PHOTO: President Assad with the members of the European delegation on Sunday

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Syria’s President Assad has make a public appeal for European support through a visit by a member of the European Parliament.

An official photo of Sunday’s meeting showed Assad with Javier Couso, the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and three women who were not identified.

In the summary from Syrian State news agency SANA, Assad repeated his warning that Europe will face “terrorism, extremism, and wave of refugees” if it does not supported his continued rule and defeat of Syrian rebels.

The situation in Syria and the whole region naturally affects Europe a lot due to its location and social ties. The problems Europe faces today of terrorism, extremism and waves of refugees are caused by some western leaders’ adoption of policies which do not serve their people.

This is especially true “when those leaders give support and political cover to terrorist groups inside Syria.

Assad also called for the removal of the EU’s economic sanctions on Syria, saying they were a cause of the departuare of almost 5 million Syrians — about 25% of the pre-war population — from teh country.

According to SANA and Russia’s RT, Couso said he will call for the lifting of the “unfair” sanctions and will “inform the Europeans on the real state of affairs in Syria and on how people suffer from terrorism”.

COUSO VISIT SYRIA 07-16

The European delegation with Syrian Speaker of Parliament Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas, right (AFP)

Claimed Video: Islamic State Challenges Regime Near Palmyra

The Russian outlet Novorossia TV posts claimed footage of Islamic State attacks on regime positions east of Palmyra in eastern Homs Province:

ISIS was pushed out of the Roman-era city of Palmyra in late March, but has maintained attacks in Homs Province since then, including fighting for control of oil and gas fields. Last weekend it claimed the downing of a Russian helicopter carrying out attacks against its fighters:

See Syria Daily, July 10: Islamic State Downs Russian Helicopter

There are unconfirmed claims that the Islamic State carried out raids in the eastern part of Palmyra today. ISIS outlets, including the Amaq news agency, have not made such asseertions.

Civilians & Journalist Killed, Rescuers Injured in Russian-Regime Airstrikes on Fuel Market in Idlib

Activists report that at least six civilians were killed and other civilians and civil defense volunteers injured by pro-Assad airstrikes in Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

Reports say Ibrahim Omar, a journalist for Al Jazeera, is among the dead.

Eight raids targeted tankers in a fuel market on the road linking the villages of Termanin in Idlib and Darat Izza in western Aleppo Province.

Reports are circulating of numerous casualties on Sunday from a regime or Russian airstrikes on Abyan town, 35 km (22 miles) west of Aleppo city. Warning — Graphic Images:

Rebels Activate Sleeper Cells in Aleppo Attacks

Local sources confirm that rebels have activated sleeper cells inside Aleppo city for attacks on regime forces.

Some reports say the rebels managed to infiltrate positions near the Aleppo Citadel, killing some troops in a hit-and-run attack.

The assault, which began with an underground bombing of a military headquarters (see below), appears designed to relieve pressure on the front near the al-Castello Road, north of Aleppo.

The Syrian military and allied foreign militia have closed to within 1.5 km (1 mile) of the road, establishing “fire control” to threaten any traffic (see below).

Claimed video of shelling of Aleppo City Hall, with calls to prayer from mosques amid the rebel attacks:

Reports: Rebel Underground Bomb Kills Dozens of Regime Troops in Aleppo City

The rebel Fatah Halab operations room says it has detonated a bomb under a Syrian military headquarters in Aleppo city, killing dozens of regime troops.

Pro-opposition accounts are speaking of the launch of an offensive by rebels within the city. Fighting is reported around the Aleppo Citadel and the Masharqa district (see map).

Video: Regime “Kill Zone” Over Last Road Into Opposition-Held Aleppo

A report by a pro-opposition journalist of the Syrian military’s “fire control” over the last road into opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo city, establishing a “kill zone” over rebels and civilians:

The Syrian military and allied foreign militia, enabled by Russian airstrikes, captured the al-Mallah Farms near the road last Thursday. An effort by the rebel bloc Jaish al-Fatah failed to take hills near the road on Saturday, with fighters withdrawing because of heavy artillery fire.