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Syria-Lebanon-Iran | ||
US again releases satellite images of Syria | ||
2012-04-08 | ||
WASHINGTON: The United States released satellite images on Friday that it said showed Syria has artillery poised to hit residential areas and has moved some forces from one town to another despite calls for a withdrawal.
"This is not the reduction in offensive Syrian government security operations that all agree must be the first step for the Annan initiative to succeed," Ford, who left Damascus when the US embassy was closed in February, said on Facebook. "The regime and the Syrian people should know that we are watching. The regime cannot hide the truth," he added. Annan's plan, accepted by Assad two weeks ago, calls for Syria to "immediately cease troop movements toward, and end the use of heavy weapons in, population centers, and begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers." Annan has set April 10 as a deadline for the Syrian troop withdrawal and April 12 a cease-fire. On Thursday, Annan said he was told by Damascus that troop withdrawals were underway from Idlib, as well as Zabadani and Daraa. But UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday the conflict was worsening and attacks on civilian areas persisted. It is not easy for an untrained eye to see the details in the satellite images Ford posted on Friday on the Facebook page. A US official who asked not to be identified said the images were provided by a commercial satellite. The images were marked with arrows and tank symbols that Ford said indicated the presence of armored vehicles. Ford said the images showed the withdrawal of tanks from Dael in Daraa province as well as from Taftanaz, a village east of Idlib city in Idlib province. However, Ford said "the Syrian government simply moved some armored vehicles out of Taftanaz to the nearby town of Zirdana." Other images carried arrow markings and a caption that said the Syrian government had "kept artillery units near residential areas" such as in Homs and Zabadani "where they could again fire upon them." It was the second time Ford has posted satellite photos to try to show proof of Syria targeting residential neighborhoods. The earlier images were released on Feb. 10. | ||
Posted by:Steve White |
#2 As per FREEREPUBLIC + DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS, Assad = Syria is refusing to initiate any major troops withdrawals unless the Rebs formally agree to stop fighting. IIUC, SYRUH JUST GAVE THE US-NATO + UN "THE BIRD" [Finger]??? |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-04-08 21:20 |
#1 I thought Obi Wan annon was there to spread peace and gummy bears? Or was he just there to move his companies out? |
Posted by: newc 2012-04-08 00:21 |