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SYRIA’S AIR FORCE dropped deadly explosive-filled barrels on several rebel-held areas across the embattled country today, a monitoring group said.
After battles with the army that have lasted several weeks, rebels seized control of Hamdan airport in the eastern town of Albu Kamal in Deir Ezzor province on the border with Iraq, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Most of the army’s air strikes targeted Idlib province in the northwest, Aleppo in the north and Damascus province. All three provinces are home to highly organised rebel groups.
In southern Damascus, four civilians were killed when the Palestinian Yarmuk camp was shelled, said the Observatory, although it did not specify whether the army or rebels were behind the bombardment.
Clashes
Clashes also raged in the nearby district of Tadamun, where anti-regime sentiment is strong, the Britain-based watchdog said. Warplanes also buzzed the Eastern Ghuta area, east of Damascus, said the Observatory, as regime forces cut off several roads leading to the capital.
In Albu Kamal, the fighting ended when rebels took control of Hamdan airport on the Iraqi border. Syria’s military had used the agricultural airport as a base for helicopter gunships. Rebels seized several tanks and mortars that the army had stored there.
In Aleppo, two rebels were killed in fighting, and regime forces launched several air strikes on towns near the embattled city, including Hreitan and Anadan, said the Observatory.
The air force also struck the strategic town of Maaret al-Numan, which rebels captured on October 9, and which lies on the road linking Damascus to Aleppo. Despite near-daily air strikes and combat on the town’s edges, the army has been unable to recapture it.
At least 18 people were killed across Syria on Saturday, according to a preliminary count compiled by the Observatory, which relies on a network of activists, doctors and lawyers for its information.
Individuals “ Christmas Tree Hunting” in the Dublin mountains and elsewhere is also illegal and NOT “a Tradition” as is construed conveniently.
@Peter Daly: But the Waltons always did it! :-)
@Colette Kearns: goodnight Colette.
@Peter Daly: tell that to chevy chase
@Shelly Levine: night shelley.
@Peter Daly: Those trees are pure pollution and need to come down. I know it doesn’t suit your leafy green ideas but it ‘s just a fact. They destroy soil with acid and make no difference at all to the carbon foot print. I’ve planted around 1000 natives in the last 5 years. Pendula pendula (silver birch) beech and alder. Ive been looking for support but Coillte has come up with no plan whatsoever. I know ye all want to be environmentalists but it would be a big help if any of ye had a clue what yer talking about.
@Hugh Morris: Clark griswold hugh try keep up.
@Hugh Morris: Hugh ive 3 kids iam hopefully going to “try set up for later life “your comment is quite frankly disgusting. But not surprising.
@Vonvonic: You obviously didn’t bother reading the article before jumping to conclusions. “the removal of three hectares of woodland…a large area of mature, broadleaf woodland…the species felled included ash, sycamore, holly and alder. The majority of trees, the inspector found, “would appear to be 10-50 years old with occasional specimens being up to 100 years old”.
“In another case from 2020, the Forest Service investigated the removal of over 110 trees – mainly willow –“
“Earlier this year, Noteworthy investigated the removal of hedgerows to make way for agricultural expansion, finding that almost 1,000 offences related to hedgerow removal on farms were identified by DAFM between 2011 and 2019.”
@EillieEs: The sycamore is one of the most eco destructive trees going (not native). But how could you possibly know that? You couldn’t, because you don’t.
@Vonvonic: so you’ve chosen to ignore the alder, willow, ash, the hedgerow?
@EillieEs: Largely unimportant in comparison to the potential we have to plant trees. If they’re in the way cut them down; otherwise noone will ever plant trees. I know that sounds counter-intuitive bit our problem is not cutting trees down; its the the lack of plan and incentive to plant them. The complaint in this article is a smoke screen.
Good to see someone twigged this…
@William Tallon: lol happy new year William. All is forgiven.
@Vonvonic: I’ve turned over a new leaf…
Be more in their line to issue the tree felling licences in the first place – as is their job!!
I encountered guys with a track digger, tractor and dump trailer sawing up a mature oak tree last Monday morning. Beautiful mature oak easily a couple of hundred years old. Disgrace to see getting cut up, even if houses were getting built it could have easily been incorporated into the landscaping after.
Special branch should be able to get to the root of the problem.
Could care less about spruce being felled it is after all just a cash crop like barley or potatoes. The lack of felling licences are having a major knock on effect on timber supply in this country, similarly some amount of hardwoods need felling so as carpenters like me have access to beautiful native hardwood. Not clear felling whole swathes of old growth forest mind!
have your say