Syria

Syrian Army Kills 42 Terrorists, Rescues 20 Hostages

The Syrian army killed more than 42 armed rebels and terrorists in countrywide operations and rescued 20 hostages on Saturday.

In Northern Damascus, the army killed at least 10 terrorists and arrested many others in its attack on the positions of the so-called Free Syrian Army.

In al-Jubeileh district of Deir al-Zour city, the army also killed seven terrorists, including an FSA commander, Ahmad Abdel Karim. It also killed another five terrorists, including Mahnad al-Soveid – a notorious Takfiri terrorist in the most wanted list of the Syrian army – in al-Busaraya street in Deir al-Zour region.

In Deir Balbah district in downtown Homs, a total of 20 terrorists were killed during clashes with the Syrian army. After several hours of clashes, the army purged the city of snipers.

Meantime, the Syrian army’s special forces rescued 20 hostages from the custody of terrorists in Duma district of Reef (outskirts of) Damascus. A terrorist group known as al-Eshareh had abducted the Syrian civilians, including women and children, there.

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.

In October 2011, calm was eventually restored in the Arab state after President Assad started a reform initiative in the country, but Israel, the US and its Arab allies are seeking hard to bring the country into chaos through any 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 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling the President Bashar al-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.

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