SANA organizes photo exhibition on Army Day

DAMASCUS – Activities of SANA organized photo exhibition under the title of “Salute to Home Defenders”, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary for establishing the Syrian Arab Army, kicked off Saturday at al-Assad national library in Damascus.

The Exhibition was inaugurated by Minister of Information Omran al-Zoubi in the presence of SANA director General Ahmad Dawa and Head of Journalists’ Union Elias Murad, SANA reported.

 Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said in a statement during the opening of the exhibition that the Army Day is a day for all the Syrian people; civilians and military personnel.

He added that this event comes at a time when the army and armed forces are accomplishing remarkable victories and making great sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

Al-Zoubi extended heartfelt congratulations to the Syrian soldiers and the heroes of the National Defense groups and popular committees, hoping that war would come to an end soon and the army would do its fundamental role in building the country.

The minister referred to a worldwide drive calling on governments and organizations for regional and international coordination to confront terrorism which requires a change in some countries’ policies and crucial decisions by some governments that have begun to sense the threat of terrorism.

Asked about media reports about a terrorist group whom Washington dubs “moderate opposition” entering Syria, al-Zoubi said they are a bunch of saboteurs that the US intelligence had trained to wreak havoc in Syria which, he added, is no different from Jabhat al-Nusra in nature.

Al-Zoubi pointed to rampant infighting among terrorist groups in the areas they control which he said is “predictable since it is a battle for gains between thieves, criminals and gangs.”

Commenting on the US-led coalition against terrorism, al-Zoubi said that so far the coalition is not carrying out the mission assigned to it but is being clearly selective in its targets which casts serious doubts on its effectiveness.

 “The exhibition comes in the framework of unity between national media and the Syrian Arab army in their war against terrorism,” SANA Director General said.

Dawa added that the Syrian army has dropped the most dangerous hostile scheme after Sykes-Picot, fighting a coalition of around 100 countries and terrorists coming from as many as 90 countries.

Later, a 15-minute documentary produced by SANA was screened which starts with a speech by late President Hafez al-Assad saluting the Syrian army during one of the military events, featuring snapshots from President Bashar al-Assad’s previous field visits to military sites.

The film also featured snapshots from the army’s battles against terrorists across the country.

During the celebration, 50 wounded soldiers and officers were honored.

Then the Information Minister and SANA Director-General toured the exhibition which sums up in more than 100 photos years of hard work and immense efforts by photographers who had been to the battlefield with the Syrian army.

The photos also capture remarkable emotion-laden moments when Syrian army members rushed to rescue citizens from terrorist acts.

The exhibition, which lasts till August 6th, is part of the national media’s role in delivering the correct image of what is going on in the country.