"And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness, the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief. "

Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)

Lübnan Marunîleri / Yasin Atlıoğlu

NEWS AND ARTICLES / HABERLER VE MAKALELER

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Reyhanlı: 'Savaşta mıyız?'- BBC Türkçe

Balkonlardaki Galatasaray ve Türk bayrakları olmasa görenler Reyhanlı’yı Türkiye’den ziyade savaş içindeki bir ülkenin toprağı olduğunu düşünebilirdi.
İlçe merkezini sarsan iki patlamadan yaklaşık bir saat sonra Reyhanlı’dayım.
 
Patlamaların yaşandığı yerlerde polis kordonlarının dışında toplanan Reyhanlılar yerle bir olmuş binalara ifadesizce bakıyorlardı.
Ağlayanlar, akrabalarına ulaşamayıp öldüklerinden şüphelenenler, ne yapacağını bilemeyip bir köşeye çöküp sadece ve sadece bekleyenler vardı.
Ama şaşkınlık ve üzüntünün yanında öfke de büyüktü, hem de çok büyük.
'Yazamazsınız, cesaretiniz yok'
“Ya konuşmayın bunlara, nasılsa yazmayacaklar!” Patlamalardan birinin gerçekleştiği ve altı üstüne gelmiş bir sokakta Reyhanlılarla konuşurken arkadan bir esnaf onlara böyle seslendi.
Sonra başkaları da ona destek çıktı ve beni çevreleyip: “Size konuşsak ne olacak hükümet aleyhinde tek bir şey yazamazsınız siz!” diyerek tepki gösterdiler.
“Yazamazsınız, cesaretiniz yok” diye başladıkları başka bir cümleyse şöyle devam ediyordu: “Cesetleri kendi ellerimizle çıkardık, ölü sayısı çok daha fazla! Onu bile yazmazsınız!”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/2013/05/130511_reyhanli_mahmut_hamsici.shtml

Explosives detonate outside public buildings in Reyhanli- Youtube


Explosions hit Turkish town on border with Syria, killing at least 18- Hurriyet Daily News


Several explosions have hit the southern province of Hatay’s Reyhanlı district on the Turkish-Syrian border. At least 18 people were reportedly killed, while dozens were injured.

"Two car [bombs] were set off in front of the municipality," Interior Minister Muammer Güler told reporters, but other reports indicated that there were three or more explosions.

Initial reports described many casualties have been brought to nearby hospitals by ambulance.

The municipality building has also been severely damaged, according to reports.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/explosions-hit-turkish-town-on-border-with-syria-killing-at-least-18-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=46682&NewsCatID=341

Reyhanlı'daki patlamalar ile ilgili ilk açıklama- Hürriyet


İçişleri Bakanı Muammer Güler, Reyhanlı’da meydan gelen patlamalarla ilgili yaptığı açıklamada, “Belediye önünde iki bombalı araç patlatıldı. 18 ölü 22 yaralı var” dedi. Başbakan Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ise ilerleyen dakikalarda ölü sayısın 20, aralarında dumuru ağır olanlar da olmak üzeri 46 kişinin yaralı olduğunu açıkladı.

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/23257400.asp

Friday, May 10, 2013

Syria: Intervention Will Only Make it Worse (Zbigniew Brzezinski- TIME)

The Syrian conflict is a sectarian war in a volatile region whose potential to spread and directly threaten American interests would only be increased by U.S. intervention.
The struggle is between forces funded and armed by outside sponsors, notably Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran. Also participating are foreign religious groups not directly controlled by the sponsors, namely the Sunni Salafists and Iranian-aligned militias, not to mention intensely anti-Western al-Qaeda fighters. American involvement would simply mobilize the most extreme elements of these factions against the U.S. and pose the danger that the conflict would spill over into the neighborhood and set Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon on fire.
That risk has been compounded by the recent Israeli bombing of weapons sites inside Syria. Whatever their justification, the attacks convey to some Arabs the sense that there is an external plot against them. That impression would be solidified if the U.S. were now to enter the fight, suggesting a de facto American-Israeli-Saudi alliance, which would play into the hands of the extremists.

http://swampland.time.com/2013/05/08/syria-intervention-will-only-make-it-worse/

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Israeli strikes on Syria 'co-ordinated with terrorists'- BBC News


Israeli strikes on Syrian army targets show co-ordination with "terrorists" including al-Qaeda linked militants, the Syrian foreign ministry has said.
The strikes had led to a number of casualties and widespread damage, it reported in a letter sent to the UN.
State media said a research centre and other sites had been hit overnight. Israeli sources said weapons bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon were the target.
The strike, the second in two days, drew condemnation from the Arab League.
Syria's government refers to rebels fighting against it as "terrorists".
On Friday, Israeli aircraft hit a shipment of missiles near the Lebanon border, according to unnamed US and Israeli officials.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22419995

New massive Israeli attack rocks Damascus army research site- RT


Dramatic video: Israeli missile strike hits Damascus- RT


New Israeli Airstrikes Hit Syria’s Damascus- Al-Manar

Damascus woke up early on Sunday as a wave of blasts rocked its countryside, with the Syrian sources stressing the attacks were Israeli raids.
Syrian media reported that the airstrikes targeted the Jamraya military research center in the Eastern Ghouta region.

The attack is the Zionist entity’s second this week against targets inside Syria and also its second this year on the Jamraya facility, following a January 30 raid.

http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=92359&cid=23&fromval=1&frid=23&seccatid=20&s1=1

قدسيا 5-5-2013 قصف مجهول المصدر على جبال قاسيون


'Israel Rocket Strike' On Syria Military Site- SKY NEWS

Syria says Israeli air strikes against three targets near Damascus "open the door to all possibilities".
Information Minister Omran Zoabi spoke after an emergency cabinet meeting organised to respond to the attack, believed to have targeted missiles bound for Hezbollah.
The rockets hit a military research centre in Jamraya on the outskirts of the capital in the early hours of this morning.
The building was the target of an earlier Israeli strike in January and Israeli radio has reported the latest attack has been confirmed by a senior security official.
A Western intelligence source said "stores of Fateh-110 missiles that were in transit from Iran to Hezbollah" were the target.

http://news.sky.com/story/1086983/israel-rocket-strike-on-syria-military-site

İsrail’in ikinci Şam saldırısının ayrıntıları- YDH

YDH-Haberini isminin açıklanmasını istemeyen Suriyeli kaynaklara dayandıran Rusya el-Yovm televizyonu, İsrail’in füze saldırılarında Suriye Cumhuriyet Muhafızlarının Cemraya, Kudsiya ve Hame bölgelerindeki 14. Ve 105. Tümenlerinin hedef alındığını bildirdi.
İsrail saldırısında 14. Tümene bağlı mühimmat deposuyla Cemraya araştırma merkezinin de vurulduğu bildirildi.
Yerel kaynaklar, İsrail saldırılarında yaklaşık 300 Suriyeli’nin hayatını kaybettiğini veya yaralandığını belirterek yaralıların Muvasat, 601. Askeri hastane, Esed Üniversitesi Hastanesi ve el-Müctehid hastanelerine kaldırıldığını açıkladı.
El-Hakika haber ajansı ise İsrail saldırısında 43 askeri üssün ve araştırma merkezinin hasar gördüğünü belirterek vurulan yerlerden birinin uzun menzilli Scud füzelerinin saklandığı bir depo olduğunu bildirdi.
Amerika’nın Arapça yayın kuruluşu el-Hurra’ya demeç veren Amerikalı bir askeri kaynak da İsrail’in Suriye’nin batısından Hizbullah’a nakledilmekte olan Rus yapımı karadan havaya füzeleri vurduğunu iddia etti.

http://www.ydh.com.tr/HD11796_israilin-ikinci-sam-saldirisinin-ayrintilari.html

Explosions Hit Scientific Research Center in Jamraya Caused by an Israeli Rocket Attack- SANA


DAMASCUS, SANA_ Several explosions hit al-Hameh area in Damascus countryside on Sunday.
 
Initial information indicated that the explosions took place in Jamraya and targeted the Scientific Research Center there causing casualties.
 
The information also indicated that these explosions have been caused by Israeli rocket attacks.
 
The new Israeli aggression is a clear attempt to raise the gunmen morale after the painful blows they received at the hands of our valiant army in several places and after the achievements which were realized on the ground by our armed forces to restore security and stability to Syria.
 
The new Israeli aggression shows the direct involvement of the Zionist entity in the conspiracy against Syria and the relationship that links the armed terrorist groups with the Israeli hostile schemes backed by the Western, regional and some Gulf states.
 
Senior Israeli Official Admits Aggression on Jamraya Center
Meanwhile, a high ranking Israeli official admitted that Israel launched an aggression on Syria early Sunday.
 
AFP quoted the Israeli official, who asked not to be named, as saying that Israel launched an air attack early Sunday morning on sites in Damascus Countryside using "Iranian weapons" as a pretext.
 
The Israeli official added that Israel's air force is at a very high level of readiness to face any possibility.
 
US President Barack Obama reiterated in a statement on Saturday thatIsrael has the right to work to defend itself.
 
Earlier, the Jamraya site was the target of an Israeli strike on January 30.
 

İsrail Bilimsel Araştırmalar Merkezine Saldırdı.. İsrail Saldırıyı İtiraf Etti- SANA Türkçe


ŞAM – Şam kırsalının Cemraya Bölgesinde bugün erken saatlerde bir dizi patlama sesleri duyulurken, bölgedeki Bilimsel Araştırmalar Merkezi hedef alındı.
 
Patlamalar işgalci İsrail'in Bilimsel Araştırmalar Merkezine füzelerle saldırması sonucunda meydana gelmesiyle saldırıda şehit ve yaralıların bulunduğu ifade edildi.
 
İsrail'in bu yeni saldırısı, kahraman silahlı kuvvetlerimizin yurdun muhtelif bölgelerinde sağladığı büyük başarılar ve ağır darbeleri altında sayı ve teçhizatlarıyla ağır kayıplar veren silahlı terör gruplarının üzerinden hafifletme amacı taşıyor.
 
Bazı bölgesel, körfez ve batılı devletlerin Suriye ve halkına yönelik komploda düşman siyonist varlığın yerini net bir şekilde ortaya koyan bu saldırı, İsrail'in hain, kiralık ve tekfirci terör gruplarıyla da bağlantılarını deşifre ediyor.
 
Bu arada İsrail savaş uçakları 30 Ocak 2013 tarihinde Suriye hava sahasını ihlal ederek Cemraya Bölgesinde kendini savunma ve direnişi pekiştirme görevinde bulunan bir bilimsel araştırma merkezini bombalamıştı.
 
İsrail Saldırıyı İtiraf Etti
İsrailli üst düzey bir yetkili; siyonist varlığın bugün erken saatlerde Suriye'ye saldırdığını itiraf etti.
AFP’nin aktardığı açıklamalarında siyonist yetkili; İsrail savaş uçaklarının Cumartesiyi Pazara bağlayan gecede Şam kırsalında bazı mevkilere hava saldırılarında bulunduklarını söylerken, saldırılarda ‘İranlı silahların’ hedef alındığını iddia etti.
 
AFP’ye göre kimliğinin açıklanmasını reddeden İsrailli yetkili; İsrail hava silahının, muhtemel herhangi bir cevaba karşı uzun yıllar boyunca benzeri görülmemiş bir alarma geçtiğini iddia etti.
Bu arada ABD başkanı Barack Obama İsrail'in saldırısına ilişkin bir soruya cevabında; ‘İsrail'in kendini savunma hakkına sahip olduğunu’ söylemekle siyonist saldırıyı aklamaya çalıştı.

http://sana.sy/tur/236/2013/05/05/480640.htm

President al-Assad Inaugurates Memorial of Syrian Universities' Martyrs- SANA


DAMASCUS, (SANA)_ President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday participated with thousands of students in the inauguration of the memorial of Syrian Universities' Martyrs at Damascus University.
 
After the inauguration ceremony, President al-Assad talked with the families of the martyrs and a group of students, stressing that the terrorist groups targeted university students and institutions because of their obscurantist ideology.

http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/05/05/480515.htm

LIVE BLOG: Israel launches second Syria strike in two days, sources say- Hareetz

Only a few days after an alleged Israeli strike, Syrian media reports IAF struck a military research center; Western intel sources say target was a Fateh-110 surface-to-surface missile shipment; Israel declines to comment; Syria state TV: Israeli strike a desperate attempt to raise rebels' morale.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/live-blog-israel-launches-second-syria-strike-in-two-days-sources-say-1.519250

Silah Tüccarlarının Kurbanları Olduğumuzu İdrak Etme Zamanı Gelmiştir- SANA Türkçe


SAO PAULO – Maruni Patriği Kardinal Bşara Butros el-Rai; Suriye'de şiddeti provoke etme ve krize son verme gereğinin altını bir kez daha çizerek, şiddeti körükleyen devletleri sözde barıştan söz etmek yerine krize siyasi çözümün bulunması amacıyla tüm tafralara yardım etmelerine çağırdı.
 
Maruni Hayır Cemiyetinin Brezilya’nın Sao Paulo Kentinde onuruna düzenledikleri törende Kardinal el-Rai; “Silah ticaretinin kurbanı olduğumuzu idrak etmenin zamanı gelmiştir. Tüm dünya halklarının, yüce Allah’ın onlara savaş açmaları için değil de, kalkınmaları ve refah içinde yaşamaları için servetler verdiklerini bilmeleri gerekiyor..” dedi.
 
Kardinal el-Rai; Ortadoğu'da ölüm, yıkım ve dehşet saçmak için silah ve silahlıların gönderileceği kadar dünya vicdanının ölü olmaması gerektiğine dikkat çekerek, bölge halklarının kanlarını akıtan silahların ticaretine dur demeleri gerektiğini kaydetti.
 
Öte yandan Kardinal el-Rai; tekfirci teröristlerin bir süre önce Halep kırsalında insani bir görevden dönüşleri sırada kaçırdıkları Halep ve İskenderun Rum Ortodokslar Metropoliti Paul Yazıcı ve Halep Süryani Ortodokslar Metropoliti Yuhanna İbrahim’in serbest bırakılmaları için çağrısını yineledi.

http://sana.sy/tur/237/2013/05/05/480668.htm

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Ain al-Hilweh Islamists: We Are Not al-Nusra Front- Al-Akbhar

Al-Akhbar speaks with Usbat al-Ansar and other Islamist groups in Saida’s Ain al-Hilweh that deny the presence of al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front in the Palestinian refugee camp. Though Ain al-Hilweh residents have gone to fight jihad in Syria, it’s hardly the launching pad for all fighting in the country.
 
At the main entrance to Ain al-Hilweh, cars and passengers were being searched and their papers checked at the Lebanese army checkpoint. However, these security measures are not imposed on pedestrians. Men, women, and young people pass back and forth in front of the soldiers without saying a word.

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/ain-al-hilweh-islamists-we-are-not-al-nusra-front

Major salafi faction criticizes Jabhat al-Nosra- Syria Comment

The Islamic Ahrar al-Sham Movement, which is the leading faction of the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF) and probably the biggest salafi group in Syria, has issued a statement about Jabhat al-Nosra’s recent declaration of allegiance to al-Qaida’s Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Ahrar al-Sham statement is available in Arabic on Aaron Zelin’s Jihadology, always the go-to place for source material on jihadi groups.
 
The background is as follows. In early April, Zawahiri issued a statement in support of the revolution in Syria and called for an Islamic state there. This was followed by a message from the emir of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI, i.e. al-Qaida in Iraq), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who finally acknowledged the long-known fact that Jabhat al-Nosra was an ISI offshoot and that they would henceforth work under a common name and flag as “the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria”. The day after, Jabhat al-Nosra’s leader Abu Mohammed al-Joulani issued a surprisingly sharp rejoinder. He admitted that Jabhat al-Nosra had indeed been supported by the ISI from the very beginning, and was thankful for it, but he also said he hadn’t been consulted on Abu Bakr’s announcement and denied that the groups would merge. On the other hand, Abu Mohammed took the occasion to formally “renew” his pledge of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the top emir of al-Qaida.

http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/major-salafi-faction-criticizes-jabhat-al-nosra/

Thursday, May 02, 2013

AKP needs new approach to Middle East (Semih İdiz- Hurriyet News)

Over two years have elapsed since the Syrian uprising began, yet Bashar al-Assad remains in power defying all of Turkey’s expectations. Ankara continues to insist that Assad must go but is seen to have no real answer to how this conflagration on its borders is to be doused. The meeting in Istanbul on April 23 by the core members of the “Friends of Syria” Group, on the other hand, produced nothing noteworthy.

Meanwhile the number of Syrians taking refuge in Turkey has reached at least 300,000, according to the International Crisis Group, which, in its latest report named “Blurring the Borders: Syrian Spillover Risks for Turkey,” predicts that “this number could triple this year and prove unsustainable.”

Ankara’s inability to find a new approach to the crisis, when combined with the widespread belief in Turkey and the region that the Erdoğan government has been pursuing a Sunni based policy in Syria, is also continuing to fuel anti-Turkish sentiments among Shiites across the region.

The Turkish media does not appear to see it as worth reporting on. but family members of Lebanese Shiites abducted by the Syrian opposition elements nearly a year ago near Aleppo, as they were trying to return to their country after a pilgrimage to Iran, continue to protest outside the Turkish Embassy and Turkish Airlines office in Beirut.

They are accusing Turkey of not doing enough to secure the release of their loved ones with some even suggesting that Ankara is somehow complicit in these abductions because of its support of the Sunni-led Syrian opposition. The Erdoğan government says it is doing all it can to help but has failed to convince the Shiite community in Lebanon of its sincerity so far.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/akp-needs-new-approach-to-middle-east.aspx?pageID=449&nID=46043&NewsCatID=416