Behind the Scenes: Top Level Gulf Officials in Syria Soon!

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Highly trusted sources have revealed that some gulf countries are on the course of gradual rapprochement with Syrian official authorities after reaching a conclusion that all their past policies were mistaken. Some sources said they would not be surprised to see top level Gulf officials in Damascus soon.

14th of March partisans openly express their bitter disappointment because they yielded no success in their attempts to tighten their grip over the country depending on the international and regional support. One of their sources used sarcasm saying ever since they followed Samir Geagea, they have become sworn experts in losing all battles they wage.

Recent visitors coming from Washington expressed big surprise because of the huge change they came across in the way US officials approach problems in the region. America came finally to recognize the vital importance of the Iranian role in preserving and guaranteeing stability in the whole region, they added.

Syrian Army Firmly Controls Htaitit al-Turkman, Damascus Countryside

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Syrian firmly controlled al-Turkman neighborhood in Damascus countryside as it pursued armed terrorist groups there, killing a big number of their members and destroying their tools, SANA reported.

In Daraa, the Syrian army destroyed a number of tunnels extended from the Sports club towards Abu Khaceibeh building and al-Sad and the camp road with all the weapons and ammunition inside them.

The Syrian military also pursued members of armed terrorist groups in Sadad and Mahin towns, and they foiled, in cooperation with residents, infiltration attempt into Arakvillage in al-Sukhneh in Homs Province.

Militants Pound Residential Areas, Church in Damascus City

Source : Farsnews

TEHRAN (FNA)- Armed rebels launched mortar attacks on several residential areas, specially a church, in the Syrian capital city of Damascus on Saturday.

The militants fired mortar shells on two residential areas of Al-Doyla’a and Tabaleh in Damascus. One of the mortars hit the roof of Yasou Al-Amer Church causing material damage to the building.

The mortar shells hit two houses and a plastic factory in Damascus. No one was hurt in the attacks, but material loss has been reported.

Earlier this week, the armed rebel groups targeted many Christian and Muslim worship places, especially the Lady Church and Constantine and Helena Church in Yabroud in Damascus Countryside with two explosive devices.

An official source said that militants detonated two explosive devices planted on the roofs of the churches, causing large material damage to the crosses with no human casualties, Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

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

Thousands of people have been killed since terrorist and armed groups turned protest rallies into armed clashes.

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

Mortar attack kills 6 state servants in Syrian capital

Source : Xinhua English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and more than 20 others wounded on Wednesday when a mortar shell struck a bus carrying workers of the state-run Scientific Research Center in the capital Damascus, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

The mortar was fired by armed "terrorists" at the Damascus' district of Barzeh Wednesday morning and struck the worker bus, SANA said, adding that the attack also led to big material losses.

The opposition activists said that the Barzeh area was subject to intense shelling coupled with intense fighting between the government troops and the armed rebels.

Activists also reported heavy government troops' shelling on several rebellious suburbs in the southern rim of Damascus. Witnesses said heavy black smoke blowing over the southern part of Damascus countryside.

In the central province of Homs, the state-run media said the army had inflicted hefty tolls among the armed rebels during a series of operations carried out against rebels' strongholds in the city.

The army on Monday recaptured the strategic district of Khalidieh in Homs and apparently pressed forward to take over other rebellious areas in the restive province.

However, activists' networks said the rebels in Homs were fending off the government troops' attacks and killing many of them.

According to the United Nations report, more than 100,000 people had been killed in Syria's 28-month crisis, with about 1.7 million forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

Syrian Troops Continue Crackdown on Rebels in Damascus Outskirts

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Armed Forces killed a number of insurgents, including non-Syrian ones in a series of military operations carried out against their dens and gatherings in Harasta, Erbin, Douma, Joubar and Barzeh in Damascus and its Countryside.

The army destroyed a 23mm caliber anti-aircraft gun in Erbin and killed several rebels, including Ammar al-Qarsa and Salah Ghanoum, an official military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency.

An army unit killed Khaled Taha, the leader of a terrorist group, and members of his group, including Mouhanad Habash in a special operation in al-Obb farms in Douma.

The army units also killed scores of rebels in al-Bayder neighborhood in Harasta city, including the Saudi Othman al-Assyri, Sami al-Haswa and Muwafaq Eyoun in Bastara farms between Douma and Harasta.

Meanwhile, other army units continued operations against anti-government fighters' dens and gatherings in Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus and the farms surrounding it, confiscating weapons and ammunition and killing several fighters, including Naser al-Haboul and Masoud al-Drei.

Some other forces of the army targeted several members of a terrorist group in the town of al-Rihan in Douma area, the source said, adding that Mohammad al-Farran was among the killed members of the group.

Several members of al-Nusra Front were killed or wounded in an operation by the Armed Forces near a detergents factory in Adra area. Raef Ta'ma and Bassem al-Hussein were identified among the dead fighters.

Other units of the army continued their operations in the farms around the towns of al-Qasimiye and al-Zemaniye, inflicting heavy losses upon anti-government fighters

Syria False news about blast in Damascus ; Syrian Army kills 30 gunmen in Edlib

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

Free Army militia has launched a local-made missile on a residential area in the middle of Damascus, as Arabian channels have broadcasted false rumors about “huge blast” hit Damascus, while Syrian army continues the operations in Edlib countryside especially around Abu al-Zuhour military airport.

Arabian channels have reported false news about huge blast strike the capital Damascus without mentioning the place of the blast.

Our correspondent in Damascus indicates that a missile has exploded in the air after launching it by the insurgents on al-Sena’a area that is close to al-Baramkeh in the middle of Damascus causing material damages.

Edlib: Syrian Army’s operations claim the lives of 30 insurgents.

Syrian Army continues the operations in Edlib countryside through vast operation carried out against the villages of al-Mejas and the Northern villages parallel to Abu al-Zuhour Military airport; resulted in the death of more than 30 armed men and arresting 4 others and seizing anti-aircraft car, in addition to the destruction of 4 tanks of water.

The correspondent points out that units of Syrian Army targets a gather for the armed rebels in Bshelamoun village of Jeser al-Shughour countryside, what resulted in the death and the injury of a number of them, including Muhammad Aid Said and Ahmad Abdo Naous and Abu Hasan Wali.

Syria Stresses Right to Respond to Any Israeli Violation

Source : http://www.almanar.com.lb

Damascus stressed to the United Nations Daits right to immediately respond to any breach of its sovereignty and the sanctity of its territories, as it called upon the Security Council to put an end to such violations.

Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Ministry send a letter to the UN Secretary General and the Security Council President, in which it talked about the Syrian Army’s destroying of an Israeli vehicle which crossed the ceasefire line in Golan Heights from the occupied territories.

"Subsequent to our previous letters addressed to you on the Israeli violations against the Syrian sovereignty and its breach of the Disengagement Agreement, the latest of which was our letter on May 8, 2013, an Israeli vehicle breached the cease-fire line at 1:10 am on May 21, 2013 and headed toward Bir Ajam village that is located in the liberated area of the Golan," the letter read.

It noted that the foreign-backed armed groups were present in Bir Ajam village, toward which the Israeli vehicle was heading.

"While Syria places these facts before the Security Council, it once again reaffirms its right to immediately respond to any violation of its sovereignty and the sanctity of its land, and that lies within the framework of practicing its right to self- defense," the Ministry said, according to official news agency, SANA.

The letter also referred to the incident of firing two rockets by the Israeli enemy from the occupied site of Tal al-Faras toward one of the Syrian sites in al- Zubaydiah village without causing casualties.

"Those two incidents constitute a new violation of the UN Charter and the Disengagement Agreement and an aggression against the Syrian sovereignty," said the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry.

"The Syrian Arab Republic dealt with this violation in the framework of practicing the right to self-defense that is secured by the UN Charter," the Ministry added, noting that the Syrian government has already drawn the attention of the Security Council's President and the UN Secretary General to these Israeli violations and Israel's intervention in the Syrian internal affairs.

Syrian PM Al-Halqi: Scores of Gunmen Hand Over their Weapons Daily

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com

Prime Minister, Dr. Wael al-Halqi said Syria has been facing a multi-dimensional war for two years that seeks to fragment its national unity and social fabric, and to sideline its pivotal role in support of Arab resistance.

Meeting the international delegation for peace currently visiting Syria on Thursday, headed by Mairead Maguire, Dr. al-Halqi reviewed the aspects of the conspiracy targeting Syria, indicating that it is aimed to destroy the capabilities of the Syrian Arab army and national economy to ruin the Syrian state and distance Syria from the confrontation with the Israeli enemy.

He indicated that the armed terrorist groups, backed by funds and weapons from Arab and regional countries, are working methodically to vandalize the infrastructure of national economy and target the agricultural, industrial, service and development sectors.

Al-Halqi added that the ”government, despite the embargo and unjust sanctions that target the Syrian people’s livelihood , is exerting efforts to enhance the national economy and provide the citizens’ basic needs, and rehabilitate the infrastructure destroyed by the armed terrorist groups.”

He indicated that the government is determined to go ahead with the meetings with the political parties and forces and the economic and social representatives to crystallize a comprehensive vision to set in motion the comprehensive national dialogue.

Al-Halqi added that the Syrian government is bent on the national reconciliation project and is open to all initiatives for finding a political solution to the crisis that ensures Syria’s sovereignty, independence and unity and rejects foreign interference.

He pointed to the disinformation campaign against Syria to assist the armed terrorist groups, hailing the role of free media in conveying the reality of events on the ground with credibility and faithfulness.

Al-Halqi said the Syrian Arab army will remain in full preparedness to repel any Israeli aggression, and will continue to strike terrorists wherever they are on the Syrian soil.

Maguire voiced appreciation for the Syrian government’s call for national dialogue, adding that Syria has always called for peace in the region and the world.

She lauded the Syrian government’s transparency in handling the crisis, which will prove convincing to peace- mongers around the world.

The international delegation for peace, headed by the Nobel peace prize-laureate Mairead Maguire, comprises up to 16 activists and journalists from Australia, the US, Canada, Brazil and Lebanon, and members of the Syrian Popular Committee for National Reconciliation.

Al-Halqi: Teachers have Responsibility for Educating Future Generations

The ministerial committee tasked with implementing the political program for solving the crisis met on Thursday with members of the Teachers’ Syndicate executive bureau, headed by its Chairman Ziad Mohsen.

Dr. al-Haqi, chairman of the Committee, said he was happy to meet the builders of generations who have a great responsibility in inculcating the future generations with the scientific, cultural and ethical education, not to mention discarding violence preserving public and private property.

Dr. al-Halqi said the government is open to all political and social forces inside Syria and abroad that believe in national solution, indicating that positive results have emerged from the committee’s previous meetings with political forces and parties.

He said that scores of gunmen are handing over their weapons every day and want to return to lead normal lives and defend their homeland.

For his part, Mohsen expressed the teachers’ support for the political program launched by President Bashar al-Assad, pointing to the teachers’ satisfaction with the incumbent government that has been close to the pulse of citizens and their needs.

The members laid down their visions for solving the crisis in Syria, mainly through preserving Syria’s territorial integrity, liberating the occupied lands, commitment to national unity and discarding sectarianism, and placing the interests of the homeland above all else.

The obstacle of Barzeh al-Balad is removed.. Militants were buried in their headquarters

Source : http://www.breakingnews.sy

The military operations proceed in Barzeh of Damascus to the next consecutive week, Syrian Arab Army units have been able to impose a cordon at the entrances of the area, Tishreen and al-Qaboun neighborhoods were separated completely of Barzeh, for the hardest mission for the army units centered in the orchards and slums of Barzeh al-Balad.

A military source has confirmed to our network that the military operations in its second week wetness a quick progress of the armey units, after the sniper spreading on the houses roofs has disserved this progress, as the army has handled more than one armed group inside their headquarters, and thwarted an infiltration of gunmen from Tishreen neighborhood to support the insurgents of Basatin al-Hafez.

Daher al-Mestah area has formed a hurdle in the first days of the military operation in the area of Barzeh, but the army units has unlocked the knot of the place and entered it from more than of axe and manged to kill a large number of stationed gunmen there, for the clashes to extend to al- Hanbali Street, the main street that links Tishreen neighborhood of Barzeh al-Balad and Basatin al- Hafez, and according to the source the domination over this street is considered a strategic step regarding to its several branches, and the control over it cut the roads among militants.

Gunmen headquarters in the area of Barzeh al-Balad and especially near al-Salam mosque have been hit mostly, with the remaining of some snipers are being targeted one after the other, for the army progress to be in the fastest shape and including the specific plan.

The source adds that two headquarters of the insurgents consider the weapon warehouses and the centers of gunmen gathering were hit near the fuel station of al-Nuzha and killed all who were inside it, for the absolute control on the course of events to be in the hands of the Syrian Arab Army in Barzeh al-Balad, with field expectations for the oncoming of military operations through days.

Obama: “we will pay the price if we send troops to Syria.”

Source : http://breakingnews.sy/en

U.S president Barack Obama in a press conference in Costa Rica on Friday ruled out sending land troops to Syrian assuring that U.S will provide international community with any evidence on chemical weapons use and continued saying: ”I do not expect land-troops-deployment in Syria because the ”.absence of U.S soldiers will be good for both Syria and USA

He also added that a lot of leaders in the region do agree the same opinion and that US is not a bystander even as for waiting the results of the investigation of chemical weapons use.

Obama maintained:” US will take no steps unless a stronger proof is delivered and that’s after careful deliberation because if we rush to judgments, we will not only pay the price, but also we will witness grave consequences; so it is so important to proceed appropriately.”

Syria could confront Israel: Assad

Source : http://old.mehrnews.com

TEHRAN, May 8 (MNA) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad say Damascus “has the ability to confront adventurist actions by apartheid Israel.”

During his first public comment after the Zionist invasion, Assad said that Damascus “has the ability to confront venturous actions of apartheid Israel.”

Assad made these remarks after meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, the Iranian Foreign Minister. Syrian president also said apartheid Israel is supporting the terrorists in his country.

Syrian President also thanked the rational positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Syria and believed that the terrorist groups’ actions in Syria were futile.

Assad continued: “the future belongs to the people of Syria and those who have moderate views on the political process in this country,” stressing his support for the resistance movement against the apartheid regime.

Ali Akbar expressed support of Iranian people and government for the Syrian nation, and praised their resistance against the recent attack by the Zionist regime in Syria.

Condemning the recent action of the extremist groups’ desecration of Islamic shrines and destroying mosques, Salehi said that “it is the proof of the extremism and lack of their logics, that, they proceed to do such heinous actions disregarding the beliefs of Muslims.”

l-Moallem to Lavrov: Syria Has Right as Per International Law to Respond to Israeli Aggression

Source : SANA

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al- Moalled discussed in a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday the volatile situation in the region following the Israeli aggression on Syria which took place on Sunday.

Minister al-Moallem pointed out that the criminal Israeli aggression on Syrian sites shows the nature of the goals that link Israel with the armed terrorist groups in Syria.

He also said that the aggression confirms Israel's involvement along with its supporters in the US and western Europe in shedding Syrian blood and preventing a cessation of violence and terrorism, all of which aims to weaken Syria and undermine its regional and international standing.

Al-Moallem stressed that Syria has the right to respond to such aggressions as per international law and the UN Charter.

For his part, Lavrov affirmed Russia's commitment to Syria's stability, voicing concern over the violation of its sovereignty and territories and warning over the increasing chances of developments that cannot be controlled in the region.

Lavrov also briefed al-Moallem on the communiqués made by Russia to halt the deterioration in the region caused by the Israeli raid on Syria, affirming that international and regional efforts are joined in preventing escalation of tension.

The two Ministers concluded their talks by agreeing to continue communiqués to deal with any potential developments.

Bogdanov Discusses with Ambassador Haddad Latest Developments in Syria

MOSCOW, (SANA) - Russian President's Special Representative to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with Syrian Ambassador in Russia Riyad Haddad the latest development in Syria and region.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the two sides discussed the latest developments in Syria, adding that the Russian side stressed the necessity of respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement also stressed on finding immediate solution to the crisis in Syria on base of the national dialogue among the Syrian themselves.

Lavrov Discusses with Brahimi Activating International Mediation to Solve Crisis in Syria

MOSCOW, (SANA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with the UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

In a phone call the activation of the international mediation to solve the crisis in Syria.

A statement by the Russia Foreign Ministry said that during the phone call the two sides discussed the issue of activate the international mediation, including the working mechanism of the united nations to solve the crisis in Syria through the implementation of Geneva statement by all sides.

B. Mousa / F. L./ H. Sabbagh

Syria says Israeli attack opens door to all eventualities

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government said Sunday that Israel's attack against positions of the Syrian army earlier in the day "opens the door widely before all eventualities."

The comments came in a statement read out by Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi after an emergency cabinet meeting.

While branding the attack targeting the Syrian army with rockets as "flagrant," the statement did not overtly speak of any possible responses to the attack.

"Syria is a state that does not waver and does not accept humiliation and will not accept its sovereignty to be infringed upon either at home or abroad," al-Zoubi said, warning that those who mess with Syria's sovereignty must carefully study their options and shoulder the responsibility.

"Syria is committed to the option of resistance and whoever thinks that Syria can be breakable is wrong and mistaken and must repeat his calculations," he added.

Syrian Army Continues Crackdown on Terrorist Groups

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Several units of the Syrian Armed Forces carried out military operations against terrorists' gatherings and hideouts, inflicting heavy losses upon them in several provinces.

A unit of the Syrian army confronted a terrorist group which attacked a military checkpoint in Harasta in Damascus Countryside, killing a number of its members, a military source told the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Other army units carried out a number of special operations in the surroundings of the Water Establishment, the Court and al-Thanawiya roundabout in Harasta.

The operations resulted in destroying a heavy machinegun and other equipment and killing of several terrorists, including Khalil Shiha and Ahmad Mkhalalati.

Another unit of the Syrian army killed and injured all members of Al-Nusra Front terrorist group which was perpetrating sabotage and looting acts in Adra area and in Housh al-Fara roundabout.

The source added that units of the armed forces clashed with terrorist groups at al-Manasher roundabout and near the Sports Hall in Joubar, killing large numbers of their members and destroying their weapons and equipment.

A Libyan terrorist called Jaed al-Ajari was identified among the dead.

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.

The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Syrian President Bashar al- Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups 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 US daily, Washington Post, reported in May that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling 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.

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.

Syria Introduces Two New Satellite Channels

Source : Al Akhbar English

On Syria TV’s morning talk shows, the topics range from the day’s weather to segments highlighting the latest fashion trends. At night, the news programs depict countless convoys of martyrs inside coffins.

In either broadcast scenario, the Syrian media live an isolated existence. The boundaries of their coverage are firmly set, their realities constructed with the aim of insulating Syrians from any outside realities.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) specializes in singing the praises of the government and its achievements. It publicizes the statements of ministers on job opportunities, temporary housing for the displaced, and securing medication.

This, in a nutshell, is the state of Syrian media today, but the General Organization of Radio and TV has announced that change is on the way. Two new channels are in the works. The “Uruba” and “Talaqi” channels are supposed to be fundamentally different than the current options.

Talaqi began its experimental broadcast a while back. The channel shaped its identity as being broadcast from Damascus, the oldest capital in the world. Its programs focused on the possibility of different groups of Syrians co-existing, no matter how far apart they’ve been driven.

The Uruba, or Arabism, station harkens Baath Party slogans. Sources within the station said that it is meant to address the whole Arab world. It was initially designed to be the government’s back-up station, meaning, if the regime was isolated and Syrian stations dropped by Arab satellite companies, the new channel would take the place of the Syrian Satellite Channel.

When the Syrian Satellite Channel was dropped, Syrian authorities got it back up and running on the grounds of its contracts with the private company Nilesat. As such, Uruba came to fulfill a different purpose.

Sources say that $18 million has been allocated to rehabilitate the Syrian Satellite Channel. The station might go off the air for two months for studio renovation and a reconsideration of media strategy.

Mortar shell lands near Iraqi Embassy in Damascus

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A mortar shell struck on Tuesday the vicinity of the Iraqi Embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus, leaving material damages only, local media reported.

Activists' Local Coordination Committees (LCC) said the rebels fired mortars at the Tishreen Presidential Palace near Abu- Rummaneh.

But witnesses denied the report, saying the shell missed its target and landed instead near the Iraqi embassy.

Earlier in the day, a deadly explosion occurred near the old headquarters of the Interior Ministry in Damascus, killing at least 14 people.

Also, two mortars landed near Damascus' Free Zone in the Jamarek area, the pro-government Sham FM radio said.

Meanwhile, according to the LCC, mortar round landed near a church located between al-Jazmatieh and al-Ghawas lanes in the capital's central district of al-Midan.

Explosions and mortar attacks have become increasingly common in Syria as the al-Qaida terror network has become active on Syrian soil, especially after aligning with the radical al-Nusra Front

Syria troops battle militants in Homs

Via : Strategic-Culture.org

The Syrian troops have carried out a series of mop-up operations in the western city of Homs, forcing foreign-backed militants out of the city’s flashpoint areas.

The Syrian armed forces destroyed a terrorist hideout and a workshop for manufacturing explosives in Jouret al-Shiyah neighborhood on Monday, Syria’s official SANA news agency reported.

The Syrian forces also inflicted heavy losses on foreign-backed armed groups in al-Qusour, al-Khalidiye, al-Dar al-Kabireh, Tal Dahab, Teldo and Kafr Laha in Homs countryside.

On Sunday, clashes erupted between the Syrian troops and militants in the district of Qudssaya, near the Syrian capital, Damascus. The Syrian army killed a number of militants many of whom were foreign nationals, SANA stated.

Terrorist hideouts were also raided by Syrian forces in the towns of Jobar, al- Shifoniyeh, al-Rihan, Harmala, Harasta and Barzeh al-Balad.

In addition, Syrian troops stormed a terrorist hideout in the town of Zamalka, about four kilometers (2.5 miles) east of Damascus. A large amount of weapons and munitions was destroyed after the fierce gun battle.

Similar operations were carried out by the Syrian army in the towns of Daraya, al-Hejjeira and al-Dhiyabiyeh.

The Syrian army has fully purged the town of Kimam in the strategic region of al-Qusayr near the border with Lebanon.

Syria has been gripped by a deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of government security forces and army personnel, have been killed in the violence.

Damascus 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.

Syrian PM survives blast targeting his convoy

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Prime Minister Wael al- Halqi has escaped unharmed from a blast that targeted his convoy in Damascus earlier on Monday and killed at least eight people, pro-government al- Ekhbaria TV reported.

The explosion has targeted al-Halqi's convoy in Damascus' western neighborhood of al-Mazzeh near the Electricity Directorate and close to a park and a school, local media said, adding that many others were wounded.

One of al-Halqi's escorts is believed to have been killed in the attack, reports said, adding that big material losses were also caused to nearby buildings and cars.

The high-profile assassination attempt is the latest in a series of plots that have targeted Syrian officials and army officers.

Last December, the rebels staged a blast near the Interior Ministry in Damascus, targeting Interior Minister Let. Gen. Mohammad al-Shaar. The minister survived the attack, but sustained serious injuries before recovering in a hospital in neighboring Lebanon.

A deadly attack last July killed four Syrian officials and was considered as the harshest blow against the administration of President Bashar al-Assad. Those killed including Defense Minister Dawood Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister Assef Shawkat, who is Assad 's brother-in-law, and Hasan Turkmani, Assad's security adviser.

Roadside bombs kill 2 in Syria, clashes kill 80 rebels

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Two separate explosive devices went off Wednesday in Syria, leaving two people dead, while clashes with the Syrian troops resulted in the death of some 80 rebels, local media reported.

The first explosive device was affixed under the car of an Electricity Ministry official, and killed him promptly in the capital Damascus.

The second went off in the countryside of central Hama province on the Sahlab al-Hourat road, killing a passerby and injuring two others, reports said, adding that the bomb squads in the area have defused another bomb.

Meanwhile, as many as 80 rebels were killed in separate clashes with government forces nationwide, reports said.

In the northern city of al-Raqqa, some 50 members of the al- Qaida- affiliated al-Nusra Front were killed and more than 100 others wounded during their attempt to storm the Syrian army's base, said the pro- government Sham FM radio.

Opposition activists said the Syrian air forces were backing the soldiers on ground to keep the rebels from inching closer, adding that the base is the last bastion of Syrian government forces in al-Raqqa, which was overrun by the rebels last month.

Separately, over 30 rebels were killed on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Idlib after the Syrian troops targeted them in Jisr al-Shughur area, the Sham FM said.

Muslims Brotherhood has begun to divide Syria

Source  :  http://breakingnews.sy/en

Media sources revealed that the Muslim Brotherhood organization in Syria has begun moving as plan to divide the country in order to control the northern regions of Syria.

Lebanese newspaper As-Safir quotes of opposition sources that “the Muslim Brotherhood does not care about the division of the Syrian entity. Opponents attribute to the Deputy Comptroller General of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Farouk Tayfur agreeing to «establish an entity in the Syrian North, and its capital is Aleppo, and managing that can be obtained, without waiting for the military option in Damascus..

The source says that the experiment in the ranks of the opposition is “a power struggle”. A Syrian opposition has said that the trends in the «coalition» began to coexist with potential management of Syria by the two governments an unspecified term, and may be divided. He announced h h d i h i ill b diffi l