29 Mar 2024
Sunday 9 April 2017 - 12:08
Story Code : 256526

Shayrat residents say US missiles hit village



Press TV - Residents of Syrias Shayratvillage targeted in a recent US missile strike on a nearby airfield with the same namesay the aggression has killed civilians anddestroyed or severely damaged their homes.

Standing next to a missile crater and holding the shrapnel of the American missiles, villagerAssad al-Khodr recounted how rockets landed 40 meters from his houseduring the Shayrat Airbase's shelling,

The attack caused casualties amongthe civilians in Shayrat and nearby villages and damaged homes, he told French news agency AFP on Saturday.

"This shameless aggression, which was conducted by the Americans, which their terrorists - which are supported by them - were not able to do it for them in the area, caused the panic of children and civilians and huge damages in this village and the other surrounding villages, broken glass and shop facades," another resident said.

The resident, however, was pleased that the airfield which is a frontline combat center in Syria'sbattle against foreign-backed militants had resumed operation.

This is a huge challenge to America and their allies and we gave martyrs and will keep giving martyrs. We will never hesitate in giving more martyrs for our country, he pointed out.

US warships in the eastern Mediterranean launched a barrage of 59 Tomahawk missiles againstShayrat Airfield in Syrias Homs Province on Friday. Six Syrian soldiers and nine civilians were reported to have been killed in the assault.

The Russian Defense Ministry assessed the efficiency of the US strike asquite poor and said only 23 out of 59 Tomahawk missiles had reached their target while the points of impact of the remaining 36 missiles were unknown.

US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the strike and alleged that the airbase was the origin of Tuesday's suspected chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syrias Idlib Province.

Washington has failed to provide any proof that the Syrian government was behind the purported gas attack, with Damascus categorically denying the US accusation.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] This screen grab from a video made available by the Russian Defense Ministry's press service on April 8, 2017 shows a hangar at the Shayrat Airfield following a US missile attack. (Via AFP)[/caption]
The US attack came in the wake of the Syrian army advances against foreign-backed militants on different fronts and ahead of fresh push for peace talks, while President Bashar al-Assadis widely seen as holding the balance of power in the talks, as well as on the battlefield.

4th group of militants quit Homs

On the battle ground, a fourth group of militants and their families left the last militant bastion in the Syrian city of Homs on Saturday under a Russia-backed agreement reached recently with the government.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] This photo released by Syria's official SANA news agency shows militants and their family members leaving the al-Waer neighborhood in the Syrian city of Homs on April 1, 2017. (Via AP)[/caption]
Syria's official SANA news agency reported that at least 242 militants had left al-Waer along with their families.

HomsGovernor Talal al-Barazisaid as many as 400 militants and their relatives were expected to leave on the day,noting that the evacuations would continue until the end of the month.

The first and the second phases of the evacuation process took place in March while the third one happenedthis month. The evacuees were transported to militant-held areas in Syria.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that a total of 12,000 people, including 2,500 militants, will leaver al-Waer underthe deal struck between Syria's warring sides on March 13.

The agreement allows safe passage for the militants and their families from al-Waer and paves the way for Damascus to retake the state institutions there.

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