Terrorist Attacks on Damascus, other Syrian Areas Aim to Impede Geneva Talks, Undermine Astana Process

DAMASCUS, (ST)-The goal of the terrorist attacks that have been launched by the terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and its allied groups against Damascus and other Syrian areas is to influence the current intra-Syrian talks in Geneva and undermine Astana process and its results, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said on Thursday.

 In two identical letters to the UN Chief and President of the Security Council, the ministry stressed that available information indicate the involvement of the Turkish, Saudi and Qatari intelligence bodies in these terrorist events, pointing out that all have become aware that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have sent millions of dollars to the terrorist groups to carry out terrorist attacks in Syria.

 Over the past days, Damascus has been the target of coward attacks launched by terrorist groups led by Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization from the neighboring districts of Jobar and Qaboun, the ministry said, clarifying that the terrorists have used car bombs, random shells, rocket fire and explosive bullets in their attacks on safe residential areas, killing and wounding tens of Damascus residents including women and children and elderly.

The terrorist groups’ attacks, the ministry went on to say, have led to cutting off some vital roads and have targeted some embassies, hospitals, schools and key civil centers in Damascus.

The ministry pointed out that the Syrian province of Hama has also witnessed terrorist attacks carried out by groups allied to Jabhat al-Nusra, noting that these groups are among the ones which signed the cessation of hostilities agreement and participated in Astana and Geneva meetings on Syria.

Information affirm that 60% of the shells that target Damascus and Daraa cities are launched from areas controlled by the so-called “Jaish al-Islam” and the groups that took part in Astana meetings, according to the ministry’s letters.

The recent events in Damascus and other Syrian areas assert that orders have been given to the terrorist organizations by their masters to open fight fronts all over the Syrian Arab Republic in a flagrant violation of the cessation of hostilities which was agreed on in Astana meetings, supported by Geneva meeting and welcomed by the Security Council, said the ministry.

It added that Syria urges the Security Council to assume its role in fighting terrorism and putting an end to the criminal acts perpetrated by the terrorist groups in Damascus and the rest of the Syrian cities.

Concluding its letters, the ministry said “starting from its commitment to the fight against terrorism, Syria will press ahead with combating this plague wherever its exists in the country. And, starting from its belief in political solution to the crisis, Syria is taking part today in Geneva talks despite all attempts by the terrorist groups and their supporters and financiers to block and undermine this process and it is keen on making the Intra-Syrian dialogue a success.”  

Hamda Mustafa