Al-Ikhbariya TV Team Released from the Terrorist Groups

Aug 16, 2012

DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The armed forces freed in a "qualitative operation" the team of the Syrian al-Ikhbariya satellite channel who were kidnapped by an armed terrorist group seven days ago in al-Tal area in Damascus Countryside.

The released colleagues are Yara al-Saleh, Abdullah Tabreh and Hussam Imad.

A number of journalists and workers at the Syrian channels gathered early Thursday to receive the freed journalists, stressing that the Syrian media will remain stronger than terrorism and the terrorists and the word of right will always be high.

Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi was among the first to congratulate the released journalists over their safety.

Yesterday, a video surfaced online showing three of the team. A man who identified himself as a rebel spokesperson appeared to say that the cameraman had been killed in government shelling.

On Ground
Liberating al-Ikhbariya crew coincided with the information published by the Syrian Al-Watan daily on the national army restoring control over all public facilities in the city of Al-Tal, which the armed groups attempted to violate. Most of the invaders were killed, while some surrendered and handed over their weapons.
Syrian army operations in Damascus countryside spread to Aleppo, when military units succeeded in launching a “severe blow” against militants in the city by targeting their supply routes in the provincial countryside leading to Turkey, the source of their military equipment and Arab and foreigner recruited fighters.
Army units have also managed to destroy more than a military convoy related to gunmen along the supply routes, particularly in the north and the northern east countryside, in conjunction with heavy losses in their ranks within the city of Aleppo.
Following the destruction of cars, including tractor and trailer loaded with weapons and ammunition in the village of Asan, south of the city, the army units smashed twelve pickups fitted with Dushka machine guns and killed the insurgents driving them trying to enter the city of Aleppo, near the town of Kafr Hamra on the road to Azaz through Andan, the main route of the terrorists’ military reinforcements.
Army forces, as well, have destroyed ten cars equipped with Dushka machine guns in the village of Kafr Basin northern Aleppo and killed large numbers of militants. The army also managed to destroy eight similar cars and killed their gunmen in the village of Qibbatan al-Jabal on the road of Darat-Azza northwest of the city. The incident was the third of its kind within two weeks.
For the record, journalists covering the conflict inside Syria are being killed and kidnapped on what appears to be a daily basis, and al-Ikhbariya station was the target of a rebel attack in late June in which at least three workers, and possibly as many as seven, were martyred.

• Cars Equipped with Machineguns Destroyed in Aleppo, Army Destroys Terrorists' Center in Damascus Countryside
• Gunman from al-Khalidiyeh in Homs Gives himself up to the Authorities
• Iranian President Stresses Necessity that Syria Remain Strong
• OIC Suspends Syrian Membership, US Hails

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