Damascus survives military offensive

Aircraft and helicopter gunships have been flying over the southwest of Damascus, since Tuesday morning (13th), giving the feeling of a war environment for the population. In the region, some days ago, there was an army offensive against armed groups that were firing mortars into populated areas of Damascus, and Al-Midan Mezzeh.

However, many Syrians in this part of town, where the Mezzeh neighborhood ends, a middle-class area with mixed working class neighborhoods of the surrounding hills, remain calm before what is about to happen.

Women, the elderly, children and residents in general sometimes look to the sky, where helicopters circle while gaining height and fire machine-guns or rockets against areas south of town.

In the region, some days ago, there was an army offensive against armed groups that were firing mortars into populated areas of Damascus, and Al-Midan Mezzeh.

According to assumptions by spokesmen of irregular armed groups, in these localities the targets are Alawites who support the government of President Bashar Al-Assad, but actually living there are Sunnis, Ismailis, Christians, Druze and Kurds, in other words, Syrians of various denominations and confessions.

Even at midday, noises were still heard from planes and helicopters flying over and participating in operations against the surroundings outside the capital, but belonging to the province of the Damascus countryside.

In Damascus, there is no fighting or armed confrontations, but in areas of the district of Al-Tadamoun in the southeastern periphery, some clashes occurred in recent days, informed an official source.

On Tuesday, at dawn, volleys of missiles and artillery were heard in the southern town of Dareya, about 12 kilometers from here, where there is the presence of armed groups.

According to residents of the neighborhood of Mezzeh, armed groups, composed mostly of mercenaries, are like a weeds, because when they are cut back, they seem to sprout back as the shocks surrounding the capital have been continual since July of this year.

Although the crisis of violence here has increased in the last few months, this is the first time that this part of town can hear the flight of combat fighter planes.

Nevertheless, a few weeks ago, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) were fighting terrorist groups, as they are called by the authorities, in the region of Eastern Goutha, and utilizing the combined forces of the Army and aviation.

Despite this environment of war, the population of Damascus maintains their normal life.  There is traffic congestion on the main avenues, businesses remain open and activity does not reflect the aggression facing the country.

Source: Prensa Latina

 

Translated from the Portuguese version by:

Lisa Karpova
Pravda.Ru