Syrian Free Press
Uprooted Palestinian 
THIS IS WHAT IS DOING THE RUSSIAN MILITARY IN COOPERATION WITH THE SYRIAN PATRIOTIC ARMY: ELIMINATES TERRORISTS AND THEIR FOUNDATIONS, CUT THEIR STREETS OF SUPPLY, RETURNS SYRIA TO THE SYRIANS
“Russian airstrikes in Syria won’t stop until ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists are defeated”, says Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted that Russia will not stop its air strikes in Syria until the terrorist organizations of Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS are defeated.
“Russian airstrikes will not cease until we truly win over terrorist groups ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and such. I see no reason to stop these airstrikes,”Lavrov told reporters after talks he held with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in Oman’s capital Muscat.
Lavrov also said it would be difficult to impose a ceasefire unless Syria’s border with Turkey was secured to prevent smuggling and the movement of terrorists.
“Regarding a ceasefire, we have pragmatic ideas and we talked with the Americans who head the Syria support group and we look forward to discussing these ideas at the meeting on February 11,” Lavrov added, referring to the International Syria Support Group that is due to meet in Munich on Feb. 11.
The Russian aerial operation against terrorist positions in Syria started on September 30.
The Russian Foreign Minister called on the “Syrian opposition groups” taking part in the Syrian-Syrian talks in Geneva to stop counting on their external financers, highlighting the need to pressure these groups into starting dialogue without preconditions.
Syrian Embassy in Moscow honors Russian veterans who served in Syria
A ceremony was held at the Syrian Embassy in Moscow to honor Russian veterans who served in Syria starting from 1972 and helped Syrians in the fight against the Israeli enemy.
Syria’s Ambassador in Moscow Riad Haddad presented the Combat Friendship Medal to the retired brigadier general who had led the first aerial defense squadron in Syria and others who took part in repelling the Israeli aggression.
Haddad delivered a speech in which he said the ceremony honors Russia which transported its expertise for over 50 years to the Syrian army, adding that the aid, support, and empowerment provided by Russia to Syria made aggressive parties reconsider before taking any foolhardy action, noting that Russia’s military aid for Syria is defensive in its general nature, as it is Syria’s legitimate law according to international law to protect its skies from breaches of sovereignty.
He reflected on how what is happening now is similar to what took place in the 70s, as today the Russian Aerospace Forces are taking part in fighting terrorism in Syria, showing efficiency in destroying hundreds of terrorists’ bases, camps, training centers, depots, and movements, something which helped the Syrian Arab Army realize important achievements on the ground that herald the defeat of terrorism.
“The brave and honorable stances of President Vladimir Putin, Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other leaders and officials in Russian staff are appreciated by the Syrian people,” Haddad asserted.
In turn, the Russian veterans participating in the events said that the friendship between Russia and Syria was baptized in blood, forming a bond of fraternity between the two countries’ people.
They also saluted the Russian pilot who was killed in Syria after Turkish aggressors shot down his aircraft.
The veterans presented a certificate of appreciation to Ambassador Haddad in appreciation for his efforts to bolster Russian-Syrian friendship and cooperation, in addition to presenting the Syrian Embassy with the flag of the Russian Organization for Veterans in Syria.
A number of veterans talked to SANA’s correspondent in Moscow, saying that what is currently happening in Syria is a blatant aggression by foreign forces that want to exhaust Syria and control it, asserting that the treacherous aggression of Turkey and Saudi Arabia are doomed to fail.
They said that with Russia’s help, the Saudis and the other enemies of the Syrian people will never defeat Syria’s ironclad will, adding that the forces that spread chaos, terror, and destruction mustn’t be allowed to fulfill their plots against Syria.
The veterans said that the war on Syria is malicious treason of the Arab people’s interests committed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, expressing anger at these three states’ criminal behavior.
Russian Foreign Ministry: “Russian Aerospace Forces would never use internationally-prohibited weapons”
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it is impossible for the Russian Aerospace Forces operating in Syria to use any kind of internationally-prohibited weapons, and that Turkey’s claims of the Aerospace Forces using incendiary cluster bombs against civilian targets are baseless.
In a statement the Ministry said that these accusations are baseless, have no basis in reality, and are motivated by emotions, adding that since Turkey is waging a campaign of misdirection and propaganda, the Ministry stresses that all Russian airstrikes in Syria target positions of armed groups exclusively, and those targets are verified via the information center in Baghdad and with the use of information from opposition groups and from intelligence gathered in the Middle East.
The Ministry also noted that the Turkish media campaign against Russia is likely an attempt to prepare the Turkish people for carrying out military activities in Syrian territories.
It should be noted that the Russian Defense Ministry had warned that developments on the ground at the Syrian-Turkish borders indicate that Turkey is preparing for military intervention in Syria.
Russian-Syrian-Iraqi-Iranian meeting on cooperation in fighting financing of terrorism
Heads of the financial intelligence services of Russia, Iraq, Iran and Syria discussed strengthening cooperation in fighting against financing of terrorism.
The meeting, which was held in Moscow, discussed means to develop a common approach to fight against financing the ISIS terrorist organization.
The participants agreed on a joint work plan and a number of serious steps to curb terrorism financing activities of ISIS.
Governor of the Central Bank of Syria (CBS) Adib Mayyaleh, Head of Anti-money Laundering and Anti-terrorism Financing Commission expressed thanks to Russia’s Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring) for inviting the Syrian side to the meeting.
He described the meeting as “important” in light of the presence of many countries that are involved in funding terrorist organizations.
“There is plenty of evidence on that as these countries are working hard to prevent any real international effort to fight against financing of terrorism,” said Mayyaleh.
“There is plenty of evidence on that as these countries are working hard to prevent any real international effort to fight against financing of terrorism,” said Mayyaleh.
He affirmed that the Commission is always ready for continued cooperation and constructive dialogue with the parties concerned in fighting terrorism.
At the end of the meeting, a bilateral agreement on exchange of information was signed between the Anti-money Laundering and Anti-terrorism Financing Commission and the Russian Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring).
The agreement will see cooperation in the exchange and analysis of information about monetary and other assets-related operations suspected to be linked to money laundering and financing of terrorism or other related criminal activities.
It also provides for exchanging information on individuals involved in such operations.
Russian Air Force in cooperation with Syria’s Army air force carried out 237 sorties on 875 terrorist targets
A military source said that the Russian Air Force in cooperation with Syria’s Army air force carried out 237 sorties on 875 terrorist targets in Aleppo, Lattakia, Homs, Hama and Deir Ezzor in the first week of February 2016.
The source explained in a statement of which SANA received a copy that the air force destroyed during the sorties 10 fuel depots and 15 ammunition depots in Hreitan and the area surrounding it in Aleppo countryside.
The sorties destroyed a pumping gas station and two centers for oil extraction and refining used by ISIS terrorist organization in Deir Ezzor countryside, according to the source.
A rocket launch pad and a number of cannons for terrorists were destroyed along with scores of terrorists who were killed in al-Nweiser Mountain in the eastern countryside of Homs.
In the eastern countryside of Lattakia, Air Force carried out sorties against gatherings and fortifications of terrorist organizations during which a training camp for terrorists was destroyed along with three vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns and a number of terrorists who were killed in Majdal al-Kekhiya village 50 kilometers to the north east of Lattakia.
As a result of the heavy losses in personnel and munitions which were inflicted upon terrorists due to army operations in cooperation with the popular defense groups supported by Air Force, the source said that in many northern areas, terrorist organizations evacuated their positions and withdrew the injured terrorists and fled towards Turkey, noting that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization recruit children between 8 and 11 in some areas in Idleb to carry out suicide terrorist operations.
Pointing out lack of seriousness by the alliance led by the United States in war against terrorism, the statement added that the alliance warplanes carried out 22 sorties targeting 16 targets in Aleppo, Homs, Raqqa, Hasaka and Deir Ezzor during the same period.
Russian air force started on September 30th airstrikes against ISIS positions in Syria targeting infrastructure affiliated to it including workshops for making shells and explosive devices, command centers, arms, ammunition and fuel depots and training camps.
Russian Aerospace Forces destroy ISIS oil refining stations, kill 77 terrorists
The Russian Aerospace Forces, in cooperation with Syrian army air forces, carried out 468 sorties targeting 1,354 terrorist targets in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Raqqa, Lattakia, Homs, Hama, and Deir Ezzor during the last week of January 2016, a military source said.
The source said the sorties resulted in killing 17 terrorists in Kanasba in Lattakia countryside who had been crossing the borders from Turkey, destroying ammo and fuel depots in Aleppo countryside, in addition to destroying 17 vehicles and killing more than 50 terrorists in Daraa countryside.
The sorties also destroyed two machinegun-equipped vehicles and killed 10 ISIS members in al-Qadahat valley in Homs countryside, destroying 8 artillery pieces and a truck with a trailer filled with explosives in Hama countryside, the source added.
The source said that the Russian airstrikes destroyed 23 terrorist targets in Deir Ezzor province, as well as oil refining stations for ISIS in Raqqa countryside.
Since the beginning of their operations in Syria on September 30th, 2015, the Russian Aerospace Forces have destroyed more than 2,000 oil tankers and dozens of refining stations used by ISIS in Syria.
Russian Aerospace Forces destroy artillery, command center, fuel depots for ISIS within 24 hours
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out 16 sorties targeting 57 terrorist targets in Syria within the past 24 hours.
Ministry spokesman Gen. Maj. Igor Konashenkov told journalists at Hmaimim Airport in Lattakia province that the Russian airstrikes were limited to Lattakia and Deir Ezzor provinces because the operation command has refrained from targeting terrorist positions in other provinces out of concern for civilians’ lives due to the unsuitable weather conditions in the area.
Konashenkov said Russian aircrafts destroyed a command center for ISIS in a precision strike on one of their field bases in the surroundings of al-Mariaiye town 10 km from Deir Ezzor city, in addition to destroying 3 artillery pieces in an airstrike on ISIS positions in the surroundings of al-Jnaina village, and artillery positions and a fuel depot in al-Bghailiye village, in addition to targeting a workshop used by terrorists in the surroundings of Hatla village.
As for Lattakia province, Konashenkov said that the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out four airstrikes, and that terrorists are retreating thanks to the operations conducted by the Syrian Arab Army in the province’s northern countryside.
He also asserted that the Russian Defense Ministry will continue its humanitarian operation in Syria, and that it’s gearing up to send a new batch of relief to Deir Ezzor city which is besieged by ISIS, adding that 50 tons of relief supplies were airdropped by an aircraft belonging to the Syrian Air Force on January 15th
579 terrorist targets destroyed in past 5 days by Russian & Syrian armed forces, including oil facilities and tankers
The Russian Air Force, in cooperation with the Syrian Air Force, conducted during the past five days 157 sorties targeting 579 terrorist targets in Aleppo, Raqqa, Lattakia, Homs, Hama and Deir Ezzor, according to military source.
A fuel depot, an oil refining facility and an oil extraction pump used by ISIS terrorists in Raqqa were destroyed. 20 oil-laden tankers meant to be smuggled into Turkey were also destroyed, the source told SANA.
Over 2000 oil tankers moving towards the Turkish border have been destroyed by the Russian Air Force since Russia’s aerial operation in Syria started in September 30.
The sorties over the northern countryside of Lattakia resulted in the death of 20 terrorists and the destruction of fortified positions for ISIS and 4 armored vehicles with heavy machine guns mounted on them.
Six convoys of armored vehicle for ISIS, that were moving from the Turkish border towards Aleppo, were destroyed near Tal Rifaat city, in addition to the destruction of an ammunition and weapons depot.
In the southern countryside of Hama province, 5 vehicles equipped with machine guns were destroyed in Hor Binafso area as a result of the sorties.
In Deir Ezzor province, more than 80 ISIS terrorists were killed and a training camp, 3 vehicles loaded with ammunition and 2 armored vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns were destroyed.
The total number of sorties conducted by the Russian Air Force since the start of the operation in support of the Syrian army in Syria has reached 5662. 217 villages and towns have been taken control of as a result.
Russian Defense Ministry: 217 populated areas in Syria restored since Sep. 30
The Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out 5,662 sorties since the beginning of its military air operations against the terrorists’ sites in Syria, supporting the Syrian Arab Army’s efforts to establish control over 217 villages and towns.
“Since September 30, the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria have made 5,662 sorties, including 145 sorties made by strategic missile and long-range bomber aviation, the Russian military have also carried out 97 launches of sea-based and air-based missiles,” Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces told reporters, adding that this has contributed to liberating 217 populated areas and over 1,000 square kilometers in Syria from terrorists.
Homs: people back to their homes after the cleaning of the territory by the presence of terrorist gangs, made by the Syrian Arab Army in joint military operations with the Russian Air Force
Rudskoy affirmed that Russian aircrafts have observed the continued arrival of ammunition and weapons to the terrorists in Syria under the cover of humanitarian aid, pointing out that the US-led coalition seeks to downplay the results of Russian operations in Syria.
He stressed the importance of humanitarian operations in Syria while ensuring that they won’t be used by terrorists, adding that the Russian Air Force is providing basic humanitarian aid to the civilians of Deir Ezzor city which has been besieged by terrorists.
On a relevant note, Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Maj. Igor Konashenkov said the ministry refutes allegations of the Russian air force delivering airstrikes on civilian targets in Syria, asserting that Russian pilots do not carry out strikes on terrorist sites if there’s even a slim chance of injuring civilians in the process, while on the other end of the spectrum the US-led coalition considers the death of 49 civilians a trivial issue, referring to what Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr said regarding the US military delivering airstrikes on condition that the number of civilian deaths would not exceed 50 people.
Konashenkov noted that lies about civilian casualties due to Russian airstrikes were being circulated even before the Russian airstrikes actually began, criticizing Amnesty International for relying of fabricated information that it said it received via phone and social networking.
He gave a few examples of such falsified information about civilian casualties which include a claim by Amnesty International early in October 2015 that a Russian airstrikes targeted Omar Bin al-Khattab mosque in Jisr al-Shughour in Idleb province which claimed caused the death of civilians, when surveillance images taken by Russian drones on October 23rd show the mosque to be intact and undamaged.
Konashenkov went citing allegations about alleged airstrikes on a marketplace in Ariha in Idleb on November 29th, claims that are refuted by images taken before that date that show that the area was destroyed due to clashes on the ground long before that date.
He also discussed a claim by the UK-based “Syrian Observatory for Human Rights” which claimed that Russian aircrafts targeted a school in Anjara in Aleppo’s countryside, killing 8 to 20 people, but analysis of the images of the destroyed school show that it was targeted by a air-to-surface missile of a type that Russia doesn’t use; rather it’s the US-led coalition that uses such missiles, and conveniently, more than 10 coalition planes and a number of their drones were operating in Aleppo countryside when the school in question was destroyed.
Konashenkov added that the coalition does not reveal data about the targets it hits in Aleppo, but Russia possesses much information about the actual results of the coalition’s operations in Syria, asserting that this information conflicts with what the coalition declares, and in the future Russia might have to make such information public to refute allegations and lies directed at it if its partners remain silent about the results of their own airstrikes in Syria.
SOURCES: Syrian and Russian Agencies Reports Submitted by SyrianPatriots War Press Info Network at: https://syrianfreepress.wordpress.com/2016/02/08/russian-reports/ ~River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian 
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