美国有线新闻 CNN 2016-2-17（在线收听） |
Tensions outside Syria are reflecting the ones inside the middle east country.In this civil war, the president is fighting the hold on the power. There is rebel group who are fighting to take it from him and terrorists like the ISIS group fighting to establish their own country there. But other nations are involved,too.Russia is one of them.It supports the president's government by launching airstrikes targetting its enemies while the US supports some of the rebels fighting the government. US is also targetting ISIS. An international meeting of seventeen countries kicked off in Germany yesterday. The goal, to achieve ceasefire in Syria. Except for the fighters themselves,some parts of the country are nothing but dust and rubble. Years of combat has laid waste to old town. Assade's forces have made major gains in Elaple areas in recent weeks, but for years this battle field was in a stalemate, the frontline right around Elaple's ancient citadel. As Syrian and Russia war planes hover overhead,the commander knows who to thank for the new found momentum.
" It's only a matter of months until we win," he says," Thanks to the Russian support with their airstrikes flown from their Syrian airfield we will defeat the rebels once and for all.
Elaple is Syria's largest and one of its most historic towns. Tourists from the world used to flock to the old town before it was engulfed by the Syrian brutal civil war. The old town is a UNESCO world heritage site. Some of the buildings are hundreds of thousands of years old and now as you can see most of them completely destroyed and burned out.
But now Assade's troops believe they are on the verge of a decisive victory.The commander warns the US not to interfere."We ar steadfast," he says," You can not defeat Syrian army because we are determined to win and we are loyal to President Assade." Amid this divided and destroyed city,Syrian government forces believe they are dealing a crushing blow to the opposition, one that could end this five-year civil war that destroyed so much more than just landscape.
There are still hundreds of thousands of refugees in Elaple. And international officials are concerned if Syrian forces besieged the rebel-hold areas,the food supply could be cut off. In parts of Elaple that were controled by the government food is of less a concern.
We are right in the heart of Elaple.This is ? area and it's actually fairly close to the frontline, but it's also one of the main places held by the Syrian government now. As you can see in this area there are a lot of products that are actually available, food, also a lot of other products as well. However the people here, it is very difficult for them. There is almost no electricity. Most of them come from generators,and of course because we are so close to the frontline,there is also shelling here and quite dangerous for the folks to live here. Elaple is certainly one of the toughest battlegrounds in the civil war that has been going on for about five years. |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/cnn2016/2/344970.html |