Syria: Daraa Residents Relieved by 5fth Legion’s Growing Role

Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
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Syria: Daraa Residents Relieved by 5fth Legion’s Growing Role

Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP
Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems standing at an airfield at the Hmeimim airbase, Syria, November 26, 2015. Russia Defense Ministry/AFP

A rise in the role of the Fifth Legion, supported by the Russian Hmeimim base, has been applauded by the people of Daraa in southern Syria, and many young people have shown great interest in joining its ranks.

On Tuesday, a videotape showed hundreds of elements joining the forces of the Legion in the citadel square in the city of Busra al-Sham, in the presence of many of Houran dignitaries, military leaders, officers and forces of the Russian Military Police.

People raised slogans that read, “Syria belongs to its people and not to anyone’s farm.” A military parade, formed of two combat groups, chanted against the Syrian regime and the Iranian presence in the country.

According to local sources, hundreds of elements have rushed to join the Fifth Legion since its announcement of the recruitment process.

The sources added that new rounds of recruitment will see around 15,000 more elements joining the legion’s ranks.

This came after an agreement between the leadership of the Fifth Legion in Daraa with the central committees, local figures and the leaders of the factions operating in coordination with Russia, with the aim to protect their areas within the Russian-backed Legion.

The invitation addressed to the residents of Daraa emphasized the need “to build the future of Syria, fulfill our promises to protect our youth and unify our efforts to serve our people in the southern region and Syria in general through one entity and one army.”



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.