Iran: We're in "axis of resistance" with Syria
Syrian President Bashar Assad meets with senior Iranian envoy Saeed Jalili in Damascus, Syria, Aug. 7, 2012, in this photo released by the Syrian state-run news agency SANA. / AP Photo/SANA
(CBS/AP) KILIS, Turkey - A senior Iranian envoy referred to the relationship between his country and Syria as an "axis of resistance" that Iran would not allow to be broken as Syrian President Bashar Assad vowed to fight on against rebels.
The envoy, Saeed Jalili, met with Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, according to the Syrian state-run news agency, SANA. State TV showed a picture of Assad sitting across from Jalili at the presidential palace -- the president's second appearance on TV since a July 18 bombing in Damascus killed four of his top security officials, including his brother-in-law.
Assad has not spoken publicly since, and his low profile has raised speculation that he fears for his personal safety as the civil war escalates.
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SANA quoted Assad as saying Tuesday that the Syrian people and government are "intent on cleansing the country from terrorists and combating terrorism without leniency."
The news agency said Assad and Jalili discussed their two countries' "strategic cooperation relationship" and "attempts by some Western countries and their allies to strike at the axis of resistance by targeting Syria and supporting terrorism there."
SANA also quoted Jalili telling Assad: "Iran will absolutely not allow the axis of resistance, of which it considers Syria to be a main pillar, to be broken."
Meanwhile, more than 1,300 Syrians fled to Turkey overnight to escape the civil war as rebels tried to expand their hold inside Syria's largest city despite two weeks of withering counterattacks by Assad's troops.
The fighting has entered a new phase, CBS News correspondent Holly Williams reports. In a new video, men crouching against a wall are about to be killed by an angry mob. Syrian opposition groups said the men who died were members of a family with links to the Assad regime.(Watch at left)
The killers were rebels fighting in an increasingly chaotic conflict.
Human rights groups -- as well as the rebels' own leadership -- condemned the deaths as summary executions.
However, in a sprawling refugee camp on the Syria-Turkey border, Syrian refugees defended the killings. Many of the men there are rebel fighters.
"If we had a state, we could have taken those men to court," said Mohammad Hajhasan through a translator. "But we're in the middle of a revolution, and they were war criminals."
Heavily armed government troops have been steadily shelling rebel-controlled parts of Aleppo, particularly Salaheddine and other districts on the southwestern edge of the strategic city.
Aleppo-based activists said clashes were going on Tuesday near the historic city center. That suggests the rebels were making some inroads in Aleppo, which lies some 25 miles from the Turkish border.
Intense government bombardment of the Syrian town of Tal Rafaat closer to the border sent scores of people spilling into Turkey for safety, according to the activists.
A Turkish government official said 1,328 Syrian refugees had crossed the border by midmorning -- nearly double the number of refugees who reached Turkey on Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.
Close to 48,000 Syrians have now found refuge in Turkey, which has served as a staging ground for rebels fighting Assad's regime.
"We are expecting a massacre in Aleppo. The regime is bringing reinforcements to the city because they believe that if Aleppo falls, the regime will fall," said a Syrian refugee in Turkey who identified himself as Abu Ahmad.
"The city is being bombed from the air and ground," he said, adding he was in daily contact with residents still in the city.
The rebels appeared also to be bringing in reinforcements.
A video posted online by activists Tuesday showed a large group of Free Syrian Army rebels in military fatigues and carrying rocket-propelled grenades and automatic rifles. The fighters were seen announcing that they were joining the "Unification Brigade," the main group of rebels in Aleppo, to assist in the "liberation" of the city.
"They have Satan on their side, we have God on ours," one rebel shouts. "We are coming, Aleppo," shouts another. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
Despite a ferocious crackdown, rebels in Syria have grown more confident and are using increasingly bolder tactics both in Aleppo and in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
In a brazen, daylight attack, rebels on Saturday abducted a group of 48 Iranians near Damascus, branding them as spies assisting in Assad's crackdown.
Iran said those captured when their bus was commandeered were pilgrims visiting a Shiite shrine on the outskirts of Damascus. On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said it holds the U.S. responsible for the fate of the abducted Iranians.
Iran's state IRNA news agency said the ministry summoned the Swiss envoy in Tehran late Monday to stress that Iran expects Washington to use its influence to secure the Iranians' release. The Swiss look after U.S. interests in Iran since Tehran and Washington have no diplomatic relations.
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A blatant attempt by the whacked-out Iranian regime to try and turn the tables with doublespeak, i.e., calling the rebels "terrorists".
And from the article, "On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry said it holds the U.S. responsible for the fate of the abducted Iranians."
Hmm. And who was responsible for the illegal and savage taking of over 400 American hostages at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, back in 1979? The "students"?
The Iranian regime has been spoiling for a fight with us since they took power in the late 1970's. I'm an Independent, not a petty partisan, nor am I normally a warmonger hawk. But in this case, I've about had it up to "here" (the neck), with Iran's provocations.
If it's a fight you want, you theological radicals, then I'm sure the United States still has it in her to kick your butts back to the Stone Age!
What religious belief stemming from ancient Dark-Aged minds has evolved into, assures us of hastening our end-of-world scenario.
In the meantime, Butcher Assad has taken on his father's (Hafez's) role of fascistic and murderous rule of the Syrian People, with full support of the Iranian Religiofascist regime.
The Apocalyptic-minded Iranian regime that supports Butcher Assad, must not be permitted to continue with either its military buildup or its Nuclear Program.
The longer the Western World waits to eliminate Iran's Nuclear Program, the more it will cost, and the deadlier the outcome!
Resistance is futile, Persia will be assimilated with the Arab world.
And not every Arab will shed tears should the Iran regime go down with Assad.
Maybe we can get two nasty birds with the same stone.
Just like your views on which religion is most correct. The one with views you agree with is the correct one, the one with views you don't agree with is 'misguided, wrong, fanatical'.