Monday 6 August 2012

n neighbourhood. 8 civilians, including a child, were killed by the bombardment of the Palace of Justice building, the Sha’ar, al-Qasaala and the al- Marjeh neighbourhoods in Aleppo. 8 killed in the Bab al-Hadid and Qadi Askar neighbourhoods by the bombardment. 4 civilians was killed in the Saif al-Dawla neighbourhood, 1 by a sniper, 3 by the bombardment. 1 civilian from the Bab al-Nayrab neighbourhood was killed by regime guns while he was aiding the injured. 1 civilian was killed in the Hamadaniya neighbourhood under unknown circumstances, another was killed by sniper. No less than 19 civilians, including several women and children, were killed by the bombardment of the Sakhour and Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhoods, only 6 names have been documented by the SOHR. 12 unidentified bodies were found near the Khaldiya neighbourhood of Aleppo, the bodies had gunshot wounds. 4 civilians, including a child, were killed by the bombardment on the town of Kafarkarmein, Reef Aleppo.

-In Reef Dimashq 40 killed. They include the cinema director Bassam Muhyi Ad-Din Hussein, who was assassinated in front of his home in the town of Jdeidat Artouz at night. 10 civilians were killed in the town of Ma’adamiyat al-Sham, 7 were executed by regime forces after being detained last night, 3 by the bombardment of the city today. A civilian from the village of Hawsh Arab was killed by the gunfire and clashes in the rukn al-Dine neighbourhood of Damascus. 1 killed by a sniper in the town of Zamalka. 1 killed by the bombardment on the village of Ein Terma. 11 civilians were killed by the bombardment and gunfire in the towns of Jisreen and Kafarbatna. 11 civilians were killed in the city of Saqba as a result of the violent bombardment on the city, 4 of those killed are unidentified. 3 civilians, including a woman, were killed in the city of Harasta, the woman died of wounds from earlier bombardment, the 2 men died by the bombardmnet that took place on the day, one of them was the previous head of the city council.

-In Homs province 16 civilians killed. In the town of Talbiseh 1 man was killed from the bombardment, 1 from earlier wounds and a young man was killed by excessive torture at the hands of Syrian authorities after being detained earlier from the town. 2 civilians from al-Quseir died, 1 died from wounds received during the bombardment on the town, the other was killed by regime forces after he was detained in Latakia. 3 civilians, including a woman, were killed by the bombardment on the city of Rastan. 5 civilians, including 2 women and a child, were killed by the bombardment on the Deir Ba’alba and Khaldiya neighbourhoods of Homs. 1 civilian was killed by a sniper in the Qusoor neighbourhood. 2 civilians were killed by regime gunfire in Tel Kalakh.

-In Idlib province 22 civilians were killed. 1 from shrapnel during the bombardment of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, another was killed by a sniper in the city. 3, including a woman and a child, by the bombardment of Kafrenbel. A woman was killed by regime gunfire in Kafrenbel. 15 civilians were killed in the city of Ariha, 1 by a sniper, 14 residents, including 2 children and 2 women, were killed by the regime bombardment and gunfire. 1 was killed by regime fire in the village of Kafarheymoun. 1 was killed by extreme torture in Jisr al-Shughour.

-In Damascus 15 civilians killed. 5 civilians were killed in the Jobar neighbourhood; 2 were killed by excessive torture after they were detained by regime forces, 2 by regime fire in the neighbourhood, 1 by a sniper in the town of Kafarbatna, Reef Dimashq. 6 people were killed in the Rukn al-Din neighbourhood, which is suffering from gunfire and clashes between rebel and regime fighters. 2 people were sumarily executed in the Qaboun and Hajar al-Aswad neighbourhoods. 1 civilian died while being tortured in the Dummar neighbourhood. 1 civilian was killed by regime fire in the Qadam neighbourhood.

-In Deir Izzor province 15 killed. 5 civilians, 2 of them women, were killed by the bombardment of the al-Sina’a and al-Jbeila neighbourhoods of Deir Izzor. 3 killed, including a child, by the bombardment on al-Boukamal city. 7 civilians, including 2 women and 2 little girls, were killed by the bombardment on the city of al-Mayadeen, Reef Deir Izzor.

-In Hama province 10 civilians were killed. 1 by a sniper in the Sabouniya neighbourhood of Hama. 8 civilians, including 2 children, were killed by the gunfire and bombardment that followed the storming of Hurbinafseh village. A civilian was killed by regime guns in the town of Kawkab.

-In Dera’a province 4 civilians killed. A civilian died from earlier wounds by the bombardment of the Kashif neighbourhood. a woman was killed by the bombardment on Busra al-Sham. 1 by regime fire in al-Sanamein. 1 civilian was killed by an ambush by regime forces in the town of Tel Shihab.

-In Latakia province 2 civilians were killed when a car was targeted on the Jisr al-Shighour-Latakia road, the car was also carrying members of the security forces **

-In the Raqqah province 1 civilian was killed by extreme torture by one of the security branches, he was detained a few days ago.

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22 Rebel fighters:

Reef Dimashq: 5 rebel fighters were killed by an ambush set up for them by the town of Heran al-Awameed.

Damascus: 2 rebel fighters were killed during clashes in the Hajar al-Aswad an al-Qaboun neighbourhoods.

Aleppo prov: 3 rebel fighters killed. 2 rebels, including a commander, were killed during clashes with regime forces in the Salaheddin neighbourhood.
A rebel fighter died from clashes in the Furdous neighbourhood.

Homs prov: 4. A rebel fighter died during clashes in Rastan. A rebel died during an attack on a military checkpoint in the town of Tel Kalakh. 1 rebel died from wounds in al-Houla. A rebel fighter died during clashes in the city.

Dera’a prov: 3 rebel fighters killed. A rebel fighter was killed during clashes in the town of Busra al-Harir. 2 rebels from the town of Jasim were killed during clashes in Tel Mineen, Reef Dimashq.

Idlib prov: 5 killed. 3 rebel fighters from the Reef Idlib was killed during clashes in the city of Aleppo. 2 rebels were killed during clashes with a military checkpoint in Kafrenbel.

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A defected sergeant was killed during clashes in the city of Deir Izzor. A defected soldier was killed by an ambush in Deir Izzor. 2 defected soldiers were killed during clashes in Reef Dimashq.

No less than 62 members of the Syrian armed forces were killed by attacks on vehicles and during clashes in the provinces of Hama, Deir Izzor, Idlib, Aleppo, Homs, Damascus, Reef Dimashq and Dera’a.

The attack came just after 2pm on Monday; two Soviet era Mig fighter jets swept in low from the west, then banked and made a run at the schoolhouse. The impact of the bombs was devastating on the two homes they struck. Fabricated concrete spilled across the street and a nine-year-old girl lay dismembered in the ruins.

The first stronghold established by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the war-torn city of Aleppo had been hit by regime jets, in an attack that failed to take out the rebel leadership but instead killed nine members of a family in a nearby house.

For the past week rebel fighters and leaders had been coming and going from the school, which they had commandeered in the city’s north-east. They had brought prisoners there, built up a large arsenal of looted weapons on a lower floor and brazenly parked a tank and anti-aircraft gun outside.

The regime troops that were engaged in pitched battles with guerillas barely one kilometre away probably knew where the poorly-disguised base was. The Syrian jets overhead certainly did.

By nightfall only five bodies had been recovered. There was no hope for the other four, who rescuers were trying to dig out with their hands and basic tools.

The rebel unit’s bid to win the hearts and minds of nearby residents has not gone well, not helped perhaps by the brazen way in which they made the nature of their stronghold so obvious. On Sunday the group’s commander was finalising details of a flyer he had prepared, outlining what steps his men would take to end the sense of paralysis that cripples Aleppo. Less than 24 hours later a large unexploded bomb from one of the jets lay on the steps of the schoolhouse and all the men inside were packing to leave to set up a new base.

On nearby main roads mountains of household rubbish remains uncollected and order is yet to return to the city, more than a fortnight after the Free Syrian Army obtained a foothold.

The reach of the guerilla force has since extended to what they claim is more than 60% of the city. But the rebels seem to be driven by little more than enthusiasm. Planning to hold their gains in the face of an imminent regime counter-assault is haphazard at best. Strategy seems anchored more in hope than vision.

“What can we do when all these so-called officers run away to Turkey and drink beer in refugee camps,” said Major Abu Firad, who defected to the rebels six weeks ago and has insisted on a new rank of corporal in the unit with which he fights in the suburb of Salahedine.

“Every decision on the ground is up to us,” he said. “These officers who speak on the television from their comfortable camps over the border have no authority to speak for us. If they were real officers they would come back and fight.”

Salahedine is at the vanguard of the Free Syrian Army’s defences. And on Monday the rebels there were weathering assaults from recently arrived loyalist units.

“They have brought in tank units from the Golan Heights,” said Major Abu Firad. “I know that because I was a tank commander and we can monitor their radio frequencies.”

Other key Syrian military units are also thought to have arrived on the city’s southern outskirts and started readying for battle. Regime jets have returned to the countryside north of Aleppo, where rebels ousted loyalist forces in 10 days of fighting from 19 July.

One Mig made at least eight bombing runs from 1am to 4am early on Monday over one of the towns below, causing panic among residents and resignation among others.

“They are trying to force the guys to come back to town to defend their families and leave Aleppo exposed,” said a cleric, Sheikh Omar, in the town of al-Bab. “But this fight is something that can’t be avoided.”

Aleppo is proving to be harder going for regime forces than the capital Damascus, in which they were able to chase rebels from areas they had seized in July in less than 10 days.

Despite large numbers of captured weapons, a constant stream of deserters coming their way, and news of high profile political defections, much of the rebel force acknowledges that their campaign has a long way to go.

Rebels are continuing to reinforce positions in Aleppo. So too are loyalists. “Around 20,000 moved into Aleppo [on Sunday night] said Major Abu Firad. “They are planning to first take back this neighbourhood and then move into the rest of the city.”

Shells thundered into Salahedine, a middle-class neighbourhood of apartment buildings, throughout Monday. Guerillas there claimed to have captured three locals – thought to be the only residents to have remained there – whom they accuse of spying for the regime.

As another rebel group left for the fight on Sunday night, a young student of Sharia law, who had joined the rebel ranks, urged the 30 men in front of him to treat prisoners well and not to harm civilians. “We must be very clear about this. God has told us to behave with honour as warriors.”

The departing rebels in Aleppo had adopted different methods. Screams from some captives, particularly those thought to have been members of the loyalist Shabiha militia, have echoed throughout the night in recent days. Late on Monday one of the alleged spies was brought in, a terrified woman in her late 20s whose hair had been cut leaving unruly strips on an almost bald scalp.

The residents wandering the streets near the schoolhouse hours before breaking their fast didn’t seem to mind that the rebels were leaving.

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Reuters: Syrian prime minister defects, fighting goes on

AMMAN – Syrian forces pressed on with their offensive against rebels in the largest city Aleppo after the prime minister fled the country, denouncing the “terrorist regime” of Bashar al-Assad. | Video

Syrian rebels: govenment attack kills 3 Iranian captives: BEIRUT – Syrian rebels said three Iranian captives were killed on Monday during an air attack in Damascus province by government forces, and threatened to kill the remaining Iranians in their custody unless the army stopped its attack.