The 11 Lebanese pilgrims hostages: 'Ankara's failed rescue attempt?!'

Via FLC

"...Conflicting reports emerged on Saturday on whether the 11 Lebanese pilgrims who were abducted in May escaped their captors after the area that they were held in came under severe shelling.
LBCI did not specify the number of the abductees who had reportedly escaped, but said there was initial information that the captors moved the remaining pilgrims to another location.
Al-Mayadeen network said the abductor of the men, Abu Ibrahim, was wounded as a result of the shelling.
The TV stations did not reveal the area where the men were being held.
However, Abu Ibrahim later confirmed to LBCI that the men are still in his custody.
Head of the Party of Free Syrians Sheikh Ibrahim Zoabi told LBCI that the detention site was shelled and that two of the abductees had fled during the shelling.
He pointed out that the other abductees were transferred to another site.
“In the next few hours, we will probably confirm the injuries and the names of the abductees who fled”, Zoabi told LBCI.
Khalil told NBN television on Saturday that Abu Ibrahim’s group was divided due to differences.
He said that Abu Jemaa group defected and was responsible for the attack. (Sources have indicated that the Defecting-Defectors acted at the behest of Ankara, anxious to close this file)
The 11 pilgrims were kidnapped by a group of armed men in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on May 22 while returning home from Iran. ..."

Syrian Army Fully Controls Damascus, Aleppo Battle Hasn’t Started Yet

Local Editor

The Syrian army is controlling all neighborhoods in the capital, Damascus, while the operation in Aleppo city has not started yet. According to a military source, the army was late on Saturday fully controlling the neighborhoods of Damascus, following clearing at-Tadamon neighborhood. The sources described the situation in the capital as excellent and stable. Talking to reporters following finalizing the operation in at-Tadamon, the source said that there were no militants in the latter neighborhood, except for few single situations who are moving to different places in order to prove their existence. Meanwhile, a high ranking security official told the Agence France Press that the operation in Aleppo has not started yet. The sources said that what has been going on in Aleppo till now was just an introduction, and the reinforcements were arriving to the place of the coming battle. He said that 20 thousands soldiers would be engaged in the fight, noting that the armed groups were also reinforcing their ranks. On the other hand, the Pan-Arab channel al-Mayadeen reported late on Saturday that the Syrian army has arrested several militants in Aleppo, noting that most of them were foreign. The television said that among the arrested, a Turkish general.

Source: Agencies 05-08-2012 - 12:34 Last updated 05-08-2012 - 12:34

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