Army restores security to Halfayia and a number of villages in Hama, targets ISIS and al-Nusra in other areas- SANA

Provinces, SANA- A military source declared that security and stability were restored to Halfaya town and to a number of the neighboring villages in the northern countryside of Hama province after destroying the last gatherings of Jabhat al-Nusra in them.

The source told SANA that army units, in cooperation with the backing forces, carried out intensive operations against Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists, restoring security and stability to the towns and villages of Halfayia, Zalin, al-Wabida, Btaish, Zour al-Nasiryia and Zour Abu Zaid, and establishing control over Talet al-Nasiryia and Tal al-Mintar.

The source added that hundreds of terrorists were killed and injured and scores fled away leaving their arms behind them as the army seized 7 mortar launchers, two machinegun-equipped vehicles and a huge amount of varied ammunition.

The source said that 58 vehicles, 3 ammunition caches, 3 tanks and a booby-trapped vehicle were also destroyed in the operations, indicating that the engineering units are dismantling the mines and the explosive devices planted by the terrorists at the streets and in the citizens’ houses.

Among the killed terrorists were Ahmed Said Doudi, Mahmoud Abdul-Razzaq Jarkas, Qasem Mohammad Amin, Yusuf al-Aboud, Hassan al-Aboud and Ismail Badran from the so-called “Jaish al-Nasser”, in addition to terrorists Eiad al-Naddaf and Kamal al-Dairi from the so-called “Jaish al-Ezza”.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104811

Qaouq Says Lebanon to Face 'Disaster' if No New Electoral Law- Naharnet

Hizbullah central council official Sheikh Nabil Qaouq warned Sunday that Lebanon would face a “disaster” should no new electoral law be approved soon.

“Lebanon would be approaching a disaster should no new electoral law be approved before the expiry of the legal deadlines, seeing as failure to approve it would drain all the political, social and economic stability in Lebanon,” Qaouq said.

He stressed that Hizbullah “has offered concessions for the sake of allowing consensus over a new electoral law” and that “it is not part of the complications and ongoing bickering over this law.”

“Those who would be affected from the correction of electoral representation are the obstacle and they are the ones who are not concealing their intentions and are still practicing political maneuvering,” Qaouq charged.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228923

PSP Says Parties Interested in Its Electoral Law Proposal as Aoun Welcomes It- Naharnet

The Progressive Socialist Party has said that several political forces have asked for copies of the electoral law format that the PSP has proposed.

“The party has started sending these copies to a host of parties and movements, such as the Free Patriotic Movement, al-Mustaqbal Movement and AMAL Movement,” PSP sources told al-Mustaqbal newspaper in remarks published Sunday.

President Michel Aoun has meanwhile welcomed the PSP's proposal seeing as any new suggestion “might help in pushing for an agreement over a law,” the president's visitors told the newspaper.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil had also welcomed the PSP's move on Saturday, saying “any PSP proposal or ideas regarding the electoral law are something positive and a step forward.”

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228907

Mufti Slams Hizbullah Border Tour, Bassil's 'Sectarian Qualification' Law- Naharnet

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan on Sunday slammed Hizbullah's border tour for journalists and the party's foreign roles as he criticized an electoral law proposed by Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil that involves sectarian voting in the first round.

“All disagreements are permissible except over three issues: coexistence, state institutions and tampering with the security of the South. We can bear any burden except the burden of undermining coexistence and what is being said about religious or sectarian qualification violates the constitution and coexistence,” Daryan warned in an address to the nation marking the Isra and Mi'raj Muslim holiday.

Turning to Hizbullah's border tour, the mufti said: “We reached U.N. resolution 1701 after a destructive Israeli war, so why create excuses for the enemy?”

“We do not need bloodshed, displacement and destruction after which we say that we emerged victorious,” Daryan added.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228905

Revisiting the Malki Affair (Christopher Solomon- Syria Comment)

On April 22, 1955, a charismatic young Syrian army officer was gunned down on a football field. The assassination of Adnan al-Malki brought about the one of the first political crackdowns in Syria’s history. The Malki Affairs and its aftermath shed light on one of the country’s earliest shifts towards authoritarianism along a sharp turn towards anti-western sentiment.

The first sign that Pax Syriana was coming to an end was the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon in 2005. Demonstrations against Lebanon’s Cedar Revolution and the West were held in defiance in Damascus. State-organized rallies across the capital illustrated the regime’s discontent with the political blowback that followed the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Part of this discontent was exhibited through the widespread display among the crowds of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party’s (SSNP) flags along Adnan al-Malki Boulevard. The black flags emblazoned with the red hurricane device signaled the official return of Pan-Syrian nationalism in the country where it was banned since the 1955 assassination of the boulevard’s namesake, who was the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Syrian army and a rising star in Syrian politics.

Malki’s assassination rocked Syria and brought about a harsh crack down on the SSNP that ultimately eradicated them from Syrian politics for fifty years. It was also a major political spectacle that marked a turning point in the country’s brief return to democracy back to a long era of authoritarianism under the Baath.

http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/revisiting-malki-affair-christopher-solomon/

President al-Assad: Leaderships of Al-Baath Party must encourage spirit of initiative in Party members- SANA

Damascus, SANA – An expanded meeting of the Central Committee of Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party was held on Saturday, chaired by President Bashar al-Assad, the Party’s Regional Secretary.

President al-Assad said that the war that is being imposed on the Syrian people for more than six years must be an incentive for Al-Baath Party to keep enhancing its presence among citizens by creating new mechanisms for communication that suit the current conditions and keep up with changes in the society, particularly since the Party was targeted since the beginning of the events in Syria due to its pan-Arab ideals, not just on the political level, but also on the level of media, but the true image of the Party has become clear after the truth became apparent to many and due to the Party’s performance during the past few years.

His Excellency said that the states hostile to Syria used all its tools in the war against Syria, primarily the Wahabi and Muslim Brotherhood terrorism, noting that the battle between the Party and extremist currents isn’t a new thing; rather it dates back to the 60s of the 20th century.

President al-Assad said that one of the goals of the war on Syria was undermining pan-Arab ideals and forcing Syria to abandon pan-Arabism, and he asserted that Syria belongs to the Arab nations therefore these attempts failed, affirming that Al-Baath Party has an important role in consecrating Syria’s Arabism due to its belief that Syria is the basis of Arabism.

His Excellency stressed the need for Party leaderships to find new ideas and work methods to revitalize the Party’s work, thereby holding constructive dialogue with the members of the Party and strengthen them, calling for devising programs that address the new generations and develop the Party’s ideals in order to protect these generations, enhance their sense of patriotism, and involve them in making programs and work plans.

President al-Assad said that it’s important for the Party’s leaderships to encourage the spirit of initiative in Party members in all fields, not just in party work, which must be conducted on the ground and be in touch with the people rather than being limited to deskwork or paperwork, adding that it’s not enough for officials to conduct field tours, as there must be clear work mechanisms linked to these tours and their effectiveness

His Excellency reviewed the developments in Syria, saying that the recent US strike on al-Shairat airport came after the defeat that terrorists suffered in Hama and the advances made by the Syrian Arab Army in the north and the east, noting that Western states with the United States at their head interfere in favor of the terrorists whenever the Syrian Arab Army makes a significant advance.

President al-Assad affirmed that war on terrorism will not cease as long as one terrorist remains in Syria, and at the same time Syria will continue to confront Western scenarios seeking to undermine its unity and sovereignty, and this will be done in conjunction with pursuing political work, both in terms of the reconciliation policy that proved effective, and in participating in the political process in Astana or Geneva in the hope that this would help stop the shedding of Syrian blood.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104799

Army expands control in northern countryside of Hama, targets terrorists in other areas- SANA

Provinces, SANA – Army and Armed Forces units on Saturday made new advances in its ongoing military operations against Jabhat al-Nusra and terror groups affiliated to it in the northern countryside of Hama province.

SANA’s correspondent in Hama said that army units, in cooperation with supporting forces, engaged in violent clashes with terrorist groups in al-Nasseriye and al-Mintar hills, killing and injuring many terrorists in the process and establishing control over a strategic point north of Souran near the turnpike leading to the town of Lahaya, in addition to establishing control over the farms of al-Nasseriye town located between the towns of Helfaya and Tibet al-Imam.

The correspondent said that clashes were preceded by targeting terrorists’ positions in the front lines with intensive volleys of rockets, which resulted in destroying several fortified positions and killing large numbers of terrorists, including Shahoud Abu Ali who was a field commander of Ahrar al-Cham Movement terror group.

Army units also carried out intensive special operations targeting terrorists’ supply lines coming from al-Latamneh and Kafr Zeta towards Helfaya town, which resulted in destroying many vehicles, the correspondent went on to say, adding that the army’s operations expanded control in the northern countryside, securing the town of Qamhana with several defensive lines, and closing in on terrorists located in Helfaya.

Later, the source said that army units destroyed machinegun-equipped armored vehicles for al-Nusra terrorists and killed a number of them in al-Boweidah, Hilfaya, Maerkabbeh, al-Lihaya al-Sharqieh, al-Lihaya al-Gharbieh, and al-Lattamineh in the northern country of Hama.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104796

Two persons injured in terrorist mortar attacks in Damascus and Mhardeh

Damascus/Hama, SANA – Two persons were injured in terrorist attack with two mortar shells on Rukneddein residential area in Damascus.

A source at Damascus Police Command told SANA that terrorist groups positioned in the Eastern Ghouta area in Damascus Countryside fired on Saturday afternoon two mortar shells at Rukneddein area, injuring two persons and causing material damage to properties.

Terrorist organizations also targeted Mhardeh city in the northern countryside of Hama province with a number of mortar shells.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104789

Government Forces Enter Buwaida As Militant Defenses Collapse In Northern Hama- South Front

Following the liberation of the Mintar hill and Khirbet Saman, the Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps entered the small village of Buwaida controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda).

According to pro-government sources, government forces successfully pushed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members to retreat from the area. Clashes were also reported in the area northeast of Buwaida.

However, the gains of government forces in the area still have to be confirmed.

https://southfront.org/government-forces-enter-buwaida-as-militant-defenses-collapse-in-northern-hama/

Tiger Forces And 5th Assault Corps Rapidly Advancing On Buwaidah And Masasnah In Northern Hama (Maps, Analysis)- South Front

This morning, Syrian government forces, led by the Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps, have advanced further against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and its allies in the northern countryside of the Hama provincial capital.

Suheil al-Hassan, Commander of the Tiger Forces, is in Northern Hama:

Government troops, backed up by artillery units and warplanes attacked militants north of the recently captured town of Taibat al-Imam and took control of the Mintar hill, Khirbet Saman and the nearby checkpoint.

The Tiger Forces and the 5th Assault Corps are advancing in the direction of the villages of Buwaidah and Masasnah.

These villages don’t have a strategic value themselves. However, they are located at the M5 Highway, linking up Damascus, Hama and Aleppo. Capturing them, government forces will expand their control over this strategic logistical line and further outflanking the important militant stronghold of Halfaya located west of Taibat al-Imam.

The map below allows to see the current advance (red arrows), and the expected operation aimed on retaking Halfata (blue arrows).

In comparison with Buwaidah and Masasnah, Halfaya is a “major” town. In 2004, it had a population of 21,180. The town is currently controlled by Free Syrian Army factions loyal to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Halfaya the last major militant stronghold in the area between Mahardeh and Taibat al-Imam.

The Mahardeh power station is an important site located west of Halfaya. Securing the power station and Halfaya, government forces will be able to improve the security and the humanitarian situation in the northern countryside of Hama.

https://southfront.org/tiger-forces-and-5th-assault-corps-rapidly-advancing-on-buwaidah-and-masasnah-in-northern-hama-maps/

Kurdish PYD launches major conscription campaign in Hasaka- Zaman el-Wasl

(Zaman Al Wasl)-  Powerful Kurdish PYD militia has carried out major conscription campaign in Hasaka province as the U.S.-allied group is mobilizing troops to expel ISIS from last pockets in northern Syria, local activists said.

Hundreds of young men have been transferring to conscription camps in the villages of Tel Adas, Tel Baydar, Sabah al-Khayer and Kabka.

An Arab militia and key ally to the PYD urged the tribesmen to join al-Sanadeed militia otherwise they will find themselves fighting under the YPG banner. They have no solution or choice, its military commander said on Thursday.

https://en.zamanalwsl.net/news/25488.html

Army Commander: No Safe Haven for Terrorists in Lebanon- Naharnet

Army Commander General Joseph Aoun stressed on Saturday that terrorists and militants will not find a safe haven in any area in Lebanon.

“The security situation in the country is totally under the army's control. Any attempts to disrupt security and stability will be faced firmly,” said Aoun in a statement.

The Army commander's comments came after the troops succeeded on Saturday at arresting a group of terrorists, including an IS Emir who has reportedly decreed the killing of Lebanese soldiers.

“There is no safe haven for terrorists in any region in Lebanon,” he stressed.

At dawn on Saturday, the Lebanese army arrested in Wadi al-Hosn in the outskirts of Arsal a group of ten terrorists who have infiltrated Lebanon's territory earlier.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228884

Chinese Jihadis' Rise in Syria Raises Concerns at Home- Naharnet

Many don't speak Arabic and their role in Syria is little known to the outside world, but the Chinese fighters of the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria are organized, battled-hardened and have been instrumental in ground offensives against President Bashar Assad's forces in the country's northern regions.

Thousands of Chinese jihadis have come to Syria since the country's civil war began in March 2011 to fight against government forces and their allies. Some have joined the al-Qaida's branch in the country previously known as Nusra Front. Others paid allegiance to the Islamic State group and a smaller number joined factions such as the ultraconservative Ahrar al-Sham.

But the majority of Chinese jihadis are with the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, whose vast majority are Chinese Muslims, particularly those from the Turkic-speaking Uighur majority native to Xinjiang in China. Their growing role in Syria has resulted in increased cooperation between Syrian and Chinese intelligence agencies who fear those same jihadis could one day return home and cause trouble there.

The Turkistan Islamic Party is the other name for the East Turkistan Islamic Movement that considers China's Xinjiang to be East Turkistan.

Like most jihadi groups in Syria, their aim is to remove Assad's secular government from power and replace it with strict Islamic rule. Their participation in the war, which has left nearly 400,000 people dead, comes at a time when the Chinese government is one of Assad's strongest international backers. Along with Russia, China has used its veto power at the U.N. Security Council on several occasions to prevent the imposition of international sanctions against its Arab ally.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228873

Lebanese Army Detains IS 'Emir' and other Terrorists in Arsal Outskirts- Naharnet

A special military operation carried out by the Lebanese army in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal resulted in the killing of the so-called “legitimate Emir of Syria's Islamic State group”, a terrorist who have decreed the slaughter of Lebanese soldiers, the National News Agency reported on Saturday

The so-called legitimate Emir identified as Alaa al-Halabi, aka al-Mlais, hails from the Syrian town of Qara, said NNA.

The Lebanese army carried out a thorough security plan at dawn on Saturday on the outskirts Arsal and arrested ten suspects believed to be dangerous terrorists, the Army Command-Orientation Directorate said in a statement.

The army's security operation plan took place in Wadi al-Hosn area, it said.

The troops arrested ten dangerous terrorists, and no causalities or wounded were recorded among the army's ranks, added the statement.

VDL (93.3) reported that one militant was killed and three suspects from al-Fleiti family were arrested together with others. Wael al-Fleiti, one of the most dangerous fugitives, was among the detainees. He is involved in smuggling arms and ammunition into the town.

Among the captives are Syrian nationals Alaa al-Halabi, Fawzi al-Sahli and Ahmed Niman, added VDL.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228870

Assad Blames ex-Qaida Affiliate for Bombing Evacuees- Naharnet

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Friday blamed the country's former al-Qaida affiliate for a deadly bombing against buses carrying evacuees outside Aleppo at the weekend. 

"It was Jabhat al-Nusra, they haven't hidden it from the very start, and I think that everyone agrees that it was Nusra," Assad told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency in an interview, referring to the jihadist group now known as the Fateh al-Sham Front that has supposedly severed its ties with al-Qaida.

The bombing killed 126 people, 68 of them children, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at the Rashidin transit point west of Aleppo as people were evacuating from the besieged government-held towns of Fuaa and Kafraya. 

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the deadliest episodes since the start of Syria's six-year civil war.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/228832

Self-Governance Issues in Syria Should Be Resolved in Constitutional Terms- Sputnik News

Self-governance issues in Syria must be resolved within the constitutional framework, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik in an interview, saying there is no reason for Kurdish self-rule once peace is established.

DAMASCUS, April 21 (Sputnik) — Assad said the lack of stability and government control in certain parts of the country provides local authorities an "excuse for today" to advocate in favor of "self-control."

"When you have stability and the government taking control of the country, of course there's no excuse to deal with such a situation unless there's a constitution that allows a certain area to have its confederation or federation or any other way of governance," he said.

Assad said Damascus is under the impression that "the vast majority of Syrians never believe in self-governance or confederation or anything."

"It's better to wait to discuss the next constitution between the different Syrian shades of our spectrum," the Syrian leader stressed.

Syrian President Bashar Assad elaborated on the issue saying that the issue of removing the word "Arab" from the "Syrian Arab Republic" official title should be resolved through a referendum.

"If the Syrians don't believe in the word of 'Arab state,' what's the meaning of having this word?" Assad said. "I wouldn't say that this is right or wrong till the Syrians have their own say in a referendum."

The subject came up in recent months after Russia circulated a draft of the Syrian constitution with the word "Arab" removed from the republic's name to reflect its multiethnic makeup.

"It's still early to discuss that point, it's not a contention issue, I mean, nobody is discussing it now. A few people in Syria, mainly among the Kurds, mention this issue. It's not a big problem," Assad said.

The draft Syrian constitution was presented by Russian experts to the parties of the Syrian conflict during the talks in Astana that took place on January 23 – 24.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704211052852360-self-governance-syria-constitution-assad/

Jordan Planning to Deploy Troops in Syria in Coordination With US - Assad- Sputnik News

Damascus has intelligence on Jordan planning to deploy troops in Syria in coordination with the US, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik in an interview.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — The Syrian government is aware that Jordan is planning to deploy troops on its territory in coordination with the United States, Syrian President Bashar Assad told Sputnik.

He maintained that, "it's the United States who defines the plans, who defines the players, and who endorses everything regarding Syria coming from Jordan, and many of the terrorists coming from Jordan, and of course Turkey, since day one of the war in Syria."

The statement comes following the talks between US President Donald Trump and Jordanian King Abdullah II earlier in April. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting at the White House on crucial Middle East issues, such as means to defeat Daesh terrorist group

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704211052854131-assad-syria-jordan-us-troops/

Russia, Syria Holding Talks on Supplies of More Air Defense Systems - Assad- Sputnik News

Russia and Syria are holding talks on the supplies of additional air defense systems to the war-torn country, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Sputnik.

DAMASCUS (Sputnik) — Assad told Sputnik that Damascus is interested in Russia's last generation air defense systems.

"Of course, we need more armaments after the war and because of the consumption, and this is part of the daily relation between the two institutions in the Ministry of Defense in Russia and Syria," Assad said.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201704211052845528-russia-syria-assad-air-defense/

Israeli warplanes target military position in Khan Arnabeh in Quneitra, causing material damage- SANA

Quneitra, SANA – A military source announced on Friday evening that the Israeli enemy’s warplanes fired two missiles at 18:45 from within occupied territory at a military position in the surroundings of Khan Arnabeh in Quneitra countryside, causing material damage.

The source said that this aggression came after an attempt by terrorists to infiltrate military positions in Quneitra countryside was foiled and the terrorists suffered heavy losses, which proves that Israel provides direct support to terrorist organizations.

The source affirmed that such desperate attempts will not dissuade the Army and Armed Forces from continuing to crush the terrorist groups that act as Israel’s proxy in the area.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104772

President al-Assad : Khan Sheikhoun incident fabricated..The West and the US blocked the investigation because it will find that all their allegations and narratives were lies- SANA

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad stressed that what has been said on Khan Sheikhoun is  a fabricated story, adding that the West and the United States blocked any delegation from coming to investigate, because if they come, they will find that all their narratives about what happened in Khan Sheikhoun and then the attack on Shairat airport was a false flag, was a lie.

In an interview given to Russia’s RIA Novosti and Sputnik news agencies, President al-Assad said that we always announce that we are ready to cooperate with any country who is genuinely ready or wants or has the will to fight terrorism.

He added that we already know that the West supports the terrorists and it doesn’t have a will to fight them.

Following is the full text of the interview:

Question 1: Thank you, Mr. President, for giving an opportunity for this interview, and I will start with the recent tragic event in Aleppo, where the majority of those killed and wounded were children. Who do you think organized this crime, and on what purpose?

President Assad: A few months ago, the same agreement was about to be implemented, but as you know, you’re talking about different factions, all of them are linked to Al Qaeda or al-Nusra Front, and one of those factions attacked the buses that wanted to transport the same civilians outside of al-Foua’a and Kefraya beside Aleppo, and they attacked those buses and they burned them, and it was shown on the internet, where they said “we won’t allow this reconciliation to happen, we’re going to kill every civilian that wants to use the buses,” and that’s what happened. When we thought that everything is ready to implement that reconciliation, they did what they announced, and they are al-Nusra Front, they didn’t hide themselves from the very beginning, and I think everybody agrees that this is al-Nusra.

Question 2: Any specific group or al-Nusra itself?

President Assad: No, because when you talk about al-Nusra, it’s their ideology, so different names – and as you know al-Nusra itself changed its name – so different names doesn’t mean changing the ideology or the behavior or the course of killing. So, it doesn’t matter what’s the name.

Question 3: And how many people have died since the beginning of the war, at this point?

President Assad: Actually, we can talk only about official numbers. It’s tens of thousands, not like what you hear in the media about hundreds of thousands. Of course, we can talk about thousands of missing people that we don’t know anything about their fate. This is the official number. But in the West, of course they add altogether the number of the terrorists, and a large amount of the terrorists of course they’re not registered at the state as killed or dead, and the same thing about the foreigners who came to Syria in tens or maybe hundreds of thousands to fight. So, the numbers that we’ve been hearing in the Western media during the last six years were not precise, it’s only to inflate the number just to show how horrible the situation, to use it as humanitarian pretext to intervene in Syria. So, as a state, we only talk about tens of thousands of victims till this moment.

Question 4: So, you’re not agreeing with the number that the United Nations give?

President Assad: No, because the United Nations doesn’t have any means to calculate the numbers, and actually no-one has, as I said, because you’re talking about different factions; foreigners, Syrians and terrorists and so on, so it’s complicated to tell. The only thing that we have are the official records. Of course, it must be higher than the official record, but we cannot just estimate and give any number.

Question 5: I see. Yesterday, there were reports that al-Baghdadi was captured by the Russian and Syrian military at the border of Syria and Iraq. Can you confirm it?

President Assad: No, no. That’s not true.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=104753