BEIRUT: The Syrian army and its allies were fighting on Saturday in Daesh’s last pocket in central Syria after taking the heavily defended village of Uqairabat on Friday, a war monitor reported.
The enclave lies close to the main road running between the cities of Homs and Aleppo near the town of Al-Salamiya, and has been the site of intense fighting for months. Evicting jihadists from the area is viewed as necessary to improve security on the road.
The Syrian army, aided by Russian airstrikes and Iran-backed Shiite militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, has advanced deep into eastern Syria this year against Daesh.
It is pushing to relieve its besieged enclave in the city of Deir Al-Zor, one of the cities on the Euphrates to which Daesh has fallen back after losses in both Syria and Iraq, but has left the pocket in central Syria in its rear.
Late on Friday, a military media unit run by Hezbollah said the army had captured Uqairabat, which it described as Daesh’s stronghold in that region.
The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the army and its allies had also taken other villages in the area, aided by Russian helicopters, and reported that intense fighting continued.
Syrian army gains in Daesh’s last central Syria bastion
Syrian army gains in Daesh’s last central Syria bastion
Abbas reaffirms support for Christian presence in Palestine
- Palestinian leader receives delegation of bishops at presidential headquarter in Ramallah
RAMALLAH: President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday received a delegation of bishops from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, headed by Bishop Imad Haddad, at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, in the presence of Ramzi Khoury, chairman of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine.
Abbas welcomed Haddad, congratulating him on assuming his duties as bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Lands, headquartered in Jerusalem, and wishing him success in leading the church.
The president also extended his congratulations to Christians worldwide on the occasion of Christmas and the New Year, highlighting full support for preserving the authentic Christian presence in Palestine.
FASTFACT
President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed that Palestinian Christians are an integral part of the Palestinian people, with a historical record of coexistence and harmony among all components of society.
He said that Palestinian Christians are an integral part of the Palestinian people, with a historical record of coexistence and harmony among all components of society.
Haddad thanked Abbas for his continuous support for the church and the preservation of the Christian presence in Palestine, adding that he will work to strengthen cooperation between the church and the state of Palestine to support believers and secure their presence in the Holy Land.
Also on Saturday, Israeli forces shut down the two gates erected at the entrance to the village of Atara, northwest of Ramallah, according to a WAFA correspondent.
He said Israeli troops sealed off the gates to those entering and exiting the towns of Birzeit and Atara, causing significant disruption to the movement of residents.
The road is considered a main route for those heading to and from the nearby city of Ramallah.
Simultaneously, Israeli forces set up a checkpoint at the entrance to Ein Sinya, north of Ramallah, for those exiting the town. They stopped several vehicles and checked the IDs of Palestinian residents, causing a severe traffic jam.
Israeli forces raided the town of Al-Mazra’a Al-Sharqiya, east of Ramallah, on Saturday and seized a Palestinian vehicle.
According to local sources, a large unit of Israeli soldiers stormed Al-Mazra’a Al-Sharqiya, seizing a private vehicle.
A settler sealed an agricultural road in the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah, local sources said.
They said that the settler closed the road leading to the Abu Hamam hamlet, south of the village, preventing residents from accessing their agricultural lands.
On Friday, the Israeli army detained four international solidarity activists from the same hamlet while they were attempting to document colonist attacks and provide support to local residents.
