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Joseph Eid / AFP - Getty Images
A picture shows destruction in the Bayyada district of the flashpoint Syrian city of Homs on Saturday.
Heavy fighting between rebels and government troops erupted in the capital of an oil producing province in eastern Syria, residents and activists said on Sunday, the latest escalation of violence in a tribal area bordering Iraq.
Rebels armed with rocket-propelled grenades attacked tank positions in the eastern sector of the city of Deir al-Zor on the Euphrates river into the early hours of Sunday, in response to an army offensive against several towns and villages in the province that have killed tens of people in recent days, they said.
"The fighting subsided early in the morning. We do not have a death toll because no one is daring to go into the streets," said Ghaith Abdelsalam, an opposition activist who lives near Ghassan Abboud roundabout. At least five army tanks had been deployed on each street leading to the roundabout, a flashpoint for the fighting, he added.
On Saturday, explosion killed several people in Aleppo and two blasts hit a Damascus highway on Saturday in further signs that rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad are shifting tactics towards homemade explosives.
ITV's Bill Neely reports from both sides of the frontlines in Syria. Each side accuses the other of the same crimes and neither is willing to stop fighting.
Syria's state news agency said three people had been killed, one of them a child, and 21 wounded by a booby-trapped car in the northern city of Aleppo.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Humans Rights, which monitors the 14-month-old revolt against Assad, said the blast killed five and wrecked a car wash in Tal al-Zarazeer, one of the poorest suburbs of Syria's commercial hub.
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Cease fire? WHAT 'cease fire'???
Now I wonder where the Rebels would get RPG's?? The only way the fighting will stop is if the Rebels (Activist) who started this Civil War and are are supported by terrorist groups from Iran and Hamas, surrender.
Iran supports the Syrian government, not the rebels.
It is America and it's Wahabi/Salafi friends supporting these terrorist. After Syria these jihadist will be gunning for America.
whack a dic-ta-tor:Syria, by andhickapps.com. these guys had it right all along. uncanny how msn starts the story with an oil reference, just letting us know, although we don't get oil from Syria, be sure the watch the price of a barrel rise on the stock market. god bless the greed of speculators.
for any who care, andhickapps has a write your congress app for android phones. i love it. although one voice in a sea of many is rarely heard, you can still give them a "what for" or a pat on the back depending on your understanding of what congress can do to/for you.
Iraqi war dramas are being repeated on Syria and Iran.
Net results of Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, oil companies and their lobbyists directed 1991 and 2003 Iraqi wars are
WINNERS
1. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other rich ME sharks became richer by manipulating oil prices too high.
2. Oil companies and their lobbyists. Oil prices, which were hardly $30 a barrel before 1991, shot up to $140 a barrel.
3. Since 2003, future traders, rating agencies, Wall Street and oil companies and their lobbyists transferred five trillion dollars from oil importing countries to oil exporting nations.
4. Rich Sunni ME sharks (Saudi Arabia in particular) funded Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques and Islamic radicals and terrorists all over the world. These Sunni Islamic radicals and terrorists are rampaging all over the world. World’s 80 percent of problems are due to them.
LOSERS
Economic mess in the US, Britain, France, PIIGS and other nations.
Now with new Iran and Syria oil prices will jump to $200.00.
what big brother the un told them to stop and they did not listen slap their hands and put them to bed without cookies and milk the un is a joke and other world powers russia and china dont lift a finger to help with most situations like iran n korea syria libya etc
Russia did do what benefited Russia. Russia has a naval base in Syria and is a friend of the Syrian regime. The West is backing the rebels because their victory will put Syria under Western sphere of influence and kick Russia out. Both sides commit atrocities. And both West and Russia don't give a rats ass about the dying civilians. It's a power game.
Russia does back Iran for a very good reason. Strong Iran is a guarantee of security for Russia's southern border. Israel sees Iran as a threat and will do anything to demonize Iran. Why? Because Israel wants to stay the only nuclear power in the region so that she can continue to bully her neighbors without any repercussions. Iran with a Bomb will mean that Israel would have to behave. And that spoiled kid does not like to behave. And the spoiled kid likes U.S. to fight wars for him. Thus Israel wants to destroy Iran. That would destabilize the entire region and create problems for Russia. It is easy for Americans to say: "How come Russia supports Iran?" because Americans don't have a border with Iran.
Iran's WMDs are a pure hoax like Saddam's WMDs.
Iran with US arms could not win against Saddam's Iraq despite decade of war.
It is all Sunni Saudi Islamic religious Nazis' games to dominate Muslim world and they are using oil companies, lobbyists, Netanyahu's to force the US and NATO forces to do the dirty jobs as in Iraq.
In this process, Saudis and co enrich themselves.
And the beat goes on in murderous disharmony. Other countries are helping of course--well, at least the gun runners and dealers are feeding the beat.
@user name
Are you off your meds? I cant find a coherent thought in your post.
That aside I am happy that we are staying out of this fight. It's clear that no matter who eventually wins the US will not gain anything. If the current jerk stays in power then nothing changes. If the other side wins then it will be yet another brick in the hoped for caliphate of the angry cave dwellers. On a positive side the longer this goes on the more of those angry cave dwellers die without us spending a dime.
BAX they are not cave dwellers. And they are angry because your country is robbing their countries. Stop robbing them and you will see their anger disappear. But no, U.S. wants a slice of someone else's pie. No wait, U.S. wants the entire pie... No wander they are mad at you.
Bax, ever wonder why these Muslims don't hate Japan or Brazil? Because Japan and Brazil don't bomb their countries based on false reasons and don't steal their resources. Result: No jihads declared on Japan or Brazil. US invaded their lands to steal their oil - result: a jihad to deal with.
@Musafir
Funny Syria doesnt produce anything that we want. So why are they mad?? The truth is they are cave dwellers that know nothing other than hatred for anyone who doesnt worship the way they do. The bigger problem over there is they have a mixture of religous beliefs and the cave dwellers cant stand that its not a fully muslim state, there fore you have jihad. If you read all the letters from BinDeadBoy you can answer your own question about Japan and Brazil. They have targeted the US because it is seen as the one power protecting all those other countries and even BinEatenByWorms recognized that they cant compete unless they try and take the US down first. And yes muslims hate all people who arent muslims. It is their mandate per the quran.
@@Musafir, All Muslims aren't radical terrorists just as all Christians, even on the rabid right (our cave dwellers), aren't terrorists. If the rabid Christian right were to follow the draconian "laws of the Bible," this nation would look very much like the war-torn Muslim countries, and the Christians would be killing almost everyone who doesn't think like them.
And, BTW, if this nation wanted to send all of Islam a powerful message upon the initiation of the "ground zero mosque" controversy, we would have invited them to build that mosque . . . on ground Zero.
What a beautiful, peace-loving move that would have been, and it would have lined up the world behind us, not to mention put a dagger into the heart of radical Muslim recruitment. But, no, we have to keep on torturing them and killing their innocent women and children, just like they did to us. Thus, their recruitment line is endless so long as our wars are endless. Personally, I don't want to be a mirror image of them.
Bax there is that funny thing that Muslims do. When one of their countries is attacked all of them are attacked. You attack Iraq for oil reasons a jihad is declared on you, and you will see volunteers from Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Syria and all over Muslim world joining a fight against you. Religious Muslims see themselves as part of the Ummah - worldwide Islamic nation without political borders. And when any part of the Ummah is attacked by non-Muslims you will see religious zealots from all over the world flocking to that place to fight the invader. So they are not mad because they are cave dwellers. They are mad because you attack their brothers. It is hard for you as a Westerner to understand because people of Western nations do not have such unity. And if you are not attacking their countries, you finance and support the most hideous and evil dictatorships in the Middle East, that kill and torture their citizens. And your declaration about Japan and Brazil not being attacked because U.S. is protecting them is wrong. They have no reason to attack these countries because these countries don't attack them. And your statement that Muslims hate everyone who does not follow their religion is wrong too. Here is what Qur'an has to say about it: "God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers." And if Muslims want to they have a full right to have an Islamic state. It is their country and it is not your job to police them. If you think it is your right you will have endless wars in the Middle East. And before you say that Islamic state is a threat to its neighbors - it is not. Iran is an Islamic republic. Has not attacked anyone since the Islamic revolution. Saddam's Iraq was secular and attacked Iran (with U.S. backing). Israel is secular. Attacked a whole bunch of neighbors, illegally occupies territories, wants Iran destroyed because Iran is supposedly a threat. A nation that has not attacked anyone in over 150 years is called a threat by an occupying country that attacked all of her neighbors within the past 50 years. Your wars in the Middle East breed extremists. Our right wing nutjobs attacking their countries and killing their women and children produce more of their right wing nutjobs who join terrorist groups and make the world less safe. Leave them alone.
mustafir, ... You are a total nut-cased, Fruit Loop, for shore! Yes you certainly are. Spewing Islaaahmikk & Kook-a-Raaaahnn bullshytt all over the place, but EVERY-ONE knows that it is bullshyttt too & it smells >>> really bad uno. Lies, lies & sum mo lies n' TALLLLL-TALES.
denko95 prove that the Qur'anic quote I provided is a lie. All you haters of Islam can do is spread lies about Islamic teaching. I dare you to prove that the quote I gave you is a lie.
Syrian rebels are supported by Saudi promoted al-Qaida, Muslim brotherhood and other Sunni extemist organizations.
In most of the non-Muslim nations, the Sunni Islamic radicals and terrorists are creating havocs all over. They are promoted by the Saudi and co funds and Paki foot soldiers.
For them US, West and Israel are enemy No. 1.
On Iran, Iraqi wars' dramas are being repeated.
Let the Shiites and Sunnis battle among themselves.
We need not jump in between them.
No wars for a decade and let us fix our economies.
Jonothan-198-- The Syrian Government agreed to the cease fire and bringing observers in , that means to me they do not have anything to hide , or they will tell these no good UN to stay out of their countries like they should , But the NATO the Al Qaeda loving Saudis and Qataris want no part of that peace , they are arming the rebels and sending the left over Al Qaeda fighters from Libya and Iraq's war to fight in Syria , and they are taking advantage of the Assad cease fire to send more arms , they confiscated a ship with 150 tons of weapons coming to Lebanon, and strangely the ship passed the Israeli's blockade and the UN ships that suppose to keep arm smuggling from entering Lebanon, The UN is nothing but a tool for NATO and all these rich oil countries to get their way and destroy every country that stand in their way , and sadly to say that the US get involve so to take care of these dumb countries and off course our peace loving partner Israel, Its a bigger scheme than anybody can imagine.
my trun: I agree.
But there are limits even to nonsense.
By doing dirty jobs for Saudis & co, Israel and lobbyists, US and NATO forces options are getting limited.
Look at Iraq end and Afghan war. Mostly NATO forces are losing badly.
Economy is getting messier and worse.
SNC (Syrian National Council) the outside Syria expats is a front for Muslim Brotherhood- backed by Turkey. Read today's International Herald Tribune and there is the real deal- previously Scandinavian news with their reporters on the ground,being briefed by UN observers get the clear pictured what is going on. Now the Eastern offense by rebels forces (AQ). Libyan rebel vets are the fighters- MB is sitting ,financing,choosing sites to attack and financing the rebels- when the dust settles- they'll seize the reins. Ask Obama adm. why the Blackhawks (Sikorski)will be built in Turkey? and Turkey getting 100 big ones and selling 500 to Third World countries/ (Read Hurriyet Daily News). Turkey's banks will abide by Sharia Laws.
We should sell the rebels lots of weapons. All the guns they want.
Ya Professoe Morbius-- You are either an Al Qaeda or a Jew , which one ?
Tanks are death traps when the opposition has RPGs.....Im sure that this is becoming obvious to the bully boys who are used to picking on unarmed civilians, women and children.
Stay friendly with the two-faced Russkies, Assad....and hope they wont shut their embassy gates when you try to get in...
Look out "my turn 5304605", the Bilderburgers are watching you....
Curious Bob I am too old to worry , when you speak the truth , it hurts , I guess
The only thing for certain is that which ever side wins they'll hate us. Any where they're fighting each other they're too busy to try and kill others.
Musafirs quote: "Bax, ever wonder why these Muslims don't hate Japan or Brazil? Because Japan and Brazil don't bomb their countries based on false reasons and don't steal their resources"
In neither Iraq or Afganistan did the U.S. steal anything the governments sold their oil including that sold to us. What we spent fighting the wars, probably 10 trillion to date exeeds the value of all the oil Iraq will ever produce. Afganistan sucks up 100's of billions and only has resources in your imagination.
As for muslim hate, muslims only hate countries they have a moderate presence. Japan doesn't allow your brethren to imigrate there and so few live in brazil it's immaterial. If muslim hate is only directed at countries that've invaded them why are their so many attacks & bombings in countries like, sudan, yemen, east timor, khazakstan, philipines, thailand, laos and on and on and on.
MANY come to me and ask why after all the other regimes have been falling, does syria continue to stand. They flaunt their egregious behavior in the worlds faces...well, I have the 100% ACCURATE answer...it's NOT yet God's Time, BUT it will happen SOON....
An Oracle Concerning Damascus:
"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.
(Isaiah 17:1-2)
Guys, guys , guys., c'mon. Y'all have so many theories about the business of this war, who wins, who losses, who will be threatened by the outcome, ect.....You talk about this first and foremost. Yes, there is at least a grain of truth to all of it. Some of it is even spot on. That being said, you ever think 20 million people are just tired of being oppressed by an @!$%# dictator, who is the son of the previous @!$%# dictator? That after 40 years of this crap they are willing to die so future generations don't have to live this kind of life?
jerryK1 .. Sorry buddy , But that's not what happening here, NATO,TURKEY,SAUDIS,QATARIS and off course with the help of the US , decided that Assad does not serve their plans, so he has to go , Just like Qaddafi,Saddam,and some other countries that NATO and US feels that it not in their plan , and The our loving Saudis and Qataris the financier of Al Qaeda feels THREATENS by Assad , so they sent all the left over fighters from Libya's and Iraq's war to Syria and armed them to the teeth , and starting trouble and killing civilians and running Christians out their homes , so they can install a Wahhabi Muslim gov. loyal to them and to make peace with Israel , So this notion about democracy crap is a meths.