October victory, luminous landmark in Syria’s history (2)

October victory in 1973 is considered a luminous landmark in the history of modern Syria. Immediately after the Correction Movement, the late great leader President Hafez al-Assad began the process of rebuilding the Syrian army to be ready to the battle of liberation against the Israeli forces of occupation. The late great leader Hafez Al Assad built Syria, modernized it and re-built its military in order to unleash a war of Liberation.

On October 6th, 1973, the Syrian and Egyptian armies achieved a landslide victory against the Israeli army. The victory inaugurated the dawn of a new era and created a promising turning point in the life of the Arab Nation. This sweeping victory had great consequences at the local and international levels.

At the local level, October war was the first Arab victory against Israel shattering the so-called myth of Israeli invincible army. It also restored self-confidence to the Syrian fighters who showed great heroic deeds in the battlefield.

At the international level, the victory convinced the whole world that Syria is fighting for a just and noble cause, namely the liberation of the occupied Arab territories. After October, the whole world recognised the legitimate Arab rights to liberate their occupied lands. Following the ceasefire declared by President Sadat on the Egyptian front, the late great leader was able to carry out the attrition war against the Zionists and liberate the city of Quneitra in 1974.  The Immortal President Hafez al-Assad raised the Syrian flag over the liberated city of Quneitra on June 26, 1974 as the first Arab territory liberated from the Israelis.

 The late great leader’s views, stances, strength and far-sightedness gained him a large number of supporters, not only in Syria but also in all Arab states. He was depicted as a national and pan-Arab hero because he remained the staunch defender of the just Arab causes. He said describing the heroic deeds of Syrian fighters in the battlefield: “You have fought glorious battles in the October War, and later in the Golan. In your great steadfastness, your heads have always been high in a way that all Arabs throughout the Arab Homeland, from the Ocean to the Gulf, took pride in you. You became an example to be followed after you have destroyed the enemy’s arrogance and taught him memorable lessons”.

Despite the fact that Syria realized the first victory against Israel in their history and remained steadfast in confrontation of the Zionist projects in the region, most Arab regimes remained the loyal servants of Zionism implementing the American-Israeli agenda in the Arab region. As cheap tools, some Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been exporting terrorists to Syria, training them and funding their atrocious crimes against Syrian people and their public and private properties.

Inspired by the sublime values and great meanings of October victory, Syrian people and army are determined to press ahead with their battle to uproot terrorism and restore security and stability to Syria.

K.Q.