Syria lashes out at Arab countries
Source: Agencies |
July 30, 2012, Monday
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THE Syrian government accused regional powerhouses Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey of trying to destroy the country and vowed yesterday that it would defeat rebels who have captured large swathes of the commercial hub Aleppo.
Military forces in Aleppo fired tank and artillery shells at neighborhoods as rebels tried to repel the government air and ground assault. According to activists, rebels who launched an operation to take over Syria's largest city a week ago are estimated to control between a third and a half of Aleppo's neighborhoods.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, on a visit to Iran, leveled some rare public criticism of Sunni powers in the Middle East, saying Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are supporting a plot hatched by Israel to destroy Syria. The three countries have all backed rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad.
"Israel is the mastermind of all in this crisis," Moallem told a joint news conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. "They (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) are fighting in the same front."
The battle for Aleppo, once a bastion of support for Assad's regime, is critical for both the regime and the opposition. Its fall would be a major blow to Assad, giving the opposition a major strategic victory with a new stronghold in the north.
"They mobilized all their armed terrorists and tried to capture Damascus in less than a week," Moallem said. "They were defeated. Today, they've gone to Aleppo and definitely they will be defeated in Aleppo," he added.
The rebels mounted a challenge to the regime in Damascus before the assault on Aleppo, but after a week of intense clashes, they were defeated. Yesterday's bombardment was part of a government counter-offensive to retake control of areas in rebel hands since last week at the beginning of their bid to capture Aleppo.
Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar vowed on Saturday the Syrian army would root out terrorism. Al-Shaar was making his first televised appearance since he was wounded in the July 18 bomb attack in Damascus that killed four other top security leaders in Assad's inner circle. Al-Shaar's arm was bandaged, but he said he was back at his job with "greater determination."
Military forces in Aleppo fired tank and artillery shells at neighborhoods as rebels tried to repel the government air and ground assault. According to activists, rebels who launched an operation to take over Syria's largest city a week ago are estimated to control between a third and a half of Aleppo's neighborhoods.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, on a visit to Iran, leveled some rare public criticism of Sunni powers in the Middle East, saying Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are supporting a plot hatched by Israel to destroy Syria. The three countries have all backed rebels trying to overthrow President Bashar Assad.
"Israel is the mastermind of all in this crisis," Moallem told a joint news conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. "They (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey) are fighting in the same front."
The battle for Aleppo, once a bastion of support for Assad's regime, is critical for both the regime and the opposition. Its fall would be a major blow to Assad, giving the opposition a major strategic victory with a new stronghold in the north.
"They mobilized all their armed terrorists and tried to capture Damascus in less than a week," Moallem said. "They were defeated. Today, they've gone to Aleppo and definitely they will be defeated in Aleppo," he added.
The rebels mounted a challenge to the regime in Damascus before the assault on Aleppo, but after a week of intense clashes, they were defeated. Yesterday's bombardment was part of a government counter-offensive to retake control of areas in rebel hands since last week at the beginning of their bid to capture Aleppo.
Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar vowed on Saturday the Syrian army would root out terrorism. Al-Shaar was making his first televised appearance since he was wounded in the July 18 bomb attack in Damascus that killed four other top security leaders in Assad's inner circle. Al-Shaar's arm was bandaged, but he said he was back at his job with "greater determination."
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