Saturday 19 December 2015

“Let Turkish Aviation Fly Now”, President Putin on S-400 Deployment in Syria

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Turkey will not be able to violate the Syria airspace after Russia had deployed S-400 defense system in Hmeymim airabse, Russian president Vladimir Putin told journalists during the press-conference in Moscow.
With Russia’s deployment of the S-400 anti-aircraft system, Turkey will not be able to violate Syria’s airspace with impunity, as they had previously done, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday at his annual press conference.

LIVE: 
Putin holds annual presser in Moscow (English translation)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is giving his eleventh annual major news press conference in Moscow on Thursday, December 17.
During the several-hours-long presser, the Russian president answers uncensored questions from journalists, and reflects on the outgoing year.
The live question and answer format press conference was first held in 2001 and hosted over 500 journalists. Since then it continued annually until 2008, when Putin became Russia’s prime minister. It was reintroduced in 2012 after Putin was re-elected president; last year’s presser lasted 3 hours, 10 minutes.

“They [Turkish authorities] thought that we would turn tail and run! No, Russia is not that country. We have increased our presence in Syria, have increased the number of combat aircraft deployed there. There was no Russian air defense system there –now there’s the S-400. If before, Turkey had constantly violated Syrian airspace, let them try it now”.
Following the incident involving the Russian Su-24M bomber which was shot down by a Turkish F-16 over Syria on the Turkish border, Russia deployed its latest anti-aircraft missile system – the S-400 to Syria, also deploying the missile cruiser Moskva and the submarine Rostov-on-Don off the shores of Syria in the Mediterranean.
The S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler) is Russia’s next-generation air defense system, carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at short-to-extremely long range.
In late November, the S-400 systems were deployed at the Hmeimim airbase near the Syrian port city of Latakia to protect anti-terror operations by Russia’s Aerospace Forces. The decision was made one day after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 aircraft.



SOURCES:
SputnikNews
Submitted by SyrianPatriots 
War Press Info Network at:
https://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/putin-on-s-400/
~

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Vitaly Churkin: “Washington and Ankara didn’t inform UNSC of DAESH illegally trafficking stolen oil” ~ Syrian Foreign Ministry: “Continued silence over crimes of terrorists emboldens them”

Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin listens to U.S. President Barack Obama (not pictured) speak at the Security Council of the 69th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York, September 24, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR47KQ8

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin 

Vitaly Churkin: “Washington and Ankara didn’t inform UNsc of DAESH illegally trafficking stolen oil”

The US and Turkey didn’t inform the UN Security Council about the terrorist  organizations Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) illegally trafficking stolen oil, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN said.

Both Ankara and Washington were obliged to inform the UN Security Council about the ISIS illegally trafficking stolen oil, but didn’t, Vitaly Churkin told Russian RIA Novosti news agency in an interview.

The Russian official wondered that the US jet-fighters have been carrying out airstrikes against ISIS terrorist organization for a year, but they didn’t provide any information on smuggling oil, while Russia has started its military operation against the terrorist organization in Syria for two months and has already provided many photos showing that oil is smuggled through the Turkish borders.

Earlier this month, the US State Department spokesman Mark Toner acknowledged that the oil stolen by ISIS is smuggled through Turkish borders, and distribution of oil stolen by ISIS is conducted through the Syrian-Turkish borders, and called on Turkey to seal its borders.
“Under UN Resolution 2199, banning financing of the terrorist organization, adopted on our initiative in February, countries are obliged to provide information to the Security Council, if they have such information. That means the Americans had to provide such information, and of course Turkey, which should have reported any illegal oil trade going on there. They didn’t do it,” Churkin said.

He stressed that Moscow could propose imposing sanctions against Ankara on the background of this issue.

Churkin revealed that Moscow and Washington are preparing a new UN resolution on illegal oil trade, saying “Together with the Americans, we’re drafting a new resolution tightening regulations on that kind of reporting. Possibly we could oblige the Secretary General to deliver regular reports on the issue, we hope to adopt this resolution on December 17.”
Earlier this month, Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov pointed out that Turkish senior officials, including President Erdogan and his family are involved in purchasing the stolen oil, noting that “Turkey is the main consumer of the oil stolen from its rightful owners, Syria and Iraq.”

He said that the US-led coalition airstrikes on one of the Syrian Army more than a week ago may not have been an accident and could increase tension and complicate the situation in Syria.

Meanwhile, Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said last week in a statement that 4 warplanes of the US-led coalition targeted on December 6th one of the Syrian Arab army site in Deir Ezzor by 9 rockets , killing 3 soldiers and injuring 13 others.

The ministry reiterated that attack of the US-led coalition hinders the efforts of fighting terrorism and re-affirms that this coalition is not serious or losses its credibility in efficiently fighting terrorism.

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Syrian Foreign Ministry: “Continued silence over crimes of terrorists emboldens them”

The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry sent two identical letters to the UN Secretary-General and the head of the Security Council stressing that the continued silence vis-à-vis the crimes of the armed terrorist organizations in Syria has become a source of encouragement for specific regimes in the region.

The ministry called on the UN Security Council and the Secretary General of the United Nations to condemn terrorist acts and shoulder responsibility in combating terrorism and uprooting it.

In the letters, the Ministry said that the crimes against humanity which are carried out by the armed terrorist organizations against peaceful civilians in many Syrian cities continue undeterred , noting that several provinces witnessed recently terrorist bombings in which various weapons were used and killed about 100 innocent civilians and injured others.
The ministry explained that on Friday November 11 at 6:00 pm, ISIS terrorists blew up two tankers loaded with diesel and a truck loaded with sugar in the town of Tal Tamer which is located 40 kilometers to the west of Hasaka city.

The bombings targeted the building of the Department of Agriculture near a health center and a market in Palestine Street and the central wholesale market for vegetable which were crowded with locals, killing 15 civilians on the spot while others died later of their serious wounds, bringing the number of martyrs to 60, in addition to scores of injured, causing material damage to shops, houses, infrastructure, services and the health center near the terrorist bombings.

The Foreign and Expatriates Ministry added that the terrorist groups from ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra detonated on Saturday morning an ambulance with a fake plate which was loaded with more than 200 kilograms of high explosives near a health clinic in al-Zahra’a neighborhood in Homs, killing in an initial toll 16 civilians and injuring scores others in addition to causing great material damage to private and public property.

The ministry said that the Syrian government reaffirms that the terrorist attacks on Friday and Saturday and the continued terrorism during the years of the crisis would not have happened without the generous support with money, weapons and ammunition to the terrorist organizations as well as the political and media support provided by known countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and without the declared and undeclared support from members of the Security Council for the crimes of terrorists.

This Council, added the letters, did not issue any condemnation or disapproval of these massacres against innocent civilians, children, women and elders, while it immediately condemns terrorist acts taking place in other places on unacceptable political and discriminatory basis despite the fact that Syria condemns terrorism and sympathizes with the victims of terrorism anywhere in the world.

The Ministry considered that the continued silence over crimes has become a source of encouragement for extremist terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra, Jaish al-Fateh and other terrorist organizations which are supported from abroad and became a basis of strength for some regimes that finance, train, keep, arm and recruit terrorists coming from different countries to kill Innocent people and destroy civilization and culture in Syria.

The ministry said that the Syrian government is bent on fighting terrorism and is determined to assume all constitutional and legal duties to protect its people, land and sovereignty and calls on the UN Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to condemn the terrorist acts and to shoulder responsibility in combating terrorism, uproot it and dry up its sources and to punish its supporters in an implementation of UN Security Council resolutions related to countering terrorism, in particular resolutions No. 2170 , 2178 and 2199 and to stop applying double standards when it comes to crimes of terrorism since is one and the same wherever it strikes.

The ministry concluded the letters by saying that the Syrian government calls on all countries to assume the humanitarian and legal obligations to combat terrorism and eliminate it wherever it is in order to preserve security and peace in the region and the entire world.

SOURCES:
SANA, H. Zain/ Barry, 14/2/2015
SANA, Qabas/Manal, 12/12/2015
Submitted by SyrianPatriots 
War Press Info Network at:
https://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/usa-ankara-isis-oil/
~
River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Yemen’s Ansarullah Objects to UN’s Failure to Condemn Regime Breaches



Chairman of Ansarullah delegation to the Yemeni talks in Switzerland, Mohamed Abdel Salam, confirmed that the movement to continue participation in the consultation sessions.

AnsarullahDuring a news conference after meeting with UN envoy Ismail Sheikh, he said that the delegation presented a protest paper to the United Nations for ignoring the cease-fire.

The protest paper dealt with the violations committed by the coalition aggression against many Yemeni areas which have ‘turned into a military offensive,’ through aerial bombardment that has also extended to Al-Jawf and Marib.

He said that the Yemeni national delegation protest came as the United Nations “hasn’t been able till now to install the cease-fire that has been agreed upon before we came to Muscat.”

Two days ago, the Yemeni army spokesman said that the situation in the Arab impoverished country witnesses escalation as the Saudi-led coalition states are violating the UN-sponsored ceasefire, warning that the Yemenis will not simply stand and watch.

"Dangerous escalation is taking place through land, sea and air by the aggressors," Brigadier General Sharaf Luqman told Sabaa news agency late on Tuesday.

The Yemeni army and the popular committees are completely committed to the ceasefire and the aggressors are taking advantage of this, the army spokesman said.

The Saudi warplanes did not stop to stage air raids since the ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday noon, Luqman said.

However, he warned that the Yemeni army and the popular committees will not keep mum in face of such escalation and will strongly respond to the coalition violations.

Source: Al-Manar Website
18-12-2015 - 16:47 Last updated 18-12-2015 - 16:47 

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Chairman of Ansarullah delegation to the Yemeni talks in Switzerland, Mohamed Abdel Salam, confirmed that the movement to continue participation in the consultation sessions.









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Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (10 – 16 Dec. ember 2015)


Thursday, 17 December 2015 00:00

(10 – 16 December 2015)

 Israeli forces escalated the use of excessive force in the oPt
5 Palestinian civilians were killed and a girl child succumbed to her injuries in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

96 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 5 journalists, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces continued to target the border area along the Gaza Strip.
5 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the southern Gaza Strip in 3 separate attacks.

Israeli forces conducted 106 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank

107 Palestinian civilians, including 28 children, were arrested.

20 of them, including 14 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

A number of houses belonging to families of Palestinians, who carried out stabbing and run-over attacks, were raided. Moreover, measures of the houses were taken for house demolitions.

Israeli gunboats continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea, but no casualties were reported.

Jewish majority efforts continued in occupied East Jerusalem.

A house in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood was demolished and demolition notices were issued.

Settlement activities continued in the West Bank.
30 dunums[1] in the northern West Bank were confiscated.

Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th year.

Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and other were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
8 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 4 brothers, were arrested at military checkpoints.

A Palestinian civilian was arrested at Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing, north of the Gaza Strip.

 Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (10 – 16 December 2015).

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, while a child girl succumbed to her wounds. Moreover, 101 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 5 journalists, were wounded. Thirty-nine of whom, including 5 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip and the others were wounded in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 84 civilians were hit with live bullets, 11 ones were hit with rubber bullets and 6 others were hit with shrapnel and tear gas canisters.

In the West Bank, killings committed by Israeli forces were as follows:

On 11 December 2015, Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint established at a checkpoint stationed at a checkpoint established 20 days ago on Sa'ir Main Road, east of Hebron, killed 'Issa Hroub (56) from Deir Samit village, southwest of Hebron.  The aforementioned civilian was killed when Israeli forces opened fire at his car.  The aforementioned was on his way back from al-Shyoukh village via Sa'ir road.  The Israeli soldiers claimed that Hroub intended to carry out a run over attack.

On the same day, Israeli forced opened fire at 'Oday Irshayed (24) from al-Salam Street in Hebron.  As a result, he was hit with two bullets from to his chest and neck. The aforementioned civilian was participating in a protest following the Friday Prayers in Ras al-Jorah Intersection, north of the city.  It should be mentioned that 'Oday is the brother of Dania Irshayed (16), who was killed by Israeli soldiers at the entrance of al-Ibrahimi Mosque on 25 October 2015 under the pretext of attempting to carry out a stab attack.

In two separate incidents, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians during a predawn military incursion into Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, under the pretext of carrying out two run over attacks against Israeli soldiers, who raided and searched shops and houses.

On the same day, medical sources declared that Samah 'Abdel Mo'men 'Abdullah (18) from ';Amoriah village, southeast of Nablus, succumbed to her wounds.  The aforementioned girl was wounded on 23 November 2015 when Israeli soldiers stationed at Howarah checkpoint, south of Nablus shot dead 'Alaa' Hashah (16) from 'Askar al-Jadid refugee camp, northeast of the city.  Meanwhile, she was hit with a bullet to the head and taken to Bensolon Hospital in Israel.  She stayed there until her death was declared.

During this week, 62 Palestinians, including 9 children and 4 journalists, were wounded.

The Palestinian civilians wounded in the West Bank were distributed as follows:

In peaceful protests against Israeli policies: 39 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and 3 journalists, were wounded. Thirty-one of them were hit with live bullets; and the eight others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.

In peaceful protests against Israeli incursion: 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded with live bullets.

At the checkpoints and public roads: 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were hit with live bullets.

In peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities: nine Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist, were wounded.  Six of whom were hit with live bullets; two civilians with rubber-coated metal bullets and one with a sponge-tipped bullet.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 39 civilians, including 5 children and a journalist. Thirty-three of them were hit with live bullets, one with rubber-coated metal bullets, and 5 with shrapnel and tear gas canisters.  Thirty-four of them were wounded during protests.  Meanwhile, the five others were wounded during shooting incidents in the border areas in the southern Gaza Strip.

On 11 December 2015, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces shot dead Sami Madi (4!) from Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip when he was participating in a protest organized by hundreds of Palestinian civilians adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip.  As a result, he was hit with a bullet to the chest.

The Palestinian civilians wounded in the Gaza Strip were distributed as follows:

North of the Gaza Strip: 12 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded; 8 of whom sustained a live bullet wound, one was hit with rubber-coated bullets, and the 3 others were hit with tear gas canisters.

Gaza City: 3 Palestinian civilians were hit with live bullets.

Central Gaza Strip: 16 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, were wounded with live bullets.

Khan Yunis: 3 Palestinian civilians sustained live bullet wounds.

In the context of shooting incidents at the border area, on 11 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at the border area.  The shooting caused fear among farmers and bird hunters who were forced to flee from the area for fear of being wounded.  No causalities were reported.

On 13 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at shepherd Bashir Sabah (21), southeast of al-Shokah village.  As a result, he was hit with bullet to the right knee.

On 16 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Fokhari area, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at the border area. As a result, Yusef Mohammed Abu Aqel (20) was hit with a bullet that penetrated the belly and entered the hand. The aforementioned person was grazing his sheep near a landfill that is about 150 meters away from the border fence.

On the same day, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, fired a number of shells at lands and areas to the west of the border fence following the explosion of an explosive device, east of al-Qararah village. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded; wounds of one of whom were classified as serious.

As part of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, on 14 December 2015, Israeli warplanes targeted a military training site belonging to al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas movement), southwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. The site sustained serious material damage, but no casualties were reported. The explosion rocked the area, due to which, residents of that area were frightened.

As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen, on 10 December 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire in the civinty Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting repeated on 13 December 2015, but no causalities were reported.

Incursions:        

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 106 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 ones in occupied East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 107 Palestinian civilians, including 28children and two women.  Twenty of these civilians, including 14 children, were arrested in East Jerusalem.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces raided two offices belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Jenin and Tulkarm and confiscated the contents in addition to the office of Cultural Enlightenment Forum in Nablus and a Laboratories' Equipment Company  in the center of Ramallah.  Israeli forces also raided and searched houses belonging to families of Palestinians accused of carrying out run over and stab attacks against settlers and soldiers.  They also threatened the families that they will demolish their houses.

House demolitions and demolition notices

On 13 December 2015, the Israeli Collection Department issued a notice to evacuate two residential buildings in "Batn al-Hawa" neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem after the settlement organization “'Ateerat Cohanim” obtained it under the pretext of “settlers’ ownership of the land”.  According to PCHR's investigation, the Israeli authorities handed an evacuation order to Yousef Basbous and his sons that was issued by the Israeli Collection Department in favour of the settlement organization “Ateerat Cohanim” claiming that the land is owned by settlers since the year 1881; they also imposed large sums of money on the family as “compensation for lawyers”.

On 15 December 2015, joint staffs from the Israeli Municipality and forces raided a building belonging to the family of Khail 'Alian in Jabal al-Mukkaber village, southeast of East Jerusalem, and handed the family an administrative demolition under the pretext of building without a license.  'Alian family said that the building belonging to Khalil 'Alian and his sons is comprised of 3 floors; in each of which there is a 130-square-meter apartment.  The building shelters 25 members.

16 December 2015, Israeli musicality bulldozers demolished a house belonging to Ibrahim Diab in al-sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of East Jerusalem's old City under the pretext of building without a license.  The house used to shelter a family of 7 members, including 5 children and was build years ago.  The family rebuilt parts of the 85-square-meter house.

On 12 December 2015, activists from Peace Now organization revealed that the Israeli Civil Administration issued a military order, which declared about 30 dunums of Palestinian lands in Deiristiya village in Salfit and Jinsafut village in Qalqiliya, as “State Land”. The dunums to be confiscated are located between the settlements of "Karne Shamron" and "Ma'ale Shamron" established on the lands of the aforementioned villages.

On 10 December 2015, a group of settlers under the Israeli forces' protection backed by military vehicles moved into "al-Hafirah" area between 'Arabah and Markah villages, southwest of Jenin. On 13 December 2015, a group of settlers moved into the area of "Tarsalah settlement", which was evacuated in 2005, and also known as "Sanour Camp" established on Palestinian lands, south of Jenin.  The settlers set their tents and stayed for some time in the area to perform Talmudic prayers.  The settlers later withdrew as Israeli soldiers arrived at the area.  No further incidents were reported.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people.  The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

Settlement activities:

On 12 December 2015, activists from Peace Now organization revealed that the Israeli Civil Administration issued a military order, which declared about 30 dunums of Palestinian lands in Deiristiya village in Salfit and Jinsafut village in Qalqiliya, as “State Land”.

On 10 December 2015, a group of settlers under the Israeli forces' protection backed by military vehicles moved into "al-Hafirah" area between 'Arabah and Markah villages, southwest of Jenin.  They performed religious rituals near an archaeological site.  Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Samer Mohammed Ahmed Mousa (46) and turned it into a military observation point.

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The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Syria: ‘Moderate Rebel’ Massacres and Everyday Propaganda

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Sadly, eyes often glaze over at the latest massacre in Syria, because the story is so repetitive. But what story? A double massacre by ‘moderate rebels’ in Homs and Damascus, and the subsequent re-spinning of the story, show the wall of disinformation we face.

Through an agreement with the Syrian Government, on 8 December, hundreds of what the western media has come to call “anti-Assad rebels” (a mixture of Syrian and Jabhat al Nusra terrorists) and their families were bussed out of the last part of occupied Homs city.
They were sent to northern Idlib, to join their colleagues in another sectarian coalition called the ‘Army of Conquest’, sent in from Turkey eight months ago and currently being battered back by Russian bombing and a Syrian Army counter-offensive.

Two days later, as a parting shot, the terrorists detonated two bombs in the al-Zahra district of the city. The Governor of Homs, Talal al-Barazi, told the Syrian News Agency (SANA) that 16 people has been killed and 54 others injured, some of them critically.  

The first explosion was said to have been from a suicide car bomber; the second was in a nearby shop a few minutes later. Although al-Zahra is home to minorities, the victims of such bombings are quite random.

ISIS claimed responsibility, but that means little as the group alternately works with the others or competes for the ‘credit’ of each new massacre. Ordinary Syrians pay little attention to the various brand names of terrorist groups.

A day later, on 13 December, a friend in Damascus sent me these phone messages:
“Rockets came down on my building today … and one across the road … I’m on the other side of the building but I’m sure it landed in someone’s bedroom while they were asleep … I’ve been told to stay inside.”
Where did the rockets come from, I asked?
“I don’t know, but they’re still coming”.
Later on she confirms they are coming from Jobar, notorious for its mortar attacks on the capital and now a wasteland next to Douma, an outer north-eastern suburb of Damascus which the Islamic Front and Jabhat al Nusra have jointly occupied for at least three years.
Recent stories that the Syrian Airforce was ‘barrel bombing’ civilians in Douma were quite false. The last large evacuations of civilians, well publicised, were in January 2015. Syria was bombing hated terrorist groups.

I told my friend I had read that Russian planes responded by bombing Douma. “Good … but they did take a while to go out. Mortars started at 7am, planes came out at 8.30, probably because there was heaps of fog … many [were] killed”. She went on “smashed cars and broken glass are all around my neighbourhood … it was a massacre.”

I asked her which areas were hit. “Malki, Abu Rummani, Bab Touma, Jisr al Raes (President’s bridge), Sharq Hospital, [and] Ain al Karesh where students were targeted” she responded.

The Syrian News Agency, picked up by Iran’s Press TV, gave these details:
“At least three civilians, including a child, have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against residential areas in Syria’s capital city of Damascus … Separately, two civilians were killed and 30 others were injured when mortar shells fired by militants struck the al-Wafideen Camp (Damascus countryside). Most of the victims are said to be school students.”
Several other sites were hit.

I went to check western media stories, searching for ‘rockets’ and ‘Damascus’. There was a flood of stories (from AFP to Antiwar.Com) saying that “civilians including children” had been killed by the Russian attacks on Douma. However there were virtually no stories on the actual attacks on civilians in Damascus, but for one which mentioned “tit for tat” attacks.
The ‘Antiwar.com‘ story read:
“At least 45 civilians were reported killed today, including 10 children, as a flurry of rocket fire out of Syrian military-held territory rained down on the Eastern Ghouta region, the suburb of Damascus which remains in rebel hands.”
The terrorist HQ seems to have an endless supply of children and civilians.
This story, as all the others, had as its main source the ‘Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ (SOHR), a single Muslim Brotherhood man Rami Abdul Rahman, based in Coventry, England. A bitter opponent of the Syrian Government, he flies the flag of the armed FSA groups on his website.

In English-language media terms, the terrorist attacks on Damascus had virtually disappeared. In their place the military response to terrorist atrocities was presented as a slaughter of civilians and children. The toxic marriage of sectarian sources and western media, once again, turned events on their head. Sectarian fanatics became innocent victims, while the actual civilian casualties disappeared into thin air.

Such is the disinformation of the dirty war on Syria.

Video: US Foreign Policy Fuels War, Death and Destruction:




Lawrence_Wilkerson_2014


Abby Martin interviews retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former national security advisor to the Reagan administration, who spent years as an assistant to Secretary of State Colin Powell during both Bush administrations.

Today, he is honest about the unfixable corruption inside the establishment and the corporate interests driving foreign policy.

Hear a rare insider’s view of what interests are behind U.S. wars:

The manipulation of intelligence, the intertwining of the military and corporate world, and why the U.S. Empire is doomed


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgig1QVU2lY
The original source of this article is teleSUR English

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!