Syrian tribes vow to help army fight foreign troops, separatists

Leaders of various Syrian tribes have held a gathering in the capital Damascus,  pledging to work with the army to expel foreign troops and return occupied territories to the state control.

Tribal leaders and elders categorically rejected Friday attempts by foreign forces and their Takfiri mercenaries to partition Syria, stressing that they will join forces with Syrian army troops to confront separatist plots.

They called on foreign occupation forces and their mercenaries to leave Syria, saying the Syrian nation suffers from harsh economic and social difficulties as a result of their presence and arbitrary measures.

Russia: US seeking ‘de facto partition’ of Syria through occupation

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov denounces the illegal US military presence in Syria, warning that Washington is actually seeking to disintegrate the Arab country.

The tribal leaders also called on the international community to ensure the withdrawal of foreign forces that are in Syria without permission or a UN mandate, and to work towards removal of unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria.

They also reaffirmed their loyalty to their homeland and President Bashar al-Assad.

The US military has stationed forces and equipment in eastern and northeastern Syria, with the Pentagon claiming that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of Daesh terrorists.

Damascus, however, says the unlawful deployment is meant to plunder the country’s resources.

Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces were in Syria for its oil.

Rocket attack targets military base housing US occupation forces in northeastern Syria

At least two rockets land in the vicinity of a military base, which hosts US occupation forces, in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah.

After failing to oust the Syrian government through proxies and direct involvement in the conflict, the US government has now stepped up its economic war on the Arab country.

Power outage in Damascus  

Syrian Minister of Energy Ghassan Zamil said Saturday an act of sabotage against a natural gas pipeline feeding the combined cycle Deir Ali power plant had resulted in a power outage across Damascus.

“The electricity in Damascus has been cut off over an act of sabotage that hit the gas pipeline near the Deir Ali town, resulting in the suspension of operation of the local power station,” Zamil told Syria’s official news agency SANA late on Friday.

The minister later added that electricity was being gradually restored in Damascus.

“Electricity has started to return to Damascus after the launch of al-Zara, Nasiriyah and Jandar power stations,” Zamil noted.

The Syrian energy minister, however, did not state who or what group may have been behind the attack on the gas pipeline.

SANA later published pictures showing the aftermath of the incident.

Meanwhile, official al-Ikhbariyah news agency reported that two transmission lines in Hauran region of southwestern Syria had also been targeted.

The report added that there was, however, no power outage as a result of the attack.

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

www.presstv.co.uk