No Hezbollah members captured in Syria

No Hezbollah members captured in Syria
Sun Jun 9, 2013 21:35:06

Hezbollah has dismissed reports that some of its members have been captured by foreign-backed militants in the governorate of Damascus.

The Lebanese resistance movement issued a statement on Saturday, saying that “not a single combatant” from the resistance movement had been taken prisoner in Syria.

"Hezbollah sternly warns against lies orchestrated by hostile Arab and foreign media and urges accuracy in disseminating news relevant to our party," the communiqué said.

The statement came in response to media reports claiming that militants of the so-called Free Syrian Army had captured a number of Hezbollah and Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade members in fierce clashes in the governorate of Damascus.

The Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, which was established in 2012 to protect the holy shrine of Hazrat Zeinab (AS) in Damascus, is fighting against the militants alongside Syrian government troops.

In late May, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said that members of the Lebanese resistance movement were ready to battle the anti-government militants alongside Syrian government forces in the strategic border town of al-Qusayr -- an important center and supply route for the foreign-sponsored militants.

According to reports, at least 1,500 militants of the notorious al-Nusra Front were killed during the operations to retake Qusayr.

The al-Nusra Front has been behind many of the deadly bombings targeting both civilians and government institutions across Syria since the outbreak of violence in March 2011.

On May 10, Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Ja’afari said the al-Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for carrying out at least 600 acts of terror in the past year. Ja’afari also slammed the group for attacking hospitals and schools, desecrating holy places, assassinating religious figures, and abducting UN personnel in Syria.

The West has been widely criticized for its double standard when it comes to dealing with terrorist groups.

Over two years of foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria has taken its toll on the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel.

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