Press Statement
Khalid Saleh
Syrian Coalition Media Office President
March 23, 2014
The Syrian Coalition commends the Free Syrian Army (FSA) on its latest advances in the province of Latakia, including the seizure of the last border crossing with Turkey in the Kassab area. Taking control of the town of Kassab and the strategic Observatory 45 will have great impact on military developments on the ground in the coming days and weeks. We should not forget that Observatory 45 has been used, until recently, by Assad’s forces to shell innocent civilians in the nearby Jabal al Turkmen.
The FSA has also gained ground in northern and central Aleppo, taking control of the Palace of Justice premises, al Leiramoon neighborhood, and Shweihna Mountain. Furthermore, last week in Daraa, FSA fighters managed to free detainees from the Gharaz Prison.
The Syrian Coalition pays tribute to all revolutionary forces bravely defending civilians and adhering to the guiding principles of the revolution. We also pay tribute to fighting brigades in al Hassakah province that are fighting the extremist group the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).
Once again, FSA fighters proved they have the determination and resilience needed to defend the Syrian people against the crimes of the Assad regime and extremist groups, and will eventually win the battle for freedom.