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
TT

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.”



Israeli Airstrikes Kill at Least 31 in Lebanon

 Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli strikes, amid hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 25, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli strikes, amid hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 25, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Israeli Airstrikes Kill at Least 31 in Lebanon

 Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli strikes, amid hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 25, 2024. (Reuters)
Smoke billows over Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli strikes, amid hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, November 25, 2024. (Reuters)

Massive explosions lit up Lebanon’s skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites.

Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday.

The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities.

Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people.