Syrian Army Makes Major Advances in Mountainous Areas of Reef Idlib

Source : http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920820001250

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army made major advances in a strategic mountainous area in Reef (countryside of) Idlib in Northwestern Syria on Monday, inflicting heavy casualties on the armed rebels.The army units purged militants from the mountainous regions of Jabal Al-Arbaeen in Reef  Idlib, and killed more than 10 armed rebels and injured dozens more in heavy clashes, FNA dispatches said.The Syrian army’s artillery units, concurrent with operations in Jabal Al-Arbaeen, pounded the gathering centers of the armed rebels in Kafr Lateh and Marzaf towns and also shelled the roads linking Bazabour village to Zerjeh village.The army also repelled the armed rebels’ attack on Al-Qiyasat checkpoint in Al-Rami town in Reef Idlib. Tens of armed rebels were killed and dozens more injured during the heavy clashes over the Al-Qiyasat checkpoint.Earlier in the day, the Syrian army repelled armed rebels’ attack on a military base in Reef Idlib.The army units fiercely clashed and pushed back the armed rebels from Qaminas town in Reef Idlib before they could attack and capture the military base.Meantime, the armed rebels attacked a police headquarters and Carlton Hotel in Idlib city with improvised missiles.There were no reports on the possible number of casualties or damage to properties by the armed rebels’ attack on the Idlib 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 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.

Internal Dispute Kills Notorious Terrorist Ringleader in Northwestern Syria

Source : Fars News

TEHRAN (FNA)- Clashes between two main Syrian armed rebel groups in Reef (outskirts of) Idlib in Northwestern Syria killed tens of armed rebels, including a notorious terrorist leader.

The clashes erupted between members of the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda and Lava al-Saqour terrorist groups in Mar Tamsarin of Reef Idlib today, killing more than 50 terrorists from both sides, including Lava al-Saqour's ringleader Shokri Ajauj.

In similar clashes last month, harsh disputes erupted among the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels over links and cooperation with the notorious terrorist group, the al-Qaeda.

Al-Ahd news website reported in April that the harsh disputes between the FSA and al-Nusra Front over the latter's pledging allegiance to the al-Qaeda have at times even grown so violent that have led to an exchange of fire.

The groups affiliated to FSA in a statement expressed their opposition to the al-Nusra Front's allegiance to the al-Qaeda.

Last month, leader of al-Nusra Front Abu Mohammed al-Jawalani pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda.

The pledge was made in an audio message by al-Jawalani a day after al-Qaeda in Iraq said al-Nusra Front in Syria is part of its "Islamic state", al-Mayadeen TV reported.

The differences between FSA and al-Qaeda-linked group came while the former Head of the so- called Syrian National Coalition Sheikh Ahmad Maaz Al-Khatib had several times voiced support for al-Nusra Front.

Last December, Al-Khatib criticized the Washington's decision to put the al-Nusra Front in the US list of terrorists.

Al-Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for most of the fatal bombings targeting civilians and government institutions across Syria after the outbreak of the country's crisis in early 2011. Damascus has repeatedly warned of the growing threat of such groups to not only Syria, but the entire region as well.

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.

Syrian Army Thwarts Attack on Reef Idlib, Kills Tens of Armed Rebels

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army repelled a terrorist attack on Reef (outskirts of) Idlib in Northwestern Syria on Wednesday, killing tens of armed rebels, including notorious terrorists.

The army thwarted an attack by armed rebels on al-Neyrab military base in Reef Idlib today killing over 50 of terrorists today.

A Syrian army's military source said that the armed rebels attacked al-Neyrab military base from different directions by utilizing artillery and missiles.

The Syrian source noted that notorious terrorists such as Akram Dakel, Arab Abedlsamad al-Qazi, Ibrahim Osman, Ovais Sheikh Dieh, Younes al-Ala (commander of Ahmed al-Ala terrorist group), Hussein al-Ala, Hussein Abdu Halou, Majdi al-Ala and Hussein Abdu Halou were among 50 armed rebels killed in Reef Idlib.

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.

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.

Militants used chemical material against civilians near Idlib: Syria

Source : Tehran Times

Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al- Jaafari has said that the foreign- backed militants in Syria have used chemical material against civilians during an attack on a town near Idlib.

Bashar al-Jaafari said at a press conference on Tuesday that the militants spread the contents of plastic bags containing chemical material during the attack.

Many residents were affected by the armed groups’ “heinous and irresponsible act,” the Syrian envoy said, warning that it was an attempt to “implicate the Syrian government on a false basis.”

Some of the victims were transferred to Turkey for treatment, Jaafari added.

The envoy went on to say that 'today or tomorrow Ankara and Western media would launch a new propaganda campaign against Damascus and claim that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people.'

Reports say that two people were killed and 20 others injured in the militants’ chemical attack in Idlib.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama has said Washington did not know how chemical material was used in another recent attack in Aleppo.

The Syrian government requested the UN to dispatch a fact- finding mission to the country after reports circulated that the foreign-backed militants had used chemical weapons against civilians in Khan al-Assal district of the northwestern province of Aleppo on March 19. Over two dozen people were killed and more than 100 injured in the chemical attack.

Obama said at a press conference on Tuesday that, "If I can establish in a way that not only the United States but also the international community feel confident in the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, then that is a game-changer."

Syria has been gripped by 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.

(Source: Press TV)

US-Israel led Al-Nusra-Front rapes the Free Army militants

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Both Al-Nusra, that resides under the umbrella of Al-Qaeda, and the ‘Free Army’ have several times coincided and fought against each other on the loots, something which may not be new. However; local sources informed our network from inside the city of Idlib that a new milestone which can be considered as a turning point in the usual fighting since a month ago as the battalions and brigades of the rebels have withdrawn from the circumference of Wadi-Al-Daif and Al-Hamidiah strategic sites in Ma’arat-Al-Nowman town in Idlib countryside.

The source maintained as 10 of the ‘Free Army’ militants were kidnapped by Al-Nusra, those militants who follow their leader jamal-Ma’arouf in Idlib, were taken, tortured and sexually ‘raped’.The main reason of this incident was because of the withdrawal of the ‘Free Army’ militants from Ma’arat-Al-Nowman in a battle against the Syrian Army leaving Al-Nusra alone in the battle which caused them heavy casualties.Incidents of hostage- exchange have increased lately between the two sides along with mediators for the increasing tension especially where retaliation started to appear where every side now is only aiming to prove their domination and existence

Syrian Troops Kill Several Foreign Terrorists in Idlib

Source  :  Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian Army said it has killed a large number of 'foreign terrorists' in the Northwestern governorate of Idlib.

On Friday, the army said it killed many Jabhat al-Nusra-linked militants in Maaret al-Numan in Idlib and seized their weapons, the official SANA news agency reported.

A unit of the Syrian Army also killed many militants in the villages of al-Amoudiyeh and Heesh in the governorate.

Abdul-Razzaq Omar al-Zouzo, leader of the Khattab Battalion, Abdul-Hamid Hikmat al-Badawi, leader of the Al-Tawhid Brigade, and Abo al-Saad, leader of the Al- Khadraa Battalion were identified among the dead.

Government troops also destroyed a missile launching base in Ma'r Shamshi village of Idlib and "eliminated a large number of terrorists".

Syrian government forces also launched attacks against militants in the governorates of Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, and Lattakia on Friday and killed a large number of them.

In addition, the Syrian armed forces captured many machine guns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, hand-made rockets, mortar shells, and anti-tank missiles.

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.

Syrian Army Kills 94 Terrorists in Reef Idlib

Source : Fars News Agency

The army units targeted and destroyed the terrorists' hideouts and killed 82 terrorists, including several snipers, in different parts of Reef (outskirts of) Idlib today.

The Syrian forces targeted and destroyed an arms depot in Jebel al-Zawiya town in Reef Idlib, killing 12 armed rebels.

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.

Army Kills Tens of Terrorists across Syria

Source : Fars News Agency

Army Kills Tens of Terrorists across Syria TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army continued its advances and killed tens of terrorists across the country over the past 24 hours.

The army killed tens of armed rebels and injured dozens more in heavy clashes in Reef (outskirts of) Damascus, al-Reqqa, Deir al-Zour, Homs and Idlib.

In Reef Damascus, the Syrian army units destroyed the bastions of armed rebels in Duma and its suburban farms in Kafr Batna, Zulmaka, Arabin and suburban Harasta. The army killed tens of terrorists and injured dozens more and destroyed two vehicles equipped with heavy machineguns.

Notorious terrorist ringleader Mohammad al-Barhamji, Mohammad Qasem, Soleyman al-Tayr, Ahmad Ghanoum, Omar Dalvan and Mohammad Davlibi were among those killed in Reef Damascus.

In Reef Damascus's Jobar town, the Syrian army killed six terrorists and injured ten others. The army also killed a large number of armed rebels in Darya of Reef Damascus.

In al-Reqqa, the army attacked the bastions of terrorists in Reef al-Reqqa killing a number of armed rebels, including notorious terrorists Hadi al-Akal, Ibrahim Oveis and Ra'ad al-Hessan.

The Syrian army also repelled a terrorist attack on al-Reqqa's central prison and killed a large number of armed rebels and injured many others in heavy clashes.

In Deir al-Zour, the Syrian army clashed with terrorists in al-Haviqeh and the city's old airport killing tens of armed rebels, including notorious terrorists Omran Ibrahim al-Savadi, Qassem Hassan al- Abed, Hessan Eifan al-Ghazal, Adnan al-Mahmoud, Abdel Sattar al-Farim and Khaled Eissa al- Mohammad.

The Syrian army also attacked a convoy of terrorists on al-Saour road in Reef Deir al-Zour killing a number of terrorists and destroying their DshK-equipped vehicles.

In Idlib, the Syrian army units attacked a terrorist bastion in Tal Salmo, East of Idlib Airport. The army killed 12 terrorists in heavy clashes in Saraqeb, Abu Zohourm, al-Rami and Jebel al-Zawiya.

The army also killed eight terrorists in Jesr Al-Shughour in Idlib.

The Syrian army also killed tens of terrorists in sporadic clashes in Talbisiya, al-Rostan and al-Qasir town of Reef Homs.

Terrorists have tried hard in the last few months to make Syrian cities unsafe, specially for citizens, but the army has purged them from most neighborhoods and districts, killed hundreds of them and arrested many more.

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.

Qaida-linked group attack anti-gov't protest in northwestern Syria

Source : APA

Baku-APA. Members and supporters of the al- Qaida-linked Nusra Front attacked Friday an anti-government protest in Syrian northwestern province of Idlib, tearing down the protesters' flag and chanting for establishing a "caliphate," APA reorts quoting Xinhua

An online video shot by Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights showed the radical group storming the "pro-democracy protest" held in Idlib's Sarqeb town. After tearing down the protesters' black, white and green flag, the Nusra fighters and supporters chanted that "it will only be an Islamic caliphate."

The observatory said the incident is the second within a week in which radicals disperse activists in Sarqeb, a town allegedly under the rebels' control.

The United States branded Nusra Front as a terrorist organization last month, after it claimed responsibility for almost all the explosions that rattled security and military posts across Syria.

Fighting currently alongside the rebels' Free Syria Army, the Nusra Front has recently said it is interested in neither freedom nor democracy and its ultimate goal is to establish an Islamic state on the "wreckage" of the current administration.

Analysts said the Nusra Front is believed to be a striking force in the fight against the government troops nationwide, and Friday's incident manifests that the 22-month "revolution" in Syria has been hijacked by radical groups affiliated with al-Qaida.

Meanwhile, fights renewed in several areas in the unrest-torn country on Friday, most notably in areas surrounding the capital Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes in Damascus' eastern suburb Jobar, as well as shelling and airstrike on the nearby areas of Zamalka and Qaboun. Clashes also continued in Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in the capital and the western countryside of Daraya and Muadamieh.

The observatory said three young men from the Dummar neighborhood in Damascus were tortured to death by government forces, adding that the government troops carried out Friday a campaign of raids and arrests in the Damascus neighborhood of Adawi. Several residents were taken away, the report said.

The capital's fighting started Wednesday when rebels waged attacks on army checkpoints in Jobar and tried to push their way to enter the capital. With the Syrian army responding with heavy shelling and firepower, sounds of shells have become daily routine since Wednesday.

Earlier Friday, the state media said the sheikh of Salahuddien Mosque in northern city Aleppo was killed when mortar shells fired by armed groups landed at the mosque.

Syria has been engulfed in a bloody conflict between opposition forces and government troops since March 2011. It has so far claimed some 60,000 lives, according to UN estimates.

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.

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.

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.

30 rebels, 10 gov't troops killed in fresh wave of violence

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- As many as 30 armed men were killed Wednesday in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour during clashes with government troops, a pro-government media reported, as sources said that a total of 10 government forces were also killed Wednesday in a roadside bomb blast in the northwestern province of Idlib.

The armed men were killed during clashes with the Syrian forces near al-Rawda mosque in the town of Jubaila in Deir al-Zour, Sham FM radio said.

Separately, the state-run SANA news agency said scores of " terrorists" had been killed during a qualitative operation carried out by the Syrian army against their gatherings at the orchards of the Damascus suburb of Daraya.

It added that the army has liberated tens of people, including children and women, who were kidnapped and besieged in Daraya by the terrorists to use them as human shield.

SANA said also that the army has seized a makeshift factory to make bombs and a tunnel to store weapons and ammunition in the area.

In the northern province of Idilb, Sham FM said a roadside bomb went off on the Idlib-Mastouma road, killing and injuring unidentified number of people. The reports stopped short of providing further details. However, a source said that the roadside bomb went off near an overnight military bus and killed 10 soldiers.

On the opposition side, activists said that an explosive device went off on Wednesday evening near a coffee shop in al-Zahera district of the capital Damascus, causing material damages.

Activists said that coffee shop is always occupied by security forces and pro-government gunmen.

The Local Coordination Committees (LCC), activists' network, placed the death toll of Wednesday's violence at 95 and blamed the ongoing violence in the courtly solely on the Syrian administration.

The LCC also reported the shelling by government troops, and in some cases aerial bombardment, on a number of hotspots nationwide, including suburbs in Damascus, such as Daraya and Hajar al- Aswad among others.

Still, the activists' account couldn't be checked independently.

Tensions in Syria began in March, 2011, when protesters took to the streets to call for the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. The situation has since escalated and Syrian security forces have been accused of firing on innocent protesters. The situation has evolved into an ugly conflict with no foreseeable solution.

More than 20,000 people, mostly civilians, have reportedly died in Syria since the country's crisis began some 20 months ago. A further 2.5 million Syrians urgently need humanitarian aid, and over 340,000 have crossed the border to Syria's neighboring countries -- Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, according to UN estimates.

Syria - Newsfeed Oct. 10. 2012

Opposition to set up inside Syria in days

Source: thetelegraph.com.au

SYRIA'S main exiled opposition coalition the Syrian National Council will in a "matter of days" set up in a rebel-controlled area inside the country, a top member of the group says.

"Very soon, we will install ourselves in Syria, deep in Syrian territory. It's a matter of days," Jamal al-Ward, a SNC official in charge of relations with the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), told AFP.

According to another SNC source, discussions over setting up operations inside Syria "have been going for a month."

Ward said that SNC leader Abdel Basset Sayda and other members of the executive committee will regularly travel to Syria via Atme, a village in Idlib province in the northwest which is a key rear base for the rebels near the Turkish border.

Sayda entered Syria from Turkey on Monday for the first time since he took up leadership of the opposition, visiting Atme and the front line outpost Bab al-Hawa.

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Gunmen of Homs flee to Lebanon, Homs to be safe within hours

Source: Breaking News Syria

Dozens of insurgents have fled to Lebanon in the aftermath of a military operation by the Syrian Army in the province of Homs.

On Tuesday, Lebanese security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that dozens of insurgents entered the country through the Mashareeh al-Qaa area over the past two days, the Lebanese newspaper Daily Star reported.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese Army has beefed up its presence along the border with Syria.

Furthermore, Al-Watan Newspaper has atated today that the Syrian Army has been making huge advance in Homs province, killing large numbers of the Free Army fighters.

The Newspaper stated that “All neighborhoods in Homs will be declared safe and secure within Hours”.

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Syrian Rebels Seize Key Town on Aleppo-Damascus Highway | News

Source: Antiwar.com

Syrian rebel fighters have reportedly seized the strategically important town of Maaret al-Numan today, with report that government forces have withdrawn from all checkpoints in the area except for the one at the entrance.

The town has been contested for months, and the military had been effectively in control since June. The town, in the Idlib Province, lies of the highway between Aleppo and the capital city of Damascus, effectively cutting Aleppo off from reinforcements.

Aleppo has been the site of some of the bloodiest fighting for over a month now, with both rebels and regime predicting a quick victory but instead seeing a stalemate, bringing Syria’s largest city and industrial capital to a standstill as much of it is now a constant open-fire zone.

As Syria’s most important city, Aleppo of course has more than one highway leading to it, so it is unclear how important losing the one to Damascus will be for regime forces there. Still, the move suggests the rebels are trying to make inroads in Syria’s supply route

Syria sends extra troops after rebels seize key town: activists

Source: The Daily Star

BEIRUT: Syria's army has rushed extra troops to Idlib after a strategic town in the northwestern province was seized by rebels, cutting off routes to the embattled commercial capital Aleppo, a watchdog said Wednesday.

"Helicopters are overflying the area," said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, without elaborating on how many additional troops were on their way to the town of Maaret al-Numan.

The Britain-based Observatory said six civilians were killed in army shelling of Maaret al-Numan on Tuesday, while 12 rebel fighters died in the fight for control of the town.

The Observatory had on Tuesday reported that rebels overran Maaret al-Numan, on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo, after a fierce 48-hour gunbattle and heavy shelling.

"Regular forces pulled back from all of their checkpoints around Maaret al-Numan, except for one at the entrance of the town," said Abdel Rahman.

"This is a strategic location on the route from Damascus to Aleppo. All the regime reinforcements headed to Aleppo must pass through Maaret al-Numan."

In a video released by activists on Tuesday, about 20 fighters belonging to the Martyrs' Brigade can be seen gathered around a tank at a captured army checkpoint in Maaret al-Numan shooting into the air in celebration.

Maaret al-Numan had originally fallen under rebel control on June 10, but it was retaken by the army in August, said the Observatory.

Aleppo, north of Maaret al-Numan, has been rocked by intense fighting between rebels and regime forces since mid-July and has become the focal point of the conflict ravaging Syria.

Syria - Newsfeed TopNews Oct. 7. 2012 / 7/365

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Via: Xinhua | English.news.cn

Army troops hammer insurgents near Syrian capital: paper

English.news.cn 2012-10-07 15:49:31

DAMASCUS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army has continued tracking down armed insurgent groups in some eastern hotspots of the capital Damascus, in which it used the air force to hammer their hideouts, the pro-government al-Watan daily reported Sunday.

The army operation took place at hotspots of the eastern al- Ghouta area, the report said, adding that intense clashes have taken place at al-Shaifoniah and Otaya suburbs after the armed men tried to attack a military barrack there.

The clashes, the paper said, led to the damaging of an electricity high-tension tower and caused a blackout in most areas in eastern Ghouta.

Al-Watan also said the army cleansed the western Damascus' suburb of Qudsiah from armed insurgency.

Meanwhile, in central Homs province, the paper said the Syrian troops had killed about 165 armed men at al-Khalidieh and some old districts, adding that another 40 were killed at al-Rastan, just outside Homs.

In another suburb of Homs, al-Watan said the army has unleashed a huge firepower to purge al- Qusair town of armed insurgency, while the activists Local Coordination Committees (LCC) reported heavy airstrikes at al-Jousieh area in al-Qusair, which has largely spiraled out of the government's control over the past months.

The LCC also reported intense fighting between the armed rebels and government troops at al- Midan district of northern Aleppo province, where the al-Watan daily boasted the army's advancement and claimed that the armed rebels had retreated along with other extremists groups linked to the al-Qaida terror network from some districts in that crucial city.

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Mass rallies in Australia and India in ''Get Your Hands off Syria'' Campaign

Via: Breaking News Syria

At the invitation of ''Get Your Hands off Syria'' and ''Australians for Syria'' groups, and the Syrian and Arab communities in Australia, the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart witnessed mass rallies in support to Syria against the campaign led by the West and the oil sheikhdoms.

The demonstrators chanted slogans saluting the Syrian Arab Army and its role in defending the country in the face of the crimes committed by the armed groups.

The people stressed that President al-Assad is the 'safety valve' for Syria to come out from the crisis.

Maher Dabbagh, Syria's Honorary Consul to Sydney said that the participants in the rallies wanted to show their support to Syria and to convey their stance about the situation there to the world and Australian public opinion.

Meanwhile, members of the Syrian community and Syrian and Arab students studying in India, with the participation of Indian political and popular figures, organized a stand to express support to Syria's leadership, people and army against the global war launched against their country.

In turn, Syria's Ambassador to India, Riyad Abbas, called upon members of the Syrian community to commit to steadfastness and unity and exert efforts to explain the reality of what Syria is facing.

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Turkey fires artillery into Syria after shelling

Via: Yahoo.com

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish forces fired across the frontier into Syria on Sunday after a shell launched from Syria landed in Turkey's border town of Akcakale, underlining Ankara's warning that it will respond with force to any violence spilling over into its territory.

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Syrian troops regain control of 2 rebellious suburbs of Damascus

Via: Xinhua

Syrian troops regain control of 2 rebellious suburbs of Damascus

English.news.cn 2012-10-08 00:09:55

DAMASCUS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian troops totally purged two restive suburbs of the capital Damascus on Sunday from armed insurgency and announced them secure, the state-TV said.

Qudsaiah and Hameh have emerged as strongholds for armed rebels over the past few months, before the Syrian troops unleashed an offensive last week to recuperate the two adjunct suburbs from the rampant insurgency there.

Meantime, the sounds of sporadic shellfire have reverberated Sunday in several districts of Damascus, in what appeared to be ongoing military showdown in other restive suburbs.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a network of activists on ground, said mortar shells landed at al-Qadam suburb of Damascus on Sunday, giving no further details on casualties at that battered countryside.

The Observatory said a rebel fighter was killed during clashes with government forces at the eastern Ghouta suburb Sunday.

Another activists' network, the Local Coordination Committees, placed the death toll of the people who got killed so far Sunday at 75, blaming the government forces of being behind the daily violence.

However, the activists' accounts could not be confirmed independently.

Meanwhile, Syria's official media said army troops repulsed an attack by armed rebels at the Hanano barracks in the northern city of Aleppo, killing many of them.

The Hanano barracks have been attacked several times over the past several months, during whic the armed rebels had managed to enter parts of the barracks but were later flushed out by the Syrian troops.

Sources have said that the Syrian army had recently sent a group of elite forces to Aleppo in hope of regaining full control over the sprawling crucial province, whose edges stretch to the Turkish borders.

Separately, an official source denied media reports circulating on some Arab TV news stations tha a Syrian jet fighter was downed earlier in the day by the rebels in eastern Deir al-Zour province.

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Syrian Rebels Claim Capturing President Assad’s Cousin | World | Via: RIA Novosti

Syrian rebels have claimed capturing Housam al-Assad, the cousin of President Bashar al-Assad, the Saudi-owned news channel Al Arabiya reported on Sunday.

Assad’s cousin was arrested by the al-Farouq brigade of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Sheikh Adnan Al Arour, a Sunni Muslim preacher and a major Salafist leader in Syria, announced on his Twitter account.

“Housam al-Assad, the cousin of Bashar has been captured,” Sheikh Arour said.

The 73-year-old Arour fled Syria under the rule of Hafez Al Assad following the 1982 massacre in his hometown of Hama and settled in Saudi Arabia ever since. He has become one of the symbolic figures of the Syrian uprising against the Assad regime.

The Syrian conflict has claimed up to 20,000 lives according to various Syrian opposition groups. The UN puts the death toll at over 18,000 people. The Syrian authorities say 8,000 were killed.

The West is pushing for President Bashar al- Assad’s ouster while Russia and China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria, saying that the Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.

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DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Syrian Armed Forces on Saturday marked the 39th anniversary of the October Liberation War that restored the Arab nation's pride, dignity and influential presence in the international arena and boosted its standing among the nations and peoples of the world.

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Syrian opposition warns city of Homs could fall to al-Assad forces

Via: Trend.Az

7 October 2012, 17:30 (GMT+05:00)

Syrian government forces have sent reinforcements to central Homs and could gain complete control of the besieged city, a major opposition group warned Sunday, dpa reported.

"The criminal regime has dispatched extra troops to tighten the inhuman siege of the city," the Syrian National Council said in a brief statement.

"Homs' fall will mark a serious turning point in the course of events, subjecting the present and future of Syria as well as the region to great perils."

Opposition rebel forces and troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been fighting in and around Homs for about four months.

The city has been a focal point in the uprising against al-Assad that began in March last year.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government troops stepped up their shelling of Homs on Sunday and clashes between troops and rebels taking place inside the city claimed casualties on both sides.

News from Syria cannot be independently verified, as most foreign media are barred from the conflict-torn country.

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Iran reacts to Syrian rebels’ threat to kill 48 kidnapped Iranians - Trend.Az

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 6 /Trend D.Khatinoglu/

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparst said that Syrian rebels and their supporters are responsible for safety of 48 Iranians who were kidnapped in Syria, IRIB news reported today.

Though a video released on You Tube, Syrian rebels said they will kill a group of Iranians captured in Syria in August after 48 hours, if Syrian regime and Iran do not put end to strike over Syrian citizens.

Syrian rebels say that this group consists of members of Iran's military force, IRGC.

Head of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Mohammad-Ali Jafari confirmed in September that Iran had former members of the Guard in Syria, but he said that this does not mean Iran's military presence over there.

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said that some of kidnapped persons are retired military officers who went to Syria as pilgrims.

Mehmanparst said that Syrian rebels use Iranian kidnapped citizens as "humanitarian shield in the war with government".

Bloodshed between the Syrian government and opposition groups has continued for 19 months, leaving more than 24,000 victims. In August, more than 3,000 Syrians were killed.

Iran strongly defends the Syrian government.

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Source: Breaking News Syria

Aleppo – Syria: the Syrian forces confront an armed attack launched on Hanano barrack as the assailants have been killed

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The Daily Star - Mobile Edition :: News :: Middle East :: Syria clashes with armed infiltrators from Lebanon

AMMAN: Syrian state TV says soldiers have clashed with two armed groups that infiltrated from Lebanon, killing several of them.

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40 soldiers killed as Syria rebels take town: Voice of Russia

Forty government soldiers and nine rebels were killed on Saturday when rebels took a town in the northwestern province of Idlib near the border with Turkey, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - 50 dead as Syrian rebels take border town

50 dead as Syrian rebels take border town

* Turkish PM says he is not looking for mandate for war

* Syrian defence minister says victory near for his forces; repentant rebels will be welcomed back

DAMASCUS: Nearly 50 soldiers and rebels were killed on Saturday in clashes near Syria’s northern border, as Turkey hit back against what it said was new mortar fire from inside Syria.

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Syria stuck in cross-border tension as violence raging - Xinhua | English.news.cn

DAMASCUS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Violence in Syria and cross-border tension with neighboring Turkey continued Saturday while the Syrian defense minister stressed the Syrian army's resolution to rid the country of "terrorism."

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Turkey deploys military vehicles along border with Syria

English.news.cn 2012-10-06 21:52:03

ANKARA, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Military vehicles of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) were deployed in southeastern Turkey along the border with Syria on Saturday, the semi-official Aanatolia news agency reported.

The vehicles sent to Suruc town of the southeastern Sanliurfa province included a large number of tanks and missile defense systems, according to the report.

Turkey and Syria have been exchanging fire sporadically on the border for four days after a mortar shell from the Syrian side fell Wednesday in the Turkish border town of Akcakale in Sanliurfa province and killed five Turks.

The Turkish government said Wednesday in a statement that "Our armed forces in border region have given the required response in line with the rule of engagements. Targets in Syria, which were detected by radar, were shot by shelling."

"Turkey will never remain unresponsive against these sorts of provocations of Syrian regime within the framework of rules of engagement and international law," the statement said.

In an emergency session on Thursday, the Turkish parliament approved a motion for cross-border military operations inside Syria.

Ankara has been complaining about the spillover of Syrian artillery and gunfire into its territory, and has last week said it would act if mortar strikes were repeated from Syria.

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Syrian army capable of squashing terrorism, minister says - Xinhua | English.news.cn

English.news.cn 2012-10-06 22:40:38

DAMASCUS, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army forces are capable of squashing terrorism and terrorists in all their shapes and colors, Syria's Minister of Defense Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij said Saturday.

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Syrian rebels threaten to kill Iranians

Source : CNN

(CNN) - Syrian rebels said they will start executing a group of about 48 Shiite pilgrims from Iran if Tehran and Damascus do not comply with their demands, according to a video posted this week on YouTube.