Syrians Stage Massive Pro-Assad Rally in Idlib

Thousands of Syrians took to the streets in the Northern province of Idlib on Monday to show their strong support for President Bashar al-Assad and his government.

More than 8,000 people gathered in Ibrahim Hanano square in Idlib to voice their hatred for terrorists and renew their support for the Syrian government and army as government troops made major advancements in various parts of the country.

The Syrian army killed a terrorist ringleader, Emad Eissa al-Amari, in Reef (outskirts of) Daraa on Monday. The Syrian army also made great advancements in Western Reef (outskirts of) Homs today, and repelled a terrorist attack on the area.

The army pushed back a terrorist attack on a military check post near the Mihan town in the Western part of Reef Homs. At least, 27 terrorists were killed in heavy clashes today.

The army also purged terrorists from key areas in Central Homs. The Syrian troops advanced in Asvaq Abu al-Oaf town today. The army also found a chamber in the town of al-Vaar which has been used by the terrorists for torturing the people and army soldiers.

Popular support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has grown as 20,000 volunteers will join the Syrian army by next week. This can help end the Syrian crisis in a shorter time, military analysts say.

Last week, people across Syria took to the streets to show their support and solidarity with President Assad and the Syrian army after Assad called for a diplomatic solution to his country’s crisis and also a halt to foreign military and financial backups for the armed rebel groups fighting the government.

After President Assad’s speech, people in tens of thousands took to the streets in different cities across the country to show their support for the president’s policies.

In Homs, people in various districts, including Shaare’ Al-Hazareh, Wadi Al-Dahab, Akramatel Jadidah, Hayezzahra and Armen marched in support of President Assad and the Syrian Army and asked for the exit of terrorists and armed groups from different parts of Homs.

During his speech at Damascus University on January 6, President Assad proposed a three-staged plan for forming the national unity government.

The Syrian president underlined the need for continuing fights against the terrorists in his country.

President Assad said his country is being subjected to an unprecedented attack, adding that the conflict can only be solved through a popular movement.

Addressing the nation in a rare speech and his first since June, he said his forces were fighting groups of “murderous criminals”.

President Assad said Syria will not take dictates from anyone.

He called on all Syrians to take part in an initiative that would end the nearly 22-month old conflict, but did not give any details on the plan.

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 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 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.

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.