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Syrian armed gangs kidnap Lebanese pilgrims

[08 June 2012] 'KSA, Qatar assist armed gangs in Syria' - English. The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin has slammed Saudi Arabia and Qatar for funding and supplying weapons to armed Syrian opposition groups. Interview with Mohsen Saleh, professor at the Lebanese University

[07 Aug 2012] West plans to take over Middle East nations Analyst - English Syrian security forces have clashed with foreign-sponsored insurgents in several neighborhoods in the country's largest city of Aleppo as part of their efforts to clear the city of the armed groups. The Syrian government forces entered the al-Sakhour area inside Aleppo and arrested between 200 and 250 insurgents, 70 of whom are believed to be foreigners. Meanwhile, the Syrian armed gangs attacked a traffic police station in central Aleppo on Tuesday and opened fire on the Syrian police forces, leading to casualties. The foreign-backed insurgents receive arms and support from several Western and regional states, including Saudi Arabia. Many people, including security forces, have been killed in the unrest in Syria that began in March 2011. This is while the United Nations has pulled its observers out of Aleppo due to, what it called, the worsening situation in the city. Almost 20 UN observers returned to the mission's headquarters in Damascus. Damascus says, "outlaws, saboteurs, and insurgents" are behind the unrest in the country, while the opposition accuses the security forces of killing the protesters. The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed insurgents are foreign nationals. Press TV has conducted an interview with Dan Dicks, founder of Press for Truth, from Toronto, to further discuss the issue.

[29 May 2012] 'Syria must curb armed gangs with iron fist' - English Pressure is mounting on Syria as a number of countries including European states are expelling Syrian ambassadors and diplomats. France, Britain, Spain, Germany, and Italy say the expulsions are in response to the Friday massacre of civilians in Houla. Canada and Australia are doing the same. British foreign secretary William Hague says the US will also take similar action. This is the latest form of pressure by Western states and their allies on the Syrian government that blame Damascus for killing civilians since unrest erupted in Syria over a year ago. Britain says the pressure will increase. Press TV has conducted an interview with Haitham Alsibahie, from the Syrian Social Club in London, to further talk over the issue.

[29 Oct 2012] Syrian armed groups kidnapped Lebanese Journalist - English

[26 Aug 2012] Lebanese pilgrim kidnapped by Syrian armed rebels released - English

[23 Apr 2014] Lebanese-Syrian border village bearing brunt of Syrian conflict - English

Media outlets have reported an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese-Syrian border area for which Tel Aviv has not denied responsibilty. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will do what it takes to protect Israel\'s safety.

[05 July 2012] West biased towards Syria conflict - English Switzerland has decided to suspend arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates following a report that Swiss-made hand grenades are being used by armed gangs in Syria. The measure was taken on Wednesday after the Sonntagszeitung newspaper published a photograph taken of one such device in possession of anti-Damascus forces in the town of Marea, north of Aleppo, at the end of June. Preliminary inquiries into the photo showed the grenade in question was made by the Bern-based arms manufacturer RUAG, and was part of a shipment made by the company to the UAE in 2003. In an interview with Press TV, Charles Shoebridge, a security analyst in London, shares his opinions regarding the issue.

Syrian army victories against foreign-backed militants have become a fact nearly on a daily basis, especially in Damascus and its suburbs. Press TV team accompanied Syrian army units in parts of al-Qaboun area that have been cleared of the foreign-backed militants. The Army regained control over the main bus station in al-Qaboun where Syrians used to head to any other Syrian city. However, armed men, who occupied it for nearly two months, destroyed it completely. Syrian army units have managed to completely secure the 1.5 kilometer industrial zone in al-Qaboun area which links Barzeh, al-Qaboun and Jobar together. Army personnel underlined the strategic importance of the secured area. Mohamad Ali, Press TV, Damascus

Syrian armed forces continue making advances in Aleppo. The army has managed to retake a number of buildings in the district of Layramoun in the city\\\'s north. The area is considered the northern gateway into Aleppo. The army\\\'s advances stop foreign-backed militants from smuggling weapons into Aleppo from the northern part of the city. The achievement is the latest in a series of military operations against insurgents who receive military aid from their supporters in Western countries and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

[08 Aug 2012] Kidnapping Iranian pilgrims crime against humanity - English Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the United Nations to act immediately to secure the release of the Iranian nationals abducted in Syria and Libya. "The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls for the immediate release of its abducted nationals and is of the view that using the hostages as human shields violates... international law and (the) human rights of these innocent civilians," Salehi said in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday. "I would like to seek the cooperation and the good offices of Your Excellency for securing the release of these hostages," he added. A UN spokesman confirmed that the letter had been received but did not offer an immediate response. On August 4, 48 Iranians, who were traveling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zainab (AS) on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, were abducted by insurgents. Three of the abductees have reportedly been killed. Insurgents from the self-proclaimed Free Syrian Army have threatened to kill the other abductees. Press TV has conducted an interview with Mohsen Saleh, professor at the Lebanese University, to further discuss the issue.

Syrian has accused the United States and Saudi Arabia of interfering in its internal affairs. Damascus blames foreign-backed armed gangs for the ongoing violence Some political analysts have accused Riyadh of recruiting terrorists and sending them to Syria. A prominent university professor says Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is following the US policies toward Syria and other regional countries. Press TV has conducted an interview with Press TV, Mohsen Saleh, Lebanese University professor, to further talk over the issue.

[25 July 2012] Gangs destruct Syria on behalf of Israel - English The infrastructure of Syria is facing dangerous levels and the fighting between the Syrian army and the armed groups is spreading to other cities as well. Syria has been the scene of violence by armed groups since March 2011. The violence has claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including many security forces. The Syrian government says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings. Press TV has conducted an interview with Kevin Barrett, author and Islamic studies expert, to further discuss the issue. The video also offers the opinion of an additional guest: Lawrence J. Korb from the Center for American Progress.

[23 July 2012] Lebanon army enhances deployment in Syrian border - English The northern Lebanese border with Syria has become a focal point ever since the Syrian unrest erupted around 17 months ago. The Lebanese army has enhanced its deployment in this area upon a decision by the Lebanese cabinet. The step came after armed groups launched attacks on the Syrian army from Lebanese territory, prompting the Syrian army to respond and thus resulting in Lebanese civilian casualties. Sources from the Lebanese army told press TV that a number of anti Syrian armed elements wounded in clashes were being treated in hospitals in Northern and also Eastern Lebanon.

Switzerland has decided to suspend arms shipments to the United Arab Emirates following a report that Swiss-made hand grenades are being used by armed gangs in Syria. The measure was taken on Wednesday after the Sonntagszeitung newspaper published a photograph taken of one such device in possession of anti-Damascus forces in the town of Marea, north of Aleppo, at the end of June, AFP reported. Preliminary inquiries into the photo showed the grenade in question was made by the Bern-based arms manufacturer RUAG, and was part of a shipment made by the company to the UAE in 2003. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) says 225,162 hand grenades were exported to the UAE, who signed an agreement not to re-export the munitions. "As far as the FDEA is aware, the hand grenade ... originates from a RUAG shipment to the United Arab Emirates in 2003. At present there is no evidence that Swiss hand grenades have found their way to Syria; inquiries are ongoing, however," the government statement said. The FDEA statement also said arms shipments from Switzerland to Syria stopped in April 1998, and raised doubt whether the photograph was taken in Syria after all. Antje Baertschi, a spokeswoman for the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said as a “provisional" measure, Switzerland immediately moved to "freeze all arms export permits to the UAE." Press TV has conducted an interview with Dr. Webster Griffin Tarpley, author & historian, to hear his opinion on this issue. The following is a transcription of the interview. Press TV: The Swiss claim that they are surprised about this entire issue because they have a “neutral stance” when it comes to issues like Syria. Are they as innocent as they claim considering they have been providing weapons in the first place to repressive states such as the UAE? Tarpley: I think everybody in the world with an effective intelligence service and that would emphatically include Switzerland through their banking system; they are as well informed really as anybody in the world, they know very well that the [Persian] Gulf states, these reactionary feudal absolute monarchies like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait but above all Saudi Arabia, all of them have been massively shipping weapons to the death squads that are working for NATO in Syria and this has been known now for months. There is really no news except that Switzerland, to cover themselves, to cover themselves maybe on liability suits, have decided to cut off the air shipments to these feudal monarchies in the [Persian] Gulf. But other than that, we have known, even the New York Times always the last to know, has confirmed that there were CIA officers who are directing traffic in southern Turkey sending these weapons to the groups that they want to receive them. I think that we could see a larger context; tomorrow there would be another one of these Orwellian ‘Friends of Syria’ conferences in Turkey, I believe, tomorrow, or is it Paris? Anyway, the Russians and the Chinese have said that they will not go. I think Hilary Clinton, however, will be there. I believe it is in Paris. So that entire exercise will continue. One of the things that NATO is doing is simply lying. Whenever they have a diplomatic meeting with Russia, in particular, then they come out and lie about it and the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was asked today, are you going to call Assad and offer him asylum in Russia? And Lavrov said that is a bad joke; why don’t you ask the same question to the German Foreign Minister [Guido] Westerwelle we were standing with? Why don’t you see if Assad is going to go to Germany? It is all really absurd. The big development of today though that I would urgently point to is NATO is now rolling up its heavy artillery and that means WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. Sophisticated knowledgeable observers all over the world have long known since the very beginning in 2010 that WikiLeaks is a NATO-CIA conduit for various kinds of fake or real documents that are released with political aims in mind and Assange in that sense is a tool of NATO. We are now told that there are 2.4 million cables; 400 thousand in Arabic, 70 thousand in Russia that are all embarrassing to Syria, embarrassing to the Syrian government but also embarrassing to companies that are still selling various things to Syria. The example given is Finmeccanica, an Italian firm that has been selling radios to Assad. Also notable is that Assange and WikiLeaks have got a consortium of international press organs; they have got the Associate Press of the United States, the biggest indeed.

[21 June 2012] Syrians lead normal lives amid crisis‎ - English The New York Times has cited CIA and Arab intelligence operating out of Turkey in support of armed gangs whose objective is to force regime change in Syria. Press TV has interviewed Mr. Ammar Waqqaf from the Syrian Social Club in London about the CIA's involvement in Syria and his views on the actions of Turkey and the United Nations.

[10 July 2012] Exclusive interview with Syrian parliament Speaker - English In an exclusive interview with Press TV, Syria's parliament speaker has criticized Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar for fueling the unrest in his country by supporting armed groups fighting against the government.

[10 Oct 2013] Exclusive: Fresh clashes between insurgents, Syrian army erupt in Golan Heights - English

[22 June 2012] US - led nasty alliance behind Syria unrest - English US media has confirmed finally that the CIA is helping armed gangs in Syria, operating out of Turkey with weapons smuggled through Turkey. Interview with Franklin Lamb, international lawyer, Beirut.‎

[21 Oct 2014] Syrian army forces repel militant attack on checkpoint in Idlib - English

[03 July 2014] Syrian forces regain control of village, surrounding area in Aleppo - English

[19 Mar 2014] Ras al-Ayn residents celebrate as Syrian army liberates town - English

[21 Apr 2014] Exclusive: Syrian army finds militants\' explosive depots in al-Qalamoun - English

[31 Jan 2013] Israel puts Iron Dome missiles near Syrian border - English

[06 July 2015] Syrian forces, Hezbollah advance into western outskirts of Zabadani - English

Hundreds of Syrian refugees in Lebanon return home

Turkey's smear campaign against the Syrian government is much worse than the propaganda spread by Arab media to tarnish the image of Damascus with regards to its recent unrest. While Syrian officials and residents of crisis-hit Syrian regions have repeatedly said that armed groups are responsible for the deadly clashes in the country, Turkey has tried to portray Iran and the Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, as being behind the unrest in Syria and that they help Damascus quell protests. The Turkish NTV news channel recently claimed that the Syrian soldiers who refused to open fire on protesters were shot dead by their commanders. The broadcaster reported that a Syrian soldier taking refuge in the country says that he and his comrades were trying to avoid hurting protesters by firing warning shots, but those who refused to open fire on protesters were shot dead. "I've seen Iranians and Hezbollah operators giving instructions to shoot, and those who refused were immediately shot dead," the alleged fugitive Syrian soldier told NTV, adding that the soldiers were mostly shot from behind or in the neck. The Turkish broadcaster has also claimed that Syrian forces have opened fire on unarmed civilians in al-Rastan. "We opened fire on everyone, the young, the old... Women were raped in front of their husbands and children," the army defector told NTV. Political analysts in Middle East affairs have accused Ankara of playing a double game -- claiming to support the Damascus government in order to have greater influence in the Middle East, while at the same time supporting and providing a safe haven for armed gangs seeking to incite revolt in Syria. Iranian analyst Hadi Mohammadi says that the United States has now formed operational headquarters in southern Turkey close to the border with Syria to direct the riots in the Arab country after its attempts to cause unrest in southern Syria were unsuccessful. Mohammadi said that the United States has assigned Turkey to carry out its anti-Syria plan. It has hence provided aid to the Turkish Army to assist Syrian dissidents in crossing into Turkey and settle in tent villages set up in Turkey's Hatay Province. Meanwhile, a mass grave with bodies of at least 10 Syrian security forces was discovered near the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughour on Monday. Syria's state TV says the victims were killed by armed gangs and the bodies bore marks of torture. Heavy clashes were reported as troops and tanks moved into the city on Sunday and gunmen targeted civilian areas including a hospital. The government says it entered the town to restore order after some 120 security forces were killed there about a week ago. People in Jisr al-Shughour gathered to thank government troops for protecting them against the gunmen.