The Syrian army regained control of a road southeast of Aleppo on Wednesday, state television said, taking back the government’s only supply route into the city from ISIS fighters who had seized it last month.
Army forces took full control of the road which runs from Aleppo through the towns of Khanaser and Ithriya and links up with the cities of Hama and Homs further south, the channel flashed in a news bulletin. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed the report, according to Al Arabiya.
The road is the army’s supply route to government-held western parts of Aleppo, home to around 2 million people.
Rebels are mainly in the eastern sector of the city, which was Syria’s most populous before the conflict broke out in 2011.
ISIS said late last month it had taken control of most of the Syrian army checkpoints on the road and seized large caches of ammunition from army outposts in the area.
Areas around Aleppo have seen weeks of heavy fighting after Syrian troops backed by Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian fighters launched an offensive to retake territory around Aleppo from rebels and jihadist fighters.
The offensive has concentrated so far on clearing insurgent-held areas south of Aleppo rather than the city itself.
It is one of several assaults carried out by pro-government ground forces since Russian jets began carrying out air strikes on Sept. 30 in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian troops are also trying to advance to the east of Aleppo towards Kweires military airport, aiming to break a siege of the base by ISIS and other insurgents.
Plan B: Russia May Use New Aid Flight Routes to Syria Bypassing Greece
Russia may use new flight aid routes to Syria if Greece closes its airspace to Russian aircraft, first deputy head of the international committee of the Russian Federation Council Vladimir Jabbarov said.
Earlier Monday, a source told Sputnik that Greece had received a request from the United States to deny Russian aircraft providing humanitarian aid to Syria use of the country’s airspace.
“This is an absurd move and if it is supported by Greece, it will be an unfriendly move toward Russia,” Jabbarov said.
On Saturday, the US embassy appealed to the Greek government with a request to prohibit the flights of Russian aircraft providing aid to Syria, however, Athens refused to do so, a source told RIA Novosti.
The Russian senator stressed that there Iran, Turkey and Central Asian states may assist Russia with regard to its humanitarian mission in Syria.
Commenting on the US’ request to close Greek airspace to Russian humanitarian flights to Syria, the Russian senator said that Washington “is afraid of any assistance that Russia is providing to the Syrian people.”
Jabbarov commented on Western media reports concerning Russia’s alleged increased weapons supplies to Syria saying that “the purpose of this campaign is to spark anti-Russian hysteria.”
The senator also noted that if the United States had the right to do so, it would have closed all countries’ airspace to Russian aircraft.
However, Russia can create new flight routes under international agreements, he concluded.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011 as government forces loyal to President Assad have been fighting several opposition and radical Islamist militant groups, including Nusra Front and Islamic State.
A number of Western countries have long supported what they call “moderate” rebel fighters, while Russia has repeatedly stated that Assad is the legitimate president of Syria, and that the people of Syria must choose their government and leaders without outside intervention.
In August, the Syrian president said that he highly appreciated Russia’s assistance, by which Moscow had proved its firm position in supporting Damascus during the military conflict.
Source: sputniknews.com
LOS ANGELES: On April 24 March for Justice Route Announced
The March for Justice route starts in Little Armenia and ends at the Turkish Consulate
LOS ANGELES—On April 24, Armenian-Americans worldwide will commemorate the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The Los Angeles-based Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of the Western United States (AGCC-WUSA) is organizing a the March For Justice, which will unite people of different backgrounds as they come together to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The March for Justice will be the only commemorative event taking place on April 24.
The March for Justice is the largest in the series of AGCC-WUSA hosted events. Participants will gather at 10 a.m. in Little Armenia, the March will begin at the corner of Western and Sunset Boulevard. Participants will march in solidarity for 6 miles to the Turkish Consulate in the Wilshire District to protest the Turkish government’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. This Pan-Armenian March will unite, without exception, the Armenian community in its quest for justice while demonstrating collective strength and spirit. Members of other ethnic organizations will also be joining the March to stand in solidarity against the Turkish Government’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. Protesters will thank those who have helped to spread awareness of the Armenian Genocide, and those who work tirelessly to prevent genocide elsewhere in the world.
In remembrance of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish Government, the AGCC-WUSA encourages all businesses to close their stores and join the March for Justice. In order to obtain signage showing that your business is closed for the commemoration, you may contact the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918.
The AGCC-WUSA has launched a social media campaign asking individuals to publish a short video stating that they will be “marching to justice on April 24.” To participate in this campaign, individuals can tape a short video of themselves on their cellular devices and post it on their personal social media account with the hashtag #MarchForJustice and #ArmenianGenocide.
In the coming weeks the AGCC-WUSA will be announcing bus and parking locations for those traveling to Little Armenia. For more information about the March for Justice please visit march4justice.org or visit facebook.com/agccwusa. Updates about the March for Justice, including parking locations will be posted both on the website and on Facebook.
The AGCC-WUSA was established to steer and coordinate the multifaceted commemorative activities in the Western United States and is composed of nineteen Armenian organizations, including religious institutions. The 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide signifies a global demand for justice by Armenians worldwide and all people of good will. The Centennial marks one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes against humanity. In 1915, the Turkish Government began a premeditated and systematic campaign to uproot the Armenian population from its ancestral homeland and slaughter 1.5 million defenseless men, women and children. Turkey must finally acknowledge its responsibility for the Genocide and make appropriate moral, financial and territorial restitution, as mandated by the fundamental norms of international law and civilized society.