Member of the Syrian Coalition’s political committee Oqab Yahya said that the bombardment on the town of Salamiya in eastern rural Hama began just a few days after Iranian General Qasim Soleimani described residents of the town as being “more extremist than ISIS.”
Yahya pointed out that Soleimani’s remarks came at a time when Iran is seeking to expand its influence in the region, adding that the Iranian plans were met by total rejection by people of Salamiya.
The Assad regime and its media mouthpieces have blamed ISIS for the shelling on Salamiya, Yahya said. However, eyewitnesses in the area confirmed that the rockets that hit the town were all launched from areas under the control of regime forces and their allied Iranian militias.
The Assad regime and Iran are seeking to terrorize people of the town and forcing them to leave their homes just as they did in many areas across Syria, Yahya went on. He also said that Assad and Iran are seeking to extort money from Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims to which most residents of the town of Salamiya belong.
Yahya went on to say that people of Salamiya are determined to confront tyranny and dictatorship, adding that this needs more work and sacrifices. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
