25 PEOPLE KILLED IN EXPLOSIONS IN SYRIA’S IDLIB, HOMS

Damascus, 27 Rabiul Akhir 1435 / 27 February 2014 (MINA) At least 25 people have been killed in a couple of explosions in Syria, local media report, as the conflict in the Arab country is about to enter its third year.

The explosions rocked the country on Thursday, with the deadliest incident taking place in Idlib Province, killing at least 20 people, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The bomb detonated next to the headquarters of foreign-backed militants. It was not immediately clear whether those killed were militants or civilians.

The other blast took place in the central city of Homs, where a mortar shell left five people dead and a dozen others injured.

The mortar round hit a car near a hospital in the Akrama neighborhood, which is predominantly home to members of Alawite sect.

Syrian authorities blame attacks against ordinary people on militants, particularly al-Qaeda-linked groups.

On Wednesday, the Syrian state television said Syrian army forces killed at least 175 foreign-backed al-Qaeda-linked militants near the capital, Damascus, in their latest mop-up operation.

The ambush near Otaybeh village in the eastern Ghouta region, claimed the lives of mostly Saudi, Qatari and Chechen militants, it added.

Syria has been the scene of deadly violence since 2011. Over 130,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the unrest.

The Western powers and their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — have been supporting the militants operating inside Syria, according to reports.

‘Israel to continue backing Syria rebels’

Israel has reportedly conveyed a message to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah through European intermediaries, vowing continued military backing of Syria militants if Hezbollah gains control over Syria-Lebanon border.

In the message, Tel Aviv reportedly expressed its intention to continue engaging in a military interference in support of the armed militants in Syria if Hezbollah controlled border points between the two countries.

According to the report, the Israeli officials said they will not submit to what they referred to as ‘changing the strategic balance in the region’ particularly if Hezbollah establishes control over the border region, which has been increasingly used by foreign-backed militants in Syria to transport military supplies and forces back and forth.

Israeli authorities claimed that if Hezbollah gains control of the border region, it may be able to receive “game-changing weapons.”

The Israeli regime, the report adds, have also admitted that targeting Hezbollah weaponry batches has not prevented the movement from possessing strategic weapons, including the anti-ships missile Yachont.

The development comes as the Syrian army continues to make major advances against the militants in the border region.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. Over 130,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the unrest. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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