Syria denies 'civil war' claims
The Syrian government has denied the country is in a state of civil war, saying it is facing “an armed conflict to uproot terrorism”.
The statement from Bashar Assad’s regime comes a day after the UN’s peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said the conflict had escalated into civil war.
The Syrian foreign ministry said his statements lacked objectivity and were inaccurate and “far from reality”.
The statement added that authorities in Syria are confronting armed groups engaged in “killings, kidnappings and other terrorist acts”.
Syrian authorities often refer to rebels fighting the regime in Syria as terrorists.
Meanwhile, Syrian state TV said regime forces have retaken control of a rebellious mountainous area following eight days of fierce shelling and clashes.
The report said authorities have managed to restore security and order to the region of Haffa and have “cleansed” it from the “armed terrorist groups”.
The rebels had pulled out of Haffa overnight after intense fighting there and in nearby villages in the coastal mountainous province of Latakia.
Haffa is one of several areas where government forces are battling rebels for control. It is particularly important because the town is about 20 miles from Mr Assad’s hometown of Kardaha in Latakia province.
Click to stay connected with
more stories like this:
more stories like this:
