ work and projects and presenting monthly reports on any faults.
The members suggested forming a committee for small and medium-sized project development to provide job opportunities for the youths and support their civil initiatives, in addition to establishing a committee for universities and institutes and forming offices at the universities for dialogue with the students.
They underscored the importance of establishing a committee for taking care of and attracting the Syrians expatriate innovators.
They called for a special committee for relief and another temporary one for embarking on the national reconciliation.
Another suggestion focused on forming a social committee to consolidate national unity and rebuilding trust among the homeland’s citizens, and another for preserving national heritage and folklore.
The Assembly’s members stressed the importance of launching the comprehensive national dialogue and find the best means to activate the Assembly’s role in this regard.
They called for combating monopoly which led to a rise in the prices and activating the role of judiciary and monitoring its performance.
They also called for amending the statute of the People’s Assembly so as to enable its members to practice their role of scrutiny, monitoring and accountability as soon as possible to keep pace with the ongoing reform process.
A number of the members also called for re-imposing the state of emergency for a temporary and renewable period due to the prevailing security situation with the aim of protecting the citizens against the violations and criminal acts of the terrorist groups.
The discussions also focused on tackling the problem of the shortage of gas and gas oil and following up on the issue of gas oil smuggling and black market to help supply the citizens and peasants with these two materials.
§Fire at Aleppo Petrol Station Destroys 4 Fuel Tankers
ALEPPO, (SANA) – 4 gasoline and fuel tankers and 10 oil pumps were completely destroyed when a fire broke out in Aleppo Petrol Station in Bustan al-Basha area without human losses.
Governor of Aleppo, Mwafaq Khallouf told SANA reporter that the fire spark was triggered by a friction between two private cars at the entrance of the Station while draining the fuel tankers which caused fire to erupt and extend to other tankers. He estimated the damage at SYP 50 million.
§Putin and Obama: Need for Reaching a Halt of violence in Syria
Los Cabos, Mexico, (SANA)-Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he and his USA counterpart Barack Obama found common denominators about a lot of international problems, including the Syrian crisis
Putin said at a press conference Monday with Obama in Los Cabos, Mexico ” We held talks about international problems including the Syrian crisis.. we will continue our contacts on all issues.”
Obama, for his part said “We have agreed on the necessity of reaching a halt for violence in Syria and the need for running a political process to avoid a civil war.”
” In order to stop bloodshed in Syria, we call for an immediate halt to any form of violence… we support efforts of the UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan including the political shift into democracy, party pluralism and the political system which the Syrians select in the framework of Syrian sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” a statement by the two presidents stated.
§Fourteen Citizens Involved in Recent Events Turn Themselves In
DAMASCUS COUNTRYSIDE/ HOMS, (SANA) – 14 citizens who were misled and got involved in the recent events in the country and whose hands are clean of Syrian blood turned themselves in and surrendered their weapons in to the authorities in Damascus Countryside and Homs Provinces.
The citizens were released after pledging not to take up arms again or take part in vandalism or any act that affect Syria’s security and stability in the future.