LATEST: Picture of Day — Freed Journalist Espinosa Greeted by Son
SUNDAY FEATURE
The leader of the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (pictured), said on Saturday night that he sent his fighters to Syria because Syrian insurgents would “eliminate everyone in Lebanon” if they won.
“The problem in Lebanon is not that Hezbollah went to Syria, but that we were late in doing so,” he told supporters via a TV link from a secret location in southern Lebanon. “This resistance will remain solid, with its head hung high, protecting its people and its nation.”
The Hezbollah leader claimed, “If takfiris achieve victory in Syria, we would all be eliminated in Lebanon, not just the resistance.”
He linked the Syrian conflict to the fight with Israel: “(This is) a big challenge named the Zionist scheme, and the challenge still exists, some are trying to ignore it or consider it non-existent. This is a great sin.”
Nasrallah declared:
I want to announce today from this liberated area that the resistance today, as it was in July, is stronger and more capable at all levels. Israelis know very well that the resistance is not only strong, but stronger and more capable on the human, financial, and military levels. It is more ready for victory.
Nasrallah said he first sent “tens of Hezbollah” fighters to Syria to protect the Sayyeda Zaynab shrine in southern Damascus and “avoid larger sectarian strife”.
Picture of Day: Freed Journalist Espinosa Greeted by Son
Spanish journalist Javier Espinosa, freed this weekend after six months of abduction by the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham, is greeted by his son:
Saudi Line: Obama Promises “Dramatic” Increase in Support to Insurgents
Saudi officials are putting out the line that President Obama, in his meeting with King Abdullah, promised to “dramatically expand America’s covert programme to assist the Free Syrian Army”.
The sources told Gulf News that the outcome of the “frank” two-hour meeting will be “accelerated military transfers from Saudi stocks blocked in Jordan for several months”; however, they did not say if these included MANPADS, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles.
The officials continued:
President Obama assured King Abdullah that he was a realist at heart, even if the conundrum he faced was palpable in more ways than one.
The two men disagreed on Egypt and a few other issues, though no one expected a full and complete meeting of the minds.
Nevertheless, by engaging senior Al Saud ruling family members, Obama gained fresh insight into Saudi motivations, especially their determination to stand firm on core concerns.
For its part, Riyadh continues to perceive Washington as a solid ally, though it remains to be determined whether Obama professed any reciprocity.
They concluded that the King “stressed his desire to see Washington rise to the occasion”.
Al-Arab News also puts out the Saudi line.
Video: Besieged Residents in Homs Catching and Eating Locusts
Video: Foreign Fighters Learn Arabic Near Aleppo
Men from a jamaat (unit) of mainly North Caucasian foreign fighters learns Arabic in a makeshift classroom near Aleppo:
The jamaat was led by Sayfullakh Shishani, who was killed in February’s assault on the Aleppo Central Prison. His successor, Mohammed Khorasani, was slain earlier this month.
See From Ruslan The Family Man To Sayfullakh the Shahid – Chechen Jihadist’s Story In Pictures
(h/t Joanna Paraszczuk)
2 Kidnapped Spanish Journalists Released After 6 Months
Two Spanish journalists who were kidnapped last September by the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham have been released.
The Middle East correspondent of El Mundo, Javier Espinosa, and photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova were handed over to Turkish soldiers.
The men were seized last autumn as they were leaving Syria at the end of a two-week mission. Four members of the Free Syrian Army protecting them were captured but later released.
Vilanova (left) and Espinosa — Photo: Joan Borras/El Mundo:
Video: Aftermath of Saturday Airstrike on Tafas in Daraa Province
Shaam News Network says at least nine people were killed.
