adminAddressing the Syrian army on the 67th anniversary of its foundation, Assad said Syria’s enemies are using the internal agents as a “bridge” to undermine Syria’s stability and security and “drain our economic potentials and scientific competencies.”
The president made the remarks as his rule is facing internal and external threats with Western-backed armed rebels having launched a war of attrition against the government strongholds in the capital Damascus and northern Aleppo province, Syria’s economic hub.
The recent reports of the fighting in Aleppo, which started a week ago, indicate that the rebels have acquired surface-to-air missiles from Turkey, whose prime minister has recently said Syrians “will soon be freed from the regime with blood on its hands.”
Meanwhile, Assad said the Syrian people have foiled foreign plans and proved to be hard to be “tamed or contained.”
Assad said the army forces, “in their confrontation of the war to which the country is subject and in their encounter of the criminal and terrorist gangs over the past period, have proven to be the owners of solid will and conscience.”
Assad urged the army to be “more ready and to continue preparedness so that our armed forces would remain the homeland’s shield.” Meanwhile the UN observers confirmed rebels are in possession of tanks in Syria’s largest city.
The UN Supervision Mission in Syria said it’s deeply concerned about the situation in Aleppo city, confirming that the armed rebels, for the first time, are in possession of heavy weapons including tanks.
In a briefing yesterday, Sausan Ghosheh told reporters that the UN mission in Syria has confirmation that “the opposition is in possession of heavy weapons including tanks.”
Ghosheh said the UN supervision mission is “very deeply concerned about the heavy fighting that is going on in Aleppo.”
“We have reports . . . that there has been heavy use of heavy weapons including tanks and heavy machine-guns as well as artillery,” she said, confirming that “yesterday for the first time saw firing from a fighter aircraft.”
She said the humanitarian situation is deteriorating in Aleppo, adding that “there are some civilians who are trapped in the crossfire; there are others who are seeking refuge and shelter in schools and hospitals and public buildings, safer neighbourhoods.”
She said there is shortage of food, fuel, water and gas, and called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint.
The recent reports by the NBC about the fighting in Aleppo, indicate that the rebels have acquired surface-to-air missiles from Turkey. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter