Syria Rebels Launch Fresh Assault on East Damascus
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Rebels and jihadists on Tuesday launched a fresh assault on east Damascus, two days after Syrian government forces repelled an initial attack just a few kilometers from the center of the capital.
An AFP journalist in east Damascus and a monitor both reported a large explosion at dawn followed by fierce clashes, shelling and government air strikes on opposition positions.
The renewed fighting in the capital, which saw rebels and jihadists make their largest incursions in east Damascus in years, came just two days before another round of UN-backed peace talks were set to get underway in Switzerland.
"There was a big blast at dawn, most likely due to a car bomb attack by the rebels against a regime position between the districts of Jobar and Qabun," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP.
Syria's air force responded with raids on opposition positions while rebels shelled the Abbasids and Tijara neighborhoods near Jobar, a few kilometers (miles) from the city center, said Abdel Rahman.
The official SANA news agency said 12 people were wounded in rebel shelling.
"The Syrian army is facing attempts to advance by terrorist groups... north of Jobar and is surrounding them," it reported.
An AFP journalist in Damascus reported hearing a large explosion at dawn in the city's east followed by non-stop shelling and gunfire.
Plumes of dark smoke could be seen rising from eastern neighborhoods.
"Our windows and doors rattle with each bombardment," Damascus resident Lamis, 28, told AFP.
"I'm frightened that these armed groups will advance further and I hope they will be stopped soon."
It was the second wave of an assault that began at the weekend and saw rebels and allied jihadists initially score gains in Jobar, even briefly advancing into Abbasid Square -- two kilometers (1.2 miles) from Damascus' Old City -- for the first time in two years.
But forces loyal to President Bashar Assad drove them back by nightfall and began a fierce bombing campaign, the Observatory said, before calm was restored on Monday afternoon in eastern Damascus where shops reopened and cars returned to the roads.
Clashes on Sunday and Monday killed at least 72 people, including 38 government force members and 34 rebels and jihadists, according to the Observatory.
Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with protests against Assad's rule but has evolved over the years into a complex civil war.
More than 320,000 people have been killed and millions more have been displaced by the conflict.
Repeated peace talks over the years have failed to bring about a political solution, but another round of negotiations is due to begin in Geneva on Thursday.
21 March 2017, 13:50
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Seems the opinion was expressed clearly enough for even you to understand it. Let me guess, you're a Salafist who's sad his brethren are being exterminated.
21 March 2017, 16:08
00
مع استمرار الفصائل المقاتلة حملته العسكرية على مواقع قوات الأسد وميليشيات إيران في دمشق، أكد "فيلق الرحمن"، اليوم الثلاثاء، أنه ملتزم بكافة القوانين والأعراف الدولية المتعلقة بالمعارك والنزاعات المسلحة، ولا سيما تحييد المدنيين في العاصمة ودور العبادة عن المعارك.
وأصدر "فيلق الرحمن" المنضوي في صفوف الجيش السوري الحر، بياناً وصل إلى أورينت نت نسخة منه شدد من خلاله أنه الالتزام بتحييد المدنيين بكافة طوائفهم وانتماءاتهم والبعثات الدبلوماسية ودور العبادة والقائمين عليها، عن المعارك والنيران المباشرة وغير المباشرة.
أكد بيان "الفيلق" على التزام بحسن معاملة الأسرى وجثث القتلى وعدم إهانتهم وإيذائهم، وتأمين حماية الطواقم الطبية وطواقم الدفاع المدني وكافة المجموعات الإنسانية والإعلامية.
وأشار البيان إلى أن "الفيلق" مستمر في معارك الدفاع عن النفس وعن الشعب السوري الثائر حتى الوصول للعزة والكرامة والحرية المنشودة.
21 March 2017, 16:11
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I posted the above to show the difference in mentality between the FSA and the Iranian trolls (who talks like Isis)
21 March 2017, 16:30
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And minihabib keep talking about exterminating salafists (that is easily 70 million people) forgetting the fact that many do not carry arms or support the revolution http://m.alraimedia.com/ar/article/local/2013/10/27/461729/nr/nc
21 March 2017, 16:42
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It is part of the doctrine of Wahhabism/Salafism to eliminate non-believers, destroy religious shrines, and to establish a worldwide Caliphate.
Whether they carry weapons or not, this is what they believe and support.
21 March 2017, 16:53
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Kind of like the Wilayat Al Faqih crowd. Ask what happened to Bahai's in Iran.
21 March 2017, 17:34
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Or the countless pronunciations about Islam ruling the world. I guess it is different when it is under whilayat Al faqih
21 March 2017, 17:56
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Yeah, because Bahais are mass raped and beheaded like for example Yazidis are in Iraq, right? There are hundreds of thousands of Bahais in Iran, there are Sunnis, Christians, Jews, etc.
All minorities except Shias have been exterminated from Saudi Arabia.
21 March 2017, 18:37
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And mini ... Do you really know what you are talking about! There are many Ismaelis and some Ahmadiya in Saudi Arabia who are citizens. And yes, they are unjustly discriminated against. The same with Bahai's in Iran. And there are millions of People from different religions and sects in KSA. The difference between us is that you see with one eye while I see both countries faults and goods. People should read https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Bahá'ís
21 March 2017, 22:27
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Ismailis are Shias. And most Ahmadis are Asian workers, not Saudis, we're talking about citizens here.
22 March 2017, 00:41
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There are Ahmadiya citizens and workers and Ismaelis are not counted as 12 vers and indeed have been subject of persecution by other Shias. And you do not define terms of reference. And if you are talking about history, consider for once the dark history of Iran and how that overwhelmingly Sunni region was transformed to Shiism
22 March 2017, 00:41
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There are Ahmadiya citizens and workers and Ismaelis are not counted as 12 vers and indeed have been subject of persecution by other Shias. And you do not define terms of reference. And if you are talking about history, consider for once the dark history of Iran and how that overwhelmingly Sunni region was transformed to Shiism
22 March 2017, 18:33
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Duh, if we count non citizens, there is no point. You can measure the historical tolerance of a state on its native diversity, not on whatever imported workforce they have.
22 March 2017, 09:14
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Prophecy says Damascus will be fully destroyed and cease to exist
