DAMASCUS, (SANA)- Overwhelmed with joy being reflected on their faces, the residents of al-Tadamun neighborhood in Damascus raced to invite the homeland's defenders to have lunch at their tables and try to convey to them some of the family feelings they have missed for months being away from their children and relatives.

"Welcome our sons and brothers" were the words with which the citizens tried to express their gratitude to the members of the Syrian Arab Army for responding to their appeals to protect them from the terrorists who tried to turn al-Tadamun neighborhood into a center for carrying out their terrorist operations against the inhabitants of the surrounding areas.

"If we stay alive by tomorrow we'll have lunch at your home. For now we're sorry as we've got a necessary job to do," an army officer apologized responding to an invitation by one of the neighborhood inhabitants who insisted to get a promise from the officer.

Speaking with a tone of admiration, a citizen voiced in a statement to SANA reporter his appreciation and admiration of the army members over their courage in confronting the armed terrorists and sacrificing their lives to defend the homeland. "We feel safe when we see them," he said.

"Give me a military uniform. I want to be honored joining you," said a man in his fifties addressing an army member, chanting out loud "God greets the army."

With a proud smile on his face for his invitation being accepted, sheikh of al-Salakhideh tribe, Fahd al-Shahma, approached carrying a tray with dishes of cheese and thyme pies and tea cups over it.

"They are our heroes who came to protect us from the mercenary terrorists," said sheikh al-Shahma, speaking of the suffering which the inhabitants lived when forced to leave their homes by the terrorists who stole their contents and attacked the citizens.

When asked if he feels afraid of the terrorists' threats for hosting army members at his home, the sheikh answered the reporter with a tone of denunciation saying "I'm not afraid and will never be afraid."

"As a matter of fact, everyone who is against the Western-led division and hegemony project is targeted by those terrorists," he added.

The inhabitants of al-Tadamun expressed hope that the Syrian Arab Army will eliminate all forms of terrorism and violence and restore peace and security to the homeland.

H. Said