Samstag, 8. Juni 2013

Syria government forces say it takes last rebel bastion near Qusayr

Source : The Voice of Russia

Syrian regime forces have retaken the village of Eastern Bweida from insurgents, state television said on Saturday, four days after the nearby rebel bastion of Qusayr fell to the army and Hezbollah.

"Our heroic troops have restored safety and security in Eastern Bweida," the channel said.

UN Council demands aid access to Syria conflict town

Russia on Friday agreed to a UN Security Council statement that demanded that its ally Syria allow humanitarian access to the conflict town of Qusayr.

The statement, agreed after Russia had blocked an earlier version, called for "immediate, safe and unhindered" access to Qusayr.

White House condemns 'in strongest possible terms' Assad's assault on Qusair

The White House on Wednesday condemned the assault on the Syrian border town of Qusair by Syrian government forces, who worked with Lebanese Hezbollah allies to take control from rebel fighters.

The United States denounced President Bashar al-Assad's government on Thursday over its 17-day assault on Qusair, near the Lebanese border. It said Syrian troops owed their success to Hezbollah fighters backed by Iran.

"The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Assad regime's assault on Qusair, which has killed untold numbers of civilians and is causing tremendous humanitarian suffering," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in statement.

"It is clear that the regime could not contest the opposition's control of Qusair on its own, and is depending upon Hezbollah and Iran to do its work for it in Qusair," Carney said.

He went on to repeat a White House call for Iran and Hezbollah to withdraw all troops from Syria, adding that Hezbollah's involvement posed a direct threat to Lebanon's stability.

The Syrian government had earlier claimed a "heroic victory" on May 19. "Our heroic armed forces have returned security and stability [to the area]," the government said in a statement broadcast on Syrian state television.

As a crucial supply route for both government and rebel forces, the town had become the focal point of Syria's 27-month conflict. Witnesses said the town, formerly home to 40,000 people, had been left in ruins.

The United States, Russia and the United Nations are seeking to bring rebel and regime representatives to the negotiating table in Geneva.

Al-Assad's regime has agreed "in principle" to attend the talks. The opposition, however, has demanded a prior commitment that the president will step down.

Arab League condemns Hezbollah role in Syria

The Arab League on Wednesday condemned the military intervention in Syria by the Lebanese Islamic militant group Hezbollah, Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said.

A statement agreed at a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo condemned all forms of foreign intervention, especially that by Hezbollah, Elaraby told a news conference after the meeting.

Rockets launched from Syria hit Lebanon's Baalbek - security source

At least five rockets launched from across Lebanon's border with Syria hit the eastern city of Baalbek Wednesday, including two that landed near the city's renowned Roman ruins, a security source told AFP.

Another three rockets that hit Hezbollah bastion Baalbek landed in the city centre, the source said on condition of anonymity, adding that several other missiles landed in areas near the city.

The attack came hours after Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and the Syrian army took control of central Syria's Qusayr, located near the border with the small Mediterranean country.

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