Syrian forces discover US, Israeli-made munitions in militant redoubts

Syrian government forces have carried out a major clean-up operation in the country’s southwestern province of Rif Dimashq, discovering a considerable amount of US-built and Israeli-made munitions from terrorist hideouts.

An unnamed field commander told Syria’s official news agency SANA that Syrian soldiers launched the operation in the town of Yalda, which lies on the southern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on Saturday to clear the area of hidden explosive devices and ordnance left behind by the militants.

The commander added that the munitions included American BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles, Israeli-made M72 LAW anti-tank weapons, mortar launchers, various-caliber mortars, hand grenades as well as rocket-propelled grenades.

Separately, Syrian army units foiled an attack by Takfiri terrorists on a military post in the country's west-central province of Hama.

A Syrian military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Syrian troops engaged in a heavy exchange of gunfire with the extremists in al-Suqaylabiyah city, killing and injuring a number of them in the process.

Initial reports indicate that a number of Syrian soldiers lost their lives or sustained gunshot wounds during the clash.

‘Grave concerns’ over health of 65,000 refugees in al-Hol camp

Meanwhile, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that international humanitarian agencies had “grave concerns over the fragile health of residents” of al-Hol camp in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah.

Dujarric said that more than 3,000 people, mostly women and children, had reached the camp from Daesh-held areas in the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr the previous night, bringing the total population of al-Hol camp to more than 65,000.

“Urgent funding is needed to ramp up the response, especially in the areas of shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, health and protection services,” the UN spokesman said.

“There are grave concerns over the fragile health of the camp's residents, with nearly 100 people having died since early last December en route to the site (or) shortly after arrival or referral,” he pointed out.

Dujarric further noted that two-thirds of the people who had died were children under the age of five, with hypothermia, pneumonia, dehydration and complications from malnutrition being the main causes of death.

“At least 243 unaccompanied and separated children have been identified in the camp, of whom 41 have been reunited with their families,” he said.

“The UN and aid agencies are scaling up their efforts at the camp, providing round-the-clock emergency health and protection assistance,” Dujarric said. “All of the people arriving at the camp are receiving food, water, shelter, warm clothes or blankets.”

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk