Syria Wins back Stolen Cargo of Heavy Railway Equipment from Rebels

Source : Fars News Agency

Rebels TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian security forces seized back a cargo of heavy equipment belonging to the country's railway organization from a rebel group fighting President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The cargo which was worth $40.58mln was seized back after the Syrian forces' operations against the terrorist group in al-Hosseiniyah village in the outskirts of Deir al-Zour region.

The rebel group, whose members were killed by the Syrian security forces, had stolen the cargo and sold it to Turkish businessmen.

In another development on Wednesday, the Syrian troops targeted armed rebels in Damascus countryside, killing and wounding a large number of them, including their leaders.

Ammar al-Asfari, a terrorist leader affiliated to the so-called "Shabab al-Huda battalion" group, was killed along with several members of his group in al-Ob farms in Eastern al-Ghota, an informed source told the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Ten factories manufacturing explosive devices and mortar shells were destroyed in the Industrial Zone in Douma, the source added.

A unit of the army clashed with insurgents in the Western entrance of Haratsa city, killing so many anti-government fighters, including Abdullah Qasem, Abdul-Ghani al-Rayyes and insurgents' leader Mohammad Mahfoud, the source said.

Another army unit destroyed rebels' hideouts in Bait Sahm town, killing and wounding scores of fighters there, including Husam Badee' al-Obaid.

Meanwhile, the army continued crackdown on rebels in the areas of Talat al-Mistah and Barzeh, destroying their hideout and weapons.

The Syrian troops carried out several operations in Jubar in the areas of al-Manasher Roundabout and the teachers' building, killing and wounding scores of anti-government groups' members, including Abu Bassam Dalila.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against Syrian forces and civilians 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, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May 2012 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling Assad's government received significantly more and better weapons, 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 last 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.

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

Residents of Syria’s Douma Protest against Militants, Army Continue Operations

Source  :  http://www.almanar.com

Dozens of Syrians in the city of Douma took to streets to demand the expulsion of foreign-backed militants fighting the Syrian government.

Syrian news agency, SANA, reported on Saturday that dozens of Douma residents marched against the presence of militants, due to the “escalation of terrorist acts which are making citizens lives difficult and dangerous.”

The agency added that the citizens marched in al-Jala'a street in the middle of the city, calling for armed groups to leave.

SANA’s correspondent reported that the people said they “were fed up with the terrorists' practices which resulted in a state of insecurity and misery.”

Meanwhile, the Syrian Army staged several operations against militants in several areas in Damascus countryside.

“Units of the Armed Forces killed and injured a number of terrorists in special operations in Jobar, al-Ryhan farms and al-Atyba in Damascus Countryside, destroying their vehicles and confiscating their weapons and equipment,” SANA reported.

Leaders of Several Terrorist Groups Killed in Syria by Army Units

Source  :  Fars News Agency

An official source told the Syrian Arab News Agency that all members of a terrorist group affiliated to the so-called "Al-Islam Brigade" were killed and injured at al-Burj roundabout in Douma.

The source added that an army unit destroyed two cars equipped with heavy machineguns in new Adra and its surrounding and eliminated members of a terrorist group affiliated to Jabhat al-Nusra.

Leader of the group Abo Talha was identified among the dead.

The source also mentioned that a unit of the armed forces clashed with terrorist groups which were committing acts of loot in the surrounding of Tibeh Mosque, al-Manashir roundabout and the sport hall in Adra, killing and injuring several of their members.

Terrorist groups' leaders Ayman al-Zanar and Fadi Marjan were identified among the dead, according to the source.

An official source told SANA that scores of terrorists were killed in the area of al-Otaiba in Damascus Countryside, adding that terrorists Hassan Dabbas, Malek Othman and Ammar al-Kurdi were identified among the dead.

The source said that an army unit pursued and killed 4 terrorist snipers in Daraya city near al-Furn Roundabout and 2 machineguns shooters near al-Sayyeda Sukayna area in the city.

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

In October 2011, calm was almost restored in most parts of the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies brought the country into chaos through every 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, 2012 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.

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.

Clashes continues in Syria, opposition leader renews desire for dialogue

Source : Xinhua

DAMASCUS, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Clashes have continued in Syria, particularly in the south and east of the capital Damascus as the head of the main opposition coalition reiterated desire to embark on talks with representatives of the administration of President Bashar al-Assad.

Clashes continued Saturday in the southern sprawling suburbs of Daraya and Muadamieh between the rebels and the government troops amid reports that the Syrian military has beefed up presence in the vicinity of those areas to hasten dislodging the rebels and ending the fight there that has been dragging on for more than two months.

The reports said that the battles continued also in the eastern suburbs of Ghouta and Douma and the Beit Sahem town near the road to the international airport of Damascus.

The violence continues as the head of the main opposition coalition, Moaz al-Khatib, repeated on Friday previous surprising statement that he is ready to embark of talks with Assad's regime with conditions such as to release detainees and renew documents of Syrians abroad.

His remarks came during a late-night panel talks with joined UN- Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi at the Munich Security Conference, a day ahead of their meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

The U.S. vice president is also set to meet the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday after his meeting with both Brahimi and al-Khatib.

The broad-based opposition has for long rejected any dialogue with the Assad administration until the ouster of Assad himself, but the recent statement by al-Khatib stipulated no departure of Assad as a prelude to dialogue. Al-Khatib said that the talks would be held with Syrian officials whose hands didn't smear in Syrians blood.

Last Wednesday, al-Khatib said the same stance on his Facebook page, but the oppositional Syrian National Council said his remarks were personal and didn't reflect the stance of all opposition factions abroad.

During his Munich meeting, al-Khatib also called for "some sort of electronic hacking" to hinder the bombardment of Syrian aircraft to populated areas and "if that doesn't work," he said, " I would demand to destroy the planes and weapons of the Syrian regime."

He warned that the persistent of the 22-month conflict in Syria would have grave repercussions on the entire region, calling on the international community not to be "bystanders" regarding what is happening in Syria.

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

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