Syrian military retakes airport road after fierce clashes, two Austrian peacekeepers wounded

Published time: November 29, 2012 16:25
Edited time: November 29, 2012 22:27
A view seen though a sniper's scope held for the photographer by a Free Syrian Army fighter shows a Syrian flag fluttering in an area controlled by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad near Aleppo's historical citadel November 28, 2012 (Reuters / Saad Al-Jabri)

Heavy clashes between Syrian rebels and government forces outside Damascus forced the closure of the main airport road. Two Austrian UN soldiers were injured and major airlines canceled flights to the city before government forces secured the area.

Syrian state media said the military had secured Damascus airport road on Thusday, just hours after rebel fighters reported being in a fierce standoff with security forces.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) earlier said that intense fighting was raging "along all the areas along the road" to the International airport, southeast of the city.

Two Austrian peacekeeping soldiers were wounded when their convoy came under fire near the airport, the defense ministry in Vienna said. One soldier was shot in the arm, the other in the shoulder. Neither soldier is in critical condition. A vehicle from their convoy was also seriously damaged in the melee.

Austria currently has 360 soldiers deployed with the UN peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 War.

Dubai-based Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Damascus on Thursday, in the face of what activists described as the most intense fighting in that area since the uprising began against President Bashar al-Assad 20-months ago.

“Emirates has suspended all flights to and from Damascus effective immediately and until further notice,” a company spokesperson said.

“Emirates apologizes for any inconvenience caused to its customers. However the safety of our passengers and crew is of the highest priority and will not be compromised,” he continued.

EgyptAir also canceled a scheduled flight to the Syrian capital on Friday.

The road to the airport, located some 17 miles from the heart of Damascus, cuts through the strategically important eastern Ghouta suburbs.

Eastern Ghouta has been the scene of regular government airstrikes attempting to uproot rebel bases in the region.

A Syrian security official told AFP the army is attempting to regain full control of the capital and establish a buffer zone with a radius of five miles around it.

The latest violence comes as Syria faced a nationwide Internet blackout on Thursday. Interrupted cell phone and landline service was also reported throughout the country.

Comments (38)

Ibarruri 01.12.2012 03:31

The agents of western intelligence agencies no doubt are sparing no effort to redirect comments here in favour of the bandits and their masters in Washington,London, Paris and the Arab kingdoms. But thanks to the perseverance of the conscious and revolutionary internationalists here the battle of ideas is being won in favour of Pro Syrian forces as is the ground battle in Syria.The filthy babble from the likes of Captain Obvious does not make any noble person happy, but it must not stop us from  educating the misinformed citizens of America,the enemy no. 1 of the Syrian people and all who cherish independence and freedom.


+1

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Captain Obvious (unregistered) 30.11.2012 13:09

nk wrote in #4
Russia is doing a wrong job again they will loose the partnership just like with Iran and Palestine..
Irani an scientists were killed (probably by West) but Iran didn't stopped it's plane.. Palestine won in the UN with Iranians help.. I know RT do 1 of the biggest job from Europe, but same story is happening with the Presstv attacks..
These "rebels" are working just like criminals they look around where isn't heavy protections from Assad and then
they start to occupy that area  and it's always just temporary..

T here will be a time when the world is going to look at Moscow as a European..
************ ******russia is a large country with sparse population between cities.  Totalitarian is well suited for such demographics.  However, modern communications can be harnessed to offset the lack of reporting bodies and the delay of forwarding commands.  Russia would be wise to use these technologies to adopt a softer goverment and join with Europeans.  The chinese are developing a strong merchant class.  The day will come when the merchants and then workers will seek to protect their status and expand their freedom.  In the aftermath china will either collapse or enter a next generation of economic growth.  If they grow then they will be hostile towards a sparsely populated and resource rich Russia.  Russia would be wise to begin plans now.

0

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nk 30.11.2012 11:26

Russia is doing a wrong job again they will loose the partnership just like with Iran and Palestine..
Irani an scientists were killed (probably by West) but Iran didn't stopped it's plane.. Palestine won in the UN with Iranians help.. I know RT do 1 of the biggest job from Europe, but same story is happening with the Presstv attacks..
These "rebels" are working just like criminals they look around where isn't heavy protections from Assad and then
they start to occupy that area  and it's always just temporary..

T here will be a time when the world is going to look at Moscow as a European..


0

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