Syria's Archives

Russia threatens to attack U.S.-backed forces in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor

September 21, 2017 by administrator

The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a formal warning to the U.S. military regarding the behavior of their forces in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Al-Masdar News reports.

“Russia unequivocally told the commanders of U.S. forces in Al Udeid Airbase (Qatar) that it will not tolerate any shelling from the areas where the SDF are stationed,” the Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, stated this morning, adding that the attacks put at risk Russian military advisers embedded with Syrian government troops.

“Fire from positions in regions [controlled by the SDF] will be suppressed by all means necessary,” he stressed.

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have shelled the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions in Deir ez-Zor at least two times this week; this has prompted the Russian Ministry of Defense’s to issue a stern warning to Washington.

Photo. AFP

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60 Armenian families trapped in Syria’s Hasakah

August 22, 2016 by administrator

Despite heavy fighting in the Syrian city of Hasakah, 60 Armenian families are still living in the town, Arevelk reports.

Situated in the far north-eastern corner of Syria, the city was trapped in fighting between the Kurdish forces and troops loyal to President Bashar-al-Assad.

As the Syrian air forces hit Kurdish positions in the city, the United States declared it will send fighter aircraft in support of the Kurdish forces.

According to a source from the Syrian city of Al-Qamishli situated nearby, Armenians in Hasakah are relatively safe.

However, heavy battles were staged in a number of neighborhoods where Armenians live.

The source also said that those in Al-Qamishli are instructed to host Armenians from Hasakah should the latter decide to evacuate the city.

Syria’s Assad appoints new prime minister

June 22, 2016 by administrator

Syria’s Assad appoints new prime minister

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has asked the country’s electricity minister to form a new government.

Imad Khamis was tasked with forming the new cabinet on Wednesday, Syria’s official news agency, SANA, reported.

Sources had earlier told the Russian English-language news channel RT that the new cabinet will include 12 new ministers, such as the justice minister, health minister and the minister of electricity.

According to the report, the key portfolios will remain intact as the ministers of foreign affairs, interior, defense and finance will not be changed.

Khamis is to submit his proposal for new ministerial appointments in the coming days, AFP reported.

He is a 54-year-old engineer, who is to replace Wael al-Halqi who had held the post since August 2012.

Khamis had served as Syria’s minister of electricity since 2011 and is an electrical engineer. He has been under sanctions by the European Union since March 2012.

The changes come more than two months after parliamentary elections were held in the country on April 13, in which a high voter turnout was recorded.

A number of opposition parties were running in the race, but armed opposition groups boycotted the vote and called it illegitimate. Parliament members are elected for a four-year term in Syria.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis it blames on some foreign states for more than five years.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since March 2011. The UN has stopped its official casualty count in the Middle Eastern state, citing its inability to verify the figures it receives from various sources.

Backed by the Russian air cover, Syrian forces have managed to liberate many militant-held areas over the past few months.

Two Armenians Elected to Syria’s Parliament

April 17, 2016 by administrator

Nora Arissian Becomes First Syrian-Armenian Woman Parliamentarian,

DAMASCUS, Syria (A.W.)—Two Armenians, Dr. Nora Arissian and Jirair Reisian, entered Syria’s 250-seat parliament following elections for the Syrian People’s Assembly on April 13. Arissian, who ran as an independent from the Damascus governorate, became the first Syrian-Armenian woman member of the Syrian Parliament, reported Perio News. Aleppo-Armenian community leader Jirair Reisian was elected to the assembly from Aleppo. The election results were made public on April 16.

Arissian has played an active role in the Syrian and Syrian-Armenian reality, and has long been an advocate of the Armenian cause. Arissian has served as translator at the Syrian Presidential Palace. She holds a Ph.D. in modern history from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia; her focus was the Armenian Genocide as documented in Syrian sources. Arissian served as secretary, chief of staff, and interpreter at Armenia’s Embassy in Syria from 1992-2006. Since 2005, she has worked as a lecturer at Damascus University, and has served as the chair of the Armenian studies department since 2013. She worked as translator and adviser at the Syrian Ministry of Culture from 2010-13. She is the editor of Aztag Arabic, an online publication. In 2007, she became the first Armenian woman member of the Arab Writers’ Union in Damascus.

Arissian has been widely recognized for her achievements, and was awarded the Armenian Presidential “Movses Khorenatsi” Medal in 2012 and the Ministry of Diaspora’s “William Saroyan” Medal in 2011.

Reisian, who has been an active member of the Armenian community in Syria, was the candidate endorsed by the Armenian organizations, reported the Aleppo-based Kantsasar. A longtime educator and advocate for the Armenian cause, Reisian serves as the spokesperson of the Armenian Prelacy in Aleppo. He has been the chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Syria for several years. Reisian also served as the principal of the Armenian Sahagian School in Aleppo.

In an interview with Kantsasar ahead of the elections, Reisian said that in the current situation the Syrian people have two expectations from the new parliament: the healing and revival of the country, and the implementation of reforms that will lead to a bright future for Syria.

Source: armenianweekly

Two Russian Helicopter Pilots Die in Crash in Syria’s Homs

April 12, 2016 by administrator

(sputniknews) A Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-28N Havoc helicopter crashed near the city of Homs in Syria, killing both pilots, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service reported Tuesday.

“According to a report from the crash site, the helicopter was not shot down, the press service’s statement said.”

The crash occurred at 22:29 GMT on Monday.

“Two crewmembers were killed. The bodies of the dead pilots were removed [from the crash site] during search and rescue operations and are currently at the Hmeymim Airbase.”

According to the ministry, the reasons behind the crash are yet to be determined. A task force has been sent to the site of the incident to investigate the crash.

President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Supreme Commander-in-Chief, has been informed about the crash, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

“Obviously, the commander in chief is notified first of such emergency incidents.”

Russia has been conducting a counterterrorist operation in Syria since September 30. On March 14, President Vladimir Putin ordered to withdraw the main part of the air group from Syria.

On November 24, a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber over Syria. One of the pilots was killed by Islamist rebels after ejecting. A Mi-8 helicopter, which had been sent to conduct a search and rescue mission, was damaged by the rebels’ fire, and a naval infantry officer was killed.

The Mi-28N Night Hunter is a modification of the Mi-28 gunship designed for round-the-clock combat operations. It can find and destroy the enemy’s vehicles and manpower.