Heavy Losses Inflicted upon Terrorist Groups in Several Provinces

Source : SANA

PROVINCES, (SANA)–Units of the army inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists in a series of qualitative operations in Daraya, Douma and Harasta in Damascus countryside. A number of terrorists, among them leaders of terrorists groups were killed and their dens destroyed in the operations.

An official source told SANA that a unit of the armed forces killed several terrorists in al-al-Jami'yatt neighborhood Daraya and the perimeter of Daraya National Hospital, among them Mohammad Abdo. The engineering units also dismantled explosive devices in the neighborhood.

A unit of the armed forces carried out a qualitative operation in Douma, destroying a hideout for terrorists and killing a number of them. The terrorists Mohammad Smoud and Amer Salim, leaders of two terrorist groups, as well as Mohammad Bouidani, Hussein Qaissanieh and Zaher Saidi were identified among the dead.

The source added that another unit killed and injured terrorists in Harasta city.

Army units have killed dozens of terrorists and injured others ,as they targeted their gatherings in Hejjeira, al-Dhiyabiyah and al- Nabk.

An official source told SANA reporter that army units carried out two operations in Hejjeira and al-Dhiyabiyah, killing many terrorists. The bodies of Ahmad Showdab, Kifaa Tallawi, Mohammad Haddini, Ismael Makiya and Eyad Bakour were identified among the dead.

The weapons and ammunition of the terrorists were destroyed, according to the source. An army unit hunted an armed terrorist group that was attacking locals and sabotaging their properties on the Eastern Farms of al-Nabk City, killing many of its members and injuring others, the source pointed out.

It added that the bodies of the terrorists Wael Maghmoumi and Amer al-Tadmouri were identified among the dead.

Terrorists Attempt to Attack Youth Camp in Idleb Foiled

In Idleb, an army unit confronted an armed terrorist group that attempted to attack the Youth Camp in the Province, killing many of its members and injuring others.

A military source mentioned that a DShK-equipped vehicle was destroyed, killing all the terrorists inside.

Terrorists Killes and Injured in al-Rasran, Homs

An army unit targeted a terrorists' hideout to the east of al-Rastan in Homs Countryside, killing a number of the terrorists and injuring others.

SANA reporter quoted a source in the province as saying that the unit killed the leader of the terrorist group called "Abo Ghazwan al- Brejawi" , in addition to the terrorists Ahmed Ayoub, khaled Ferzat and Mohammed Saad-Eddin .

The source added that another unit of Armed Forces destroyed warehouse ammunition Near al-Darwish's Gas Station in al-Rastan city and eliminated a number of terrorists.

The source said that another unit clashed with a number of terrorists in al-Sultanieh in Homs Countryside, inflicting heavy losses upon them.

The terrorists Imad al-Sebaei, Mohammed al-Soufi, Ahmed al- Shimali, khaled al-Omar and Ahmed al-Bakkar were identified among the dead.

Terrorists Killed, Their Weapons Seized in Aleppo

A unit of Armed Forces confronted a terrorist group who tried to attack al-Mahlub barrack in al-Sabeel area in Aleppo, inflicting heavy losses on them.

The source added that the unit arrested the other terrorists and seized their weapons, among them The terrorist Hisham

Israel gets involved in Syria conflict

Source : Voice of Russia

Israel informed the USA in advance of the preparations for an attack on Syria. A relevant statement was made by “The New York Times” with a reference to U.S. officials. For its part, “The Washington Post”, citing sources in the Syrian opposition, said that a centre for the development of chemical weapons had been bombed. Of interest here is the fact that other sources in the Syrian opposition have claimed credit for the above-mentioned attack, accusing the authorities of disinformation. There is also one more version saying that it was a convoy near the Syrian-Lebanese border, not the research centre, that came under attack. This convoy, allegedly, was supplying the Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with arms.

This was the first but not the last strike on Syria an expert with the Institute of Oriental Studies, Vladimir Sotnikov, says.

"From time to time the Israelis will deliver strikes on the targets or forces involved in the conflict in Syria. It will be Islamist units or troops loyal to Bashar al-Assad. I believe that as the crisis in Syria continues worsening Israel may broaden its participation in such strikes. Israel is afraid that the Islamists fighting in Syria will unite with similar groups in Syria, as well as with the HAMAS and Hezbollah groups. The latter are Israel’s traditional enemies. To find itself in such encirclement is a horrible dream for Israel."

Outside interference in the conflict in Syria is strengthening. Israel hit Syria immediately after 6 Patriot missile air defence systems were deployed in Turkey on its border with Syria. Expert with the Institute of Strategic Assessments and Analysis Sergei Demidenko says.

"There is no doubt that all this may finally lead to a grandiose chaos in the Middle East. Syria is the heart of the Arab world. Thus, the worse the situation in Syria is the worse it is for the region at large. In case of a chaos the situation in Syria will become uncontrollable, and neither international forces nor any means would be of help there. Then this chaos will spread to Lebanon and Central Iraq, and what will emerge will be a gigantic hotbed of instability and an enclave of terrorism the world will have to fight against in the future."

The work is being done in Moscow to check the information about the air raid of the Israeli air forces on Syria. This came in a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Should this be true, this will be regarded as a gross violation of the UN Charter. In this case this will mean an attack on the targets in a sovereign state that was not triggered. This is inadmissible whatever the motives are, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Ministry Calls on Security council to Condemn Jabhat al-Nusra's mass Execution against Scores of Abducted citizens in Aleppo

Source :   SANA, Syria

DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Foreign and Expatriates Ministry on Wednesday sent two identical letters to President of The UN security Council and UN Secretary General on the mass execution perpetrated by terrorist groups of "Jabhat al-Nusra" against tens of abducted citizens in Aleppo on Tuesday and throwing their bodies in Qweiq river in Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood.

"An armed group of Jabhat al-Nusra perpetrated a new massacre in Aleppo on Tuesday. The terrorists carried out mass executions against scores of Syrian abducted civilians in a cold blood, throwing their bodies in Qweiq river," the Ministry said in the two letters.

It added that while the competent authorities along with the families are following evidence on this new massacre , the facts indicate that the bodies were found in the side where terrorists present and there is no presence for the army on the banks of Queiq river, as well as there are barbed wires along the stream of the river that separate the region form the centers of the army, and the height of water in the river is very little and it is stagnant.

The Ministry pointed out to the comments of one terrorist who was arrested by law enforcement personnel that the terrorist groups were perpetrating their crimes prior to the meetings of the UN Security Council to stir the local and international public opinion against Syria.

"A number of the families have identified some bodies of their relatives, broadcast by some TV channels which are partners in shedding the Syrian blood as bodies for civilians, as usual, attributing this act to the Syrian Arab army, stressing that these bodies are the same of those abducted by the terrorists who contacted them many times asking for ransoms," the Ministry said. '

It added that the families stated that the abduction of their sons was because of their rejection of cooperating with "Jabhat al- Nusra".

The competent authorities along with the families are working to specify the identities of the new massacre's victims which adds to a series of brutal massacres of that terrorist group against the unarmed civilians.

"Syria which relays the facts of this heinous massacre to the UN Security Council, calls on the Council once again to assume responsibilities and issue a clear, frank condemnation of those terrorist acts which target the innocents.. and to condemn its perpetrators and those who supply them with weapons, equipment, money, shelter, political and media cover, encouraging them to go on with their crimes which seek to destabilize the state," the Ministry said.

It called on the international community to truly commit to combating terrorism and its supporters, on top, resolution 1373/ 2001, indicating that Syria reminds once again that not implementing these resolutions and practicing duplicity in dealing with them would make all suspect the credibility of the Security Council in fighting this dangerous plague.

The Ministry concluded by saying that the obstruction of some member states at the UN Security to issue a clear condemnation by the council as what happened in previous situations means providing a political cover for the terrorists which encourage them to carry out more terrorist atrocities.

Satanic UK-Qatari chemical weapon plot against Syria revealed

Source : www.islamicinvitationturkey

Leaked documents from a UK-based defense contractor has revealed a Qatari proposal to the firm to counterfeit a plan to claim that Syria has given the go-ahead for the use of chemical weapons in the country.

The document, which was allegedly hacked from the UK-based company Britam Defence’s website, disclosed Qatar’s proposal to the contractor in return for a large sum of money, Lebanese Al-Manar TV reported on Tuesday.

An email exchange between two senior officials at Britam suggested that the scheme was approved by Washington, explaining that Qatar would fund the militants in Syria to use chemical weapons.

“We’ve got a new offer. It’s about Syria again. Qataris propose an attractive deal and swear that the idea is approved by Washington,” a part of the leaked email read.

According to the documents, Qatar also suggested smuggling chemical warheads and rockets from Libya to the Syrian city of Homs.

Qatar apparently asked the British company to employ and film a Ukrainian person speaking and pretending to be Russian as part of “evidence” against Syria.

The new development comes as the head of Syria’s opposition coalition, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, recently announced that Qatar has pledged USD 20 million to the coalition.

The recent scheme is devised at a time when the Syrian army forces have managed to clear the capital, Damascus and its surrounding areas of the militants and restore security to northwestern mountainous regions, including Idlib.

The Syrian unrest began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed ever since.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

Damascus blames the West and its regional allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for supporting the armed groups.

Al-Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Deadly Syria Blast

Source : Fars News Agency

Jabhat al-Nusra said in a statement posted online that one of its suicide bombers last Monday drove a truck packed with explosives to the complex in the town of Salamiya and blew himself up.

At least 42 people, mostly pro-Assad Syrians, were reportedly killed in the blast.

The US says Jabhat al-Nusra has ties to Al-Qaeda and has declared it a terrorist organization.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies are seeking hard to bring the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope of increasing unrests in Syria.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Bashar al-Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

According to the report, material is being stockpiled in Damascus, in Idlib near the Turkish border and in Zabadani on the Lebanese border.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said in May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar.

Supporting Syrian gov't to frustrate Israeli, Western plans: Iranian official

Source :  Xinhua | English.news.cn

TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Saeed Jalili said supporting Syrian government will thwart the plans of Israel and Western countries in the Arab state, semi-official Mehr news agency reported Tuesday.

Jalili made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi here Tuesday, noting that the destruction of Syrian infrastructures by opposition groups is aimed at hurting the Syrian nation.

The Iranian official praised the "resistance" of Syrian government against foreign intervention, saying that "all (of us) should back the resistance in Syria to frustrate the objectives of the Zionist regime (of Israel) and its supporters."

The logic of the Western countries and supporters of the " terrorists groups" in Syria dose not conform to the international criteria and cannot be defended, he was quoted as saying.

For his part, the Syrian prime minister said the "terrorists groups" do not respect the humanitarian codes and target all the infrastructures in Syria in a bid to pressure the Syrian people, according to Mehr.

Al-Halqi said all the pressures against his country have been plotted by Israel and the West, which seek to take revenge on the Syrian nation for supporting the resistance against Israel.

On Tuesday, Al-Halqi arrived in Iran's capital Tehran for a two- day visit. During his stay in Iran, he will exchange views with Iranian officials on matters of mutual interest as well as regional and international issues.

Syrian Deputy FM Says Assad Can't be Excluded from 2014 Vote

Via : Naharnet

President Bashar Assad should be allowed to stand in the 2014 election like any other candidate and it is up to the Syrians themselves to decide their future leadership, a senior official has said.

"We are opening the way for democracy, or deeper democracy. In a democracy you don't tell somebody not to run," said Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad in an interview with the BBC on Monday.

A plan to end Syria's civil war, agreed in Geneva in June during talks among global powers and the U.N., envisages the establishment of a transitional government but it does not refer to Assad going -- a key demand of the opposition.

Muqdad's remarks come after Assad unveiled in a rare speech on January 5 in Damascus his own three-step peace initiative for the strife-torn country.

He offered dialogue with the opposition to end the conflict -- but only with elements he deemed acceptable, not rebel-affiliated groups he termed "killers" and "terrorists" manipulated by foreign powers.

His plan was rejected outright by the entire opposition as well as by the West, and it was criticized heavily by U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Brahimi who termed it "perhaps even more sectarian, more one-sided" than previous such initiatives.

In Monday's interview, Muqdad reiterated Damascus' long-held view that calls for Assad to quit immediately are foreign-backed and illegitimate.

"It is a coup d'etat if we listen what to those armed groups and those elements of Syria are proposing," said Muqdad.

"The president now and many other candidates who may run will go to the people, put their programs and be elected by the people," Muqdad told the BBC.

"So the ballot box will be the place where the future of the leadership of Syria will be decided."

The United Nations says that more than 60,000 people have died in the Syria conflict which began 22 months ago, on March 15, 2011, with peaceful protests that quickly erupted into deadly violence in the wake of a harsh regime crackdown.

President Assad Orders Commanders to Target Israel, US Interests "If Assassinated"

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has ordered his army commanders to target Israel and the US interests in the Middle East region in case he is assassinated by the terrorists, informed sources said on Monday.

President Assad's remarks came after he attended several meetings with his senior commanders, and discussed the country's security situation with them, the Algerian Al-Shorouq Oline newspaper quoted informed sources close to the Syrian government as saying on Monday.

In the meetings presided by President Assad, Syria's top army commanders told him that "the foreign hostile states will strive to assassinate him instead of launching a military attack on Syria".

According to the report, a Persian translation of which was released by the Iranian students news agency, the Syrian army commanders have told the President that the spy agencies of certain western states and Syria's neighboring countries have smuggled hi-tech missiles into Syria to provide armed rebels and terrorist groups with a chance to target President Assad's likely residence.

In response, President Assad has ordered his military commanders to target Israel and the US positions in the region, specially in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, if the western states succeed in assassinating him.

Earlier this month, President Assad voiced his readiness for dialogue with the opposition and political parties in Syria. The Syrian leader also proposed general elections, adoption of a new constitution as well as a national reconciliation conference.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes.

The government blames outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies are seeking hard to bring the country into chaos through any possible means. Tel Aviv, Washington and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots in the hope of increasing unrests in Syria.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Bashar al-Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

According to the report, material is being stockpiled in Damascus, in Idlib near the Turkish border and in Zabadani on the Lebanese border.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said in May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.

Russia satisfied with Geneva meeting on Syria, Damascus rattled by new blast

Source :  Xinhua

BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Monday expressed satisfaction with last week's trilateral meeting on Syria's protracted crisis in Geneva, while a loud explosion rattled a district of the Syrian capital of Damascus overnight. The latest Geneva talks, held last Friday, drew UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns. The three stressed the need for a speedy end to all forms of violence in Syria.

"It was a constructive meeting, a concerned partners' conversation with our colleagues," Interfax news agency quoted Bogdanov as saying.

"They, like us, have a serious concern over the affairs there (in Syria) for not to let the situation deteriorate and come up as soon as possible with a political solution," he said.

It was the second such meeting in nearly one month. The first one was held in December, when the three envoys agreed that a political process to end the crisis in Syria was necessary and possible.

Bogdanov said various options have been discussed in the UN about sending international observers to Syria.

"Likely, a necessity to send a reliable team of international monitors will appear. So far, these issues have not been discussed on a political level but the UN experts in New York have been working on preliminarily various options which could be discussed later," Bogdanov said.

According to the diplomat, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council could convene to discuss the situation in Syria "before the end of January, around the 25th, 26th, 27th" after Brahimi presents a new report on Syria, Bogdanov said.

Although he did not specify the participants, Bogdanov said a ministerial meeting was unlikely.

Also on Monday, a loud explosion rattled Damascus' district of Muhajireen, causing windows to implode and prompting members of the security forces to fan out and cut off nearby roads as a precautionary measure.

The cause of the big blast at the Shoura area in Muhajireen has not been immediately figured out, but local media reports said it is most likely a shell bomb, without providing information on any possible casualties.

The area houses a number of security headquarters and is considered one of the most heavily guarded areas in Damascus. Syria's official media has spelled no words on the incident so far.

Blasts have intensified in the Syrian capital recently, coupled with armed rebels' attacks on army checkpoints in several hotspots around the capital.

In Beijing, China urged relevant parties to show patience in finding a solution to the Syria crisis, after the latest Geneva meeting on the issue failed to yield tangible results.

"China holds that a political solution is the only realistic way out of the Syria issue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing.

China supports relevant parties' efforts to promote the political solution, as well as Brahimi's impartial mediation, he added.

Hong said China hoped relevant parties could build consensus on the basis of the Geneva Communique agreed on at the Action Group's meeting on June 30 and push for an impartial, peaceful and proper solution at the earliest date.

"Meanwhile, China urges the Syrian government and the opposition to be pragmatic and actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties so as to launch political dialogue and transition with the aim of an early end to the Syria crisis," Hong said.

Syrian troops kill scores of rebels, parliament works for national dialogue

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Syrian media said Sunday that scores of armed rebels were killed nationwide during clashes with army troops, as the Syrian parliament were working to prepare for a national dialogue among all spectra of the Syrian people.

The Syrian army continued operations in several suburbs of the capital Damascus Sunday, killing 18 rebels in Douma and another 12 in Harasta, the pro-government Sham FM reported.

The radio said the army has called on residents in the surrounding of the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees to evacuate their homes due to the intensity of clashes between local committee and armed rebels inside the camp.

Separately, army troops killed as many as 60 rebels in the countryside of the northern Aleppo province, the report said, adding that those rebels were killed while trying to storm a cotton factory.

In the northwestern province of Idlib, Sham FM said, 15 militants were killed in the Binish town as the Syrian air force targeted armed groups' gatherings at the Taftanas airbase, which has recently been stormed by rebels and radical militants.

On the opposition side, the Local Coordination Committees (LCC) reported shelling by army troops on several hotspots nationwide as well as intense clashes with the rebels' Free Syrian Army.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee at the People's Assembly Omar Aussi stressed that the committee will work on getting engaged into in the political process and effectively contributing to make successful the implementation of the political program outlined by President Bashar al-Assad to solve the crisis.

In a press conference held Sunday, Aussi said the newly- established and democratically-elected committee will take part in all the ongoing preparations to hold the comprehensive national dialogue, considering it as a safe and the only way out of the crisis.

"We will work on spreading and consolidating the culture of citizenship and coexistence among the various spectra of the Syrian society with all its constituents," he said.

Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi also issued Sunday a decision to form a ministerial committee to make intensive contacts with all the political forces and civil society bodies to start directly open dialogue sessions in preparation for holding the comprehensive national dialogue conference.

The Syrian parliament also stressed that it will work to unify its members' efforts, including the national reconciliation committee, which was formed by the assembly, and through all available means to make the political program set by Assad a success.

In a statement issued Sunday, the parliament said it will activate the political move and dialogue among all spectra of the Syrian people and political and intellectual parties. It vowed to mobilize the Syrians to be engaged in the national dialogue, so as to foil the attack targeting Syria and draw its political future in the framework of pluralism, democracy and protection of human rights.

Assad has recently said embarking on a political solution does not mean to stop countering terrorism. The Syrian administration labels the rebels as "terrorists".

Amid the stalemate in the Syrian political landscape, Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Nabil al- Arabi said Sunday that the UN Security Council should dispatch peacekeeping forces to protect the Syrians, stressing in the meantime that the forces should not be sent for fighting.

During the preliminary session of the AL Council's emergency meeting, Arabi called on the UN Security Council to issue a decision according to article No. 7 of the UN Charter to send peacekeeping forces to Syria to urge ceasefire there and protect the Syrian people.

Arabi also said talks are underway with UN-AL joint special representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi to find a mechanism for solving the crisis, but added that there is no apparent solution in the near future.

According to the UN estimates, more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria since the unrest erupted in 2011. Also, the World Food Program said around 2.5 million people in Syria are in need of food assistance, but only 1.5 million can receive supplies from the agenc

Syrian army regains control over areas in Aleppo, defends airbase

Source :  Xinhua

DAMASCUS, Jan.12 (Xinhua) -- Syrian army on Saturday wrested back control over several areas in the northern province of Aleppo and repulsed rebels' attack on a military airport at the outskirts of Aleppo, a day after the radical militants took full control over the military airport of Taftanas in Idlib province.

The army controlled the Ummayad Mosque area, Khan al-Wazir, the surrounding of the old citadel and the city's courthouse, the pro- government Sham FM radio said, quoting a military source as saying that government troops at dawn Saturday repelled armed groups' attack against the Kshaish airport in the outskirts of Aleppo, leaving many of the assailants killed or injured and destroying their anti-aircraft artillery.

The radio report also said that clashes between the army and the rebels took place at several districts in the central province of Homs, adding that many rebels were killed in addition to one soldier.

In the capital Damascus, local reports said the army is still haunting down armed rebels in the Muadamieh suburb west of Damascus, adding that the al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of al-Qaida, is still positioning in the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees and keeping the displaced people from returning home.

The reports said that eight people were killed in Yarmouk over the past hours by snipers' fire.

Meanwhile, local media said the helicopters, which the rebels claimed to have captured in the Taftanas airbase in the northern province of Idlib, are "inoperable" and "out of service" since long time ago.

After weeks of intense fighting, radical militants from al- Nusra Front took full control of the sprawling airbase on Friday morning, making it most significant gain they have gained since the eruption of the crisis a year and a half ago.

The Sham FM report said all the functioning war jets were evicted from the air field before the armed groups' attack, adding that three officers were killed during the fight.

It said the army on Friday rained down the airport with all kinds of shelling, inflicting hefty toll among the militia at the airport.

On the opposition side, the Local Coordination Committees (LCC) said the Syrian troops' shelling renewed on the southern suburbs of Damascus, mainly on Sbaineh, Hajar al-Aswad and Mathnieh.

The LCC reported violence and clashes elsewhere in the unrest- torn country, placing the initial death toll of Saturday's violence at 55.

According to the UN estimates, more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria since the unrest erupted in 2011. Also, the World Food Program (WFP) said that around 2.5 million people in Syria are in need of food assistance but only 1.5 million can receive supplies from the agency.

Heavy Losses Inflicted Upon Terrorists in al-Dhyabieh, Hajjira, al-Bahdalieh

Source : @syrianews1 #Syria #Realsyria...

Army units inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists in a series of qualitative operations against their gatherings in al-Dhyabieh, Hejjera and al-Bahdalieh in Damascus Countryside.

An official source told SANA reporter that a unit of armed forces raided a den for terrorists in the vicinity of Khalil Yousef school in al-Dhyabieh town and destroyed all arms inside it including ammunition, mortars, heavy machineguns and automatic rifles.

The source added that another unit killed members of a terrorist group near Hajjira roundabout on al-Sbineh road and seized weapons and ammunition in their possession.

A number of terrorists were also killed and wounded near al-Nahda company in the town.

In al-Bahdalieh, a number of terrorists were killed also.

Another army unit clashed with a terrorist group in Zamalka town, eastern Ghouta where the clash resulted in the elimination of a number of the most dangerous terrorists.

Syrian army regains control over areas in Aleppo, defends airbase

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, Jan.12 (Xinhua) -- Syrian army on Saturday wrested back control over several areas in the northern province of Aleppo and repulsed rebels' attack on a military airport at the outskirts of Aleppo, a day after the radical militants took full control over the military airport of Taftanas in Idlib province.

The army controlled the Ummayad Mosque area, Khan al-Wazir, the surrounding of the old citadel and the city's courthouse, the pro- government Sham FM radio said, quoting a military source as saying that government troops at dawn Saturday repelled armed groups' attack against the Kshaish airport in the outskirts of Aleppo, leaving many of the assailants killed or injured and destroying their anti-aircraft artillery.

The radio report also said that clashes between the army and the rebels took place at several districts in the central province of Homs, adding that many rebels were killed in addition to one soldier.

In the capital Damascus, local reports said the army is still haunting down armed rebels in the Muadamieh suburb west of Damascus, adding that the al-Nusra Front, an offshoot of al-Qaida, is still positioning in the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees and keeping the displaced people from returning home.

The reports said that eight people were killed in Yarmouk over the past hours by snipers' fire.

Meanwhile, local media said the helicopters, which the rebels claimed to have captured in the Taftanas airbase in the northern province of Idlib, are "inoperable" and "out of service" since long time ago.

After weeks of intense fighting, radical militants from al- Nusra Front took full control of the sprawling airbase on Friday morning, making it most significant gain they have gained since the eruption of the crisis a year and a half ago.

The Sham FM report said all the functioning war jets were evicted from the air field before the armed groups' attack, adding that three officers were killed during the fight.

It said the army on Friday rained down the airport with all kinds of shelling, inflicting hefty toll among the militia at the airport.

On the opposition side, the Local Coordination Committees (LCC) said the Syrian troops' shelling renewed on the southern suburbs of Damascus, mainly on Sbaineh, Hajar al-Aswad and Mathnieh.

The LCC reported violence and clashes elsewhere in the unrest- torn country, placing the initial death toll of Saturday's violence at 55.

According to the UN estimates, more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria since the unrest erupted in 2011. Also, the World Food Program (WFP) said that around 2.5 million people in Syria are in need of food assistance but only 1.5 million can receive supplies from the agency.

Russia rejects Assad exit as precondition for Syria deal

Source : www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Russia voiced support on Saturday for international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi but insisted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's exit cannot be a precondition for a deal to end the country's conflict.

A Foreign Ministry statement following talks on Friday with the United States and Brahimi, whom the Syrian government has labelled "flagrantly biased", reiterated calls for an end to violence in Syria, where more than 60,000 people have been killed since March 2011.

At the meeting in Geneva with Brahimi and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov "expressed unfailing support for Brahimi's mission as the U.N.-Arab League special envoy on Syria," it said.

The issue of Assad, whom the United States, European powers and Gulf-led Arab states insist must step down to end what has escalated into a civil war, appeared to be a sticking point at the meeting. Russia's Foreign Ministry said: "As before, we firmly uphold the thesis that questions about Syria's future must be decided by the Syrians themselves, without interference from outside or the imposition of prepared recipes for development."

Russia has been Assad's most powerful international backer during the nearly 22-month-old conflict, joining with China to block three Western- and Arab-backed U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed to pressure him or push him from power.

In Geneva, Russia called for "a political transition process" based on an agreement by foreign powers last June.

Brahimi, who is trying to build on the agreement reached in Geneva on June 30, has met three times with senior Russian and U.S. diplomats since early December and met Assad in Damascus.

Russia and the United States disagreed over what the June agreement meant for Assad, with Washington saying it sent a clear signal he must go and Russia contending it did not.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there had been some progress toward a common view at Friday's meeting but did not provide details.

Moscow says it is not propping up Assad and, as rebels gain ground in the war, has given indications it is preparing for his possible exit. But it continues to insist he must not be forced out by foreign powers. Analysts say President Vladimir Putin wants to prevent the United States from using military force or support from the U.N. Security Council to bring down governments it opposes.

Bogdanov met Syrian Christian opposition campaigner Michel Kilo in Geneva in efforts to pursue close contacts with both Assad's government and opponents, the Foreign Ministry said.

Syrian official says troops have captured most of the strategic Damascus suburb of Daraya

Source : Fox News

A Syrian government official says troops have captured most of the strategic Damascus suburb of Daraya and claims the area will be safe within few days.

The official told The Associated Press on Saturday that the army is battling some small pockets of rebels in the area just south of Damascus.

A government takeover of Daraya would provide a boost to the regime's defense of Damascus.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Syrian forces have been trying to capture Daraya from opposition fighters for weeks.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Daraya and other suburbs of the capital were being shelled on Saturday.

The violence comes a day after rebels said they have captured a strategic air base in the north.

Syrian Army confronts armed attack in Edlib – 30 gunmen killed

Source : breakingnews.sy

The forces of Syrian Arab Army have confronted armed attacks by the Free Army militia on al-Yaqoubia town of Edlib countryside.

According to our reporter, 30 insurgents, including the leader Ahmad Zaidan, got killed in the clashes.

The militants of Free Army fired mortar shells on al-Fou’a town, causing one civil martyr and 10 other injuries.

Syria Accuses Brahimi of ’Flagrant Bias’ ahead of Geneva Talks

Source : http://www.almanar.com

Damascus accused the international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi of being biased, as the Algerian Diplomat was readying for a second round of talks in Geneva aiming at ending the Syrian crisis.

In a statement the foreign ministry said it was very surprised by Brahimi’s comments, which showed “he is flagrantly biased for those who are conspiring against Syria and its people.”

"We had expected Brahimi to read and analyze the contents of (Assad's proposed) political initiative which is the only exit to the Syrian crisis," the ministry said.

However, it noted it was nevertheless still willing to work with him to find a political solution to the crisis. The statement was the strongest criticism of Brahimi since he took over from veteran diplomat Kofi Annan who stepped down months ago.

In a BBC interview, Brahimi called for “real, not cosmetic change” in Syria and accused President Basahr al-Assad of “resisting the aspirations of his people.” "The time of reforms granted magnanimously from above is past," Brahimi said in the interview.

In a speech on Sunday, Assad drew the map of a proposed solution to the crisis in Syria that included a national reconciliation conference, a new government and constitution. However, he demanded regional and Western countries stop funding and arming terrorists first.

Meanwhile, a new round of talks to end the ongoing turmoil in Syria is to take place today in Geneva between Brahimi and envoys from US and Russia.

Russia's Middle East negotiator, Mikhail Bogdanov, announced on Wednesday that he would take art in talks with Brahimi and US Undersecretary of State William Burns.

Battles renew at Taftanas airbase in Syria's Idlib

Source : Xinhua  English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua)
Battles have renewed at the Taftanas military airport in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib between Syrian troops and members of al-Qaida-linked al- Nusra Front, media reports and activists said Thursday.

The pro-government Sama TV said guarding troops at the airport repulsed that attack of armed groups that had tried to storm the airport, adding that hefty losses were inflicted upon the assailants.

It said many gunmen were killed while others fled the area, quoting "trustworthy" source as affirming that the airport is empty of war jets and gears.

Another pro-government news website said the Taftanas airport is "100 percent secured," adding that the "army martyrs and wounded arrived to al- Bassel airport in the coastal city of Latakia on board a helicopter that took off from Taftanas."

Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based pro-opposition group, said that Syrian jets had bombed Taftanaz airbase after it was stormed by Islamist rebels on Wednesday.

It said violent clashes continued inside the airport between the rebels and the regular troops, alleging that there were 20 helicopters in the airport; some of them were damaged due to the clashes while others were grounded because of malfunctions.

It said the rebels had taken over an arms depot inside the airport and also captured 13 soldiers, including one officer. But the activists' account could not be checked independently.

Armed rebels have previously attacked the Hamadan agricultural airport, in the eastern al-Bukamal city, and the Marj al-Sultan military airport on the outskirts of the capital Damascus that was only used for landing and fixing aircraft.

Heavy fighting continues in Mliha near Damascus

Source : Voice of Russia

The Syrian government forces are waging fierce fighting against rebels in Mliha in the suburbs of Damascus.

Armed extremists of the Jebhat-al-Nusra attempted to capture a command post of the air defence force. Their attacks were repulsed and many militants were killed. The government forces are hunting militants on the outskirts of Damascus.

According to daily al-Hayat, about 4,500 rebels have gathered at the approaches to Damascus.

Voice of Russia, Al Watan, TASS

New Videos Show US, Israel-backed Terrorists in Syria Killing Civilian, Soldiers

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

New videos ported on internet show armed groups in Syria committing war crimes as they were brutally killing civilian and other soldiers in several regions across the crisis-hit country.

One of the videos, uploaded recently, shows heavily armed men shooting down a civilian airliner in the city of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.

Another footage showed terrorists in Syria from the al-Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front have executed three Syrian army soldiers, also in Deir al-Zour. In the video released by the group and posted on YouTube, the three soldiers, seated in front of a black flag, give their identities to masked men branding Kalashnikovs.

The soldiers reveal themselves as Alawites. The graphic footage then shows the bodies of the men lying in a ditch.

Another footage posted on a social media website shows a militant attack on the Taftanaz military airport in the northwest of the country. The video shows militants firing truck-mounted weapons and a tank on fire

New Videos Show Syria Insurgents Killing Civilian, Soldiers

Source : http://www.almanar.com

New videos ported on internet show armed groups in Syria committing war crimes as they were brutally killing civilian and other soldiers in several regions across the crisis-hit country.

One of the videos, uploaded recently, shows heavily armed men shooting down a civilian airliner in the city of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria.

Another footage showed Syrian insurgents from the al-Qaeda linked al- Nusra Front have executed three Syrian army soldiers, also in Deir al-Zour. In the video released by the group and posted on YouTube, the three soldiers, seated in front of a black flag, give their identities to masked men branding Kalashnikovs.

The soldiers reveal themselves as Alawites. The graphic footage then shows the bodies of the men lying in a ditch.

Another footage posted on a social media website shows a militant attack on the Taftanaz military airport in the northwest of the country. The video shows militants firing truck-mounted weapons and a tank on fire.

Kidnapped Iranian Pilgrims Freed in Syria

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- All the 48 Iranian pilgrims who had been abducted by terrorists in Syria in August have been released, media reports said Wednesday.

A report by Al Alam Arab language TV networks said that armed groups in Syria have been released the 48 Iranian pilgrims who had been abducted near the capital city of Damascus this summer.

The Iranian Embassy in Damascus later confirmed the report in an interview with FNA at around midday today.

Meantime press tv reported that the abductees were set free as part of a swap deal between the Syrian government and the armed militants.

Earlier today, a board member of the Turkish humanitarian aid agency IHH told Reuters that the Syrian government will free 2,130 civilian prisoners on Wednesday in exchange for the release of 48 Iranians held by Syrian rebels.

"Most of the prisoners to be swapped are Syrian citizens in exchange for Iranians, and there are a few Turks as well," IHH board member Osman Atalay told Reuters.

He quoted IHH chief Bulent Yildirim, who was in Damascus to help coordinate the deal, as saying that the prisoner swap had already begun.

Iran also has used all diplomatic, political and security means to release the 48 Iranian pilgrims.

Ever since the abductions took place, the Foreign Ministry and the Iranian embassy in Damascus have been pursuing the fate and release of the kidnapped Iranian nationals through different channels.

On August 4, armed insurgents in Syria kidnapped 48 Iranian pilgrims who were traveling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zainab (AS) on the outskirts of Damascus.

Syrians rally in support of Assad

Via : Tehran Times

large group of Syrian people have staged rallies in support of President Bashar al-Assad and expressed satisfaction with his recent speech and roadmap for ending the ongoing crisis in the Arab country.

Shouting slogans in support of Assad, the protesters said a solution that does not involve foreign intervention and preserves the rights of the Syrian people to decide their country’s future is acceptable.

“I support dialogue. Violence should stop. Those who want bloodshed to end have to listen to what president said,” said a Syrian citizen.

On Sunday, the Syrian leader delivered a lecture and proposed a new strategic roadmap and the formation of a national reconciliation conference with the aim of ending the crisis.

Assad also warned against foreign intervention and lambasted certain Western states and their regional allies for funding the militants.

Meanwhile, political parties in Syria also welcomed Assad’s proposed plan and described it as a positive step towards implementing a political solution.

The National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, however, rejected Assad’s vision for solving the unrest, saying the committee considers the Syrian president to be unrealistic.

“We refuse to participate in any dialogue meeting before the halt of violence and the release of prisoners. Then we would accept to indirectly negotiate, not have the dialogue with the government, under the supervision of the UN Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi,” the leader of the National Coordination Committee, Hassan Abdul Azim told reporters.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of Army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants fighting the Syrian government are foreign nationals.

Several international human rights organizations have accused foreign-sponsored militants of committing war crimes.

Syrian Electronic Army to publish a series of international leaks

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

The Syrian Electronic Army will soon reveal a series, titled “The Truth, Documented” by hacking the emails and websites of some of the ministries that are enemies to Syria.

Breaking News Network knew in sources in the Syrian Electronic Army that the first episode that will be broadcasted on Monday 7-1-2013 will include leaks of Qatari governmental documents, including the amounts of money that were paid by Prince Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani to some Arab presidents to stand against Syria politically.

The first episode will also show the Qatari – Turkish plans to weaken Syria, plus losses of millions of dollars to buy associations, including one in Paris.

The other series will reveal the parts that were played by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other Arab countries in the Syrian crisis, where the emails and documents will be published from the leaks website of the Syrian Electronic Army

Al-Assad rules out dialogue with Western "puppets"

Source : Trend.Az

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday ruled out dialogue with opposition groups he called "puppets" of the West and vowed to continue battling "terrorists" and "gangsters" fighting to overthrow his regime, DPA reported.

"These are the enemies of the people, the enemies of God. Eventually they resorted to terrorism to terrorize the people," al-Assad said in a televised address, his first public remarks since November.

"They call it a revolution, but it has nothing to do with revolution. A revolution needs thinkers. Those are a bunch of criminals," he added, referring to rebels fighting to depose him.

Al-Assad said the rebels, backed by foreign powers, were waging an "external war" on Syria.

His speech at Damascus University in the capital was interrupted by the applause of loyalists who chanted: "With our blood, with our soul, we will defend you Assad."

He thanked Russia, China and Iran - his main allies - for their support.

There was no indication from his speech that he was willing to make concessions to the opposition or heed calls by Western powers that he step down.

As he stepped down from the podium, a group of supporters mobbed al-Assad.

The United Nations this week said that some 60,000 people have been killed in the uprising, which erupted in March 2011

Syrian President Announces Peace Plan to Resolve Crisis

Source : World | RIA Novosti

BEIRUT, January 6 (RIA Novosti) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has proposed a plan to resolve the country’s crisis which includes a national reconciliation conference, the formation of a new government and an amnesty.

"The first stage of a political solution would require that regional powers stop funding terrorists. The second stage will be calling a government conference on a national dialogue. The third stage will be the formation of a new government and declaration of an amnesty,” Assad said in a speech at the opera house in central Damascus.

In his rare televised speech, which was met with cheering applause by his supporters, Assad denounced the opposition as "puppets of the West" and said Syria wanted to negotiate with the "master not the servants." He said the reconciliation conference would exclude "those who have betrayed Syria."

The Syrian leader said a national charter, which will include the main provisions of the new constitution, is to be established at the conference and put to a referendum, leading to parliamentary elections and a new government.

Assad also thanked Russia, China and Iran for their support of Syria and their stance that the Syrian people should alone decide their faith. "We salute you and we thank you for your support,” he said.

At least 60,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict between government forces and the opposition, which comprises groups of all stripes, from Communists and secular liberals to Islamist groups, including Al-Qaeda.

Western powers have insisted on President Bashar al-Assad’s departure before the formation of a new government of national unity while Russia insisted that the decision be left to the “Syrian people.”

(This article was updated at 3.45 p.m. adding details)