Defense Minister: army ready to always defend homeland

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Armed Forces, Minister of Defense Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij extended salute to the army personnel and heroes who made the heroic achievements of October Liberation War of 1973 and are now defending Syria and expressed a greeting of glorification to the martyrs, stressing determination to hunt the armed terrorist groups until expelling them out of Syria.

Al-Freij’s remark  was made during an interview with the state-run TV on Sunday where he renewed pledge to continue defending the homeland’s pride and dignity.

“the October War, in which the Syrian and Egyptian armies altogether  with other Arab armies , achieved the greatest victory over Israel,”said al-Freij , affirming that  the national unity and the people’s support for the army and consolidated the values of martyrdom in achieving victory.

Gen. al-Freij recalls the spirit  of challenge , vigor and the values of strategic military planning for an open war to liberate the usurped lands and rights.underlying that the October War has unveiled that  “the invincible Israeli army” saying is far from reality.

“actually, the October war  has established martyrdom in society as a sublime value and help  the national decision.to be independent, “added al-Freij.

He made it clear  that the victory achieved in October War had its practical start with the Correctionist Movement of 1970 under the late President Hafez al-Assad who believed in the ability to overcome the impacts of the defeat in the six-day Naksa war of June 1967 by drawing the features of victory step by step.

“the late President insisted on not allowing the Israeli enemy to catch his breath and therefore there was the War of Attrition from 1967 till 1970 and then came the October War of 1973 which was crowned with the liberation of Qunaitra in Golan, “underlined al-Freij.

On the ongoing  war facing Syria for two a half years now, Gen. al-Freij stressed that this war is a form of revenge against the people, army and leadership in Syria for having refused to give up the rights and compromise dignity.

“ever since the beginning  of this war, Syria has been facing world terrorism on behalf of the world where the homeland’s defenders have given lessons in heroism and sacrifice while defending Syria as a free and sovereign state and its effective leading role regionally and internationally, “clarified al-Freij.

The Defense Minister stressed that people and army are fully supporting  the wise leadership in Syria has created the appropriate strategic environment to move from unipolarism to a multi-polar world.

“this shift is being materialized in light of Syria’s efforts  and the rest of the pillars of resistance and their supporters, foremost Russia and China, “concluded al-Freij.

R.S