Syria Update: Latest Events

Syria Update: Latest Events
October 10, 2013


Tartus.
Syrian Army has completed safety inspection of the area in and around Al-Mitras village of Tartus province where about 300 Al Nusra Front militants blocked by the army troops have surrendered to the authorities. Army sappers have found and disarmed a large number of improvised explosive devices (IED). Local residents can now safely return to their homes. Grateful to the army soldiers for their hard work, people happily expressed their belief in the soldiers’ final victory.


Hama.
Counter-terror operation has been carried on in Hama province. Al-Hamam village situated near the strategically important highway from Damascus to Aleppo is now completely free of militants. The fact that the militants belonged to Al Nusra Front is proved by scattered around black and white flags with characteristic writings on them and the handwritings on the walls of the nearby houses.

During the operation, a great number of the militants were killed and several SUVs, which had been used as platforms for heavy machine guns, were destroyed. Final safety inspections are underway in and around the city. A wide network of fortified firing points, trenches and several underground passages and bunkers has been located in the area. A number of fortified firing points, interconnected by trenches, which had been previously used by the terrorists to engage road traffic have also been found along the nearby highway.


Homs.
Cleanup operation to secure the previously freed areas from Al Nusra Front militants entrenched in the area continues in Bab Hud district of Homs. The operation is made more complex by the fact that the ancient city is congested with old stone buildings and has very narrow streets and alleys along with a great number of fortified firing points, deep underground passages and shelters.

Al Nusra Front militants keep bombarding and attacking nearby civilian targets including industrial facilities with the clear intention to weaken the already war-torn economy. Because of artillery shelling, a large fire broke out on the territory of one of the Homs oil refineries. Thanks to the heroic efforts by the local workers and fire brigades the fire was successfully contained. Nonetheless, the state and the refinery have suffered considerable material damage.


Aleppo.
The special operation mentioned in the previous news report is still under way in Khanasser area. Syrian army units have continued with their mission to secure the neighboring areas from Al Nusra Front bandits. The road from Khanasser to Sefera has been taken under full control by the Syrian Army. In the course of this operation, a large number of militants were killed. A large number of weapons have been seized.


Damascus province.
Operations to put an end to Al Nusra Front militants’ presence in Barza district of Damascus province has continued to be very successful. Specialized units are carrying out thorough inspections of previously secured areas. All the bandits engaged during these cleanups are being finished off on the spot.



Contributors: Marat Musin, Igor Nadyrshin, Andrey Filatov, Victor Kuznetsov.

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