Syrian Revolution Daily News Round-up Day 653: Weds. 26-Dec-12

Regime Shells Raqa, Rebels Gain in Idlib and Aleppo

The victims of the regime’s violent tanks shelling on the village of Mazraat Kahtaniya in the suburb of Raqa

• Regime indiscriminate shelling killed 41 people in Raqa, including 20 children.
• Regime forces launched a major offensive on the besieged neighborhoods of Homs.
• The rebels launch all-out offensives to take over the suburbs of Idlib and Aleppo.

• Mazraat Kahtaniya, Raqa: Dozens of people die, including 20 children due to the indiscriminate tanks shelling, P2, P3
• Harbel, Aleppo Suburb: Regime airstrike kills and injures many people, including children, P2
• Pro-regime militiamen stabs a man to death and then burn his body while saying “we will burn the country for Assad”

Today’s Statistics

• Death Toll: 164 including 28 children, 15 women and 33 rebel fighters (Raqa: 41, Damascus and Suburbs: 32, Aleppo: 30, Idlib: 22, Homs: 14, Hama: 9, Latakia: 7, Daraa: 6, Deir Azzour: 3)
• Number of areas shelled: +277
• Regime Soldiers Death Toll: +40
• Number of People Wounded: +60
• Number of People Detained: +15
• FSA Key Operations:
  • Shot down two fighter jets in the suburbs of Hama.
  • Shot down a helicopter gunship near the Mazeh airbase in Damascus.
  • Destroyed three helicopter gunships in the Menneg airbase in Aleppo.
  • Seized control of the Raqa suburb of Sabkha.
  • Stormed three military checkpoints in the neighbourhoods of Tishin in Damascus.

Summary of Events

The country witnessed another bloody day as the government forces continued bombarding civilian areas throughout the country killing more than 164 people, including 28 children, 15 women and 33 rebel fighters.

At least 41 people, including 20 children were killed as Syrian army tanks bombarded the village of Mazraat Kahtaniya whose houses are mainly made of mud and lie some eight km northwest of the northern city of Raqa. Meanwhile, more than eight people, including women and children were killed in an airstrike launched by a fighter jet on the village of Harbel in the suburb of Aleppo.

Some 31 people were killed in Damascus and its suburbs as regime forces continued bombarding the provincial towns of Daraya, Douma, Harasta, Kafarbatna, Zabadani and Mliha as well as the neighbourhoods of Qabun, Hajar Aswad and Tadamon. Activists accused pro-regime militias of raping and burning two 17-year-old girls to death in the Damascus suburb of Dahiyat Qudsaya last week.

Regime forces closed all exits from the neighbourhoods of Rabee Arabi and Deir Baalba in Homs city which then were subjected to unprecedented shelling campaign that left at least four people dead and many more wounded. Regime forces also shelled the Homs suburbs of Qusayr and Rastan, killing and injuring many people. Activists said that eight women were kidnapped by regime forces as they tried to flee the violence in the neighbourhood of Deir Baalba.

Regime forces shelled as many as 277 different areas across the country using all sort of heavy weaponry including cluster and phosphorous bombs as well as barrel bombs. Some 71 areas were shelled by mortar shells and 146 others were pounded by heavy artillery. More than 60 areas came under rocket shelling as fighter jets launched more than 18 airstrikes while helicopter gunships dropped barrel bombs on 11 more areas. These attacks caused extensive damage to residential buildings and left dozens of people dead and wounded and sent thousands fleeing their homes.

The rebels launched an all-out offensive to liberate the province of Aleppo where they continued pushing into the police academy in the provincial town of Khan Asal as well as in the airbase of Quwayres and Menneg where they destroyed three helicopter gunships.

The rebels launched a major offensive to liberate the entire suburbs of Idlib, attacking the army bases of Wady al-Dayf and Hamdiya in the town of Ma’arrat al-Noman. Fighting in Idlib left at least 22 rebel fighters dead. The rebels also seized control of three military checkpoints in the neighbourhood of Tishrin in Damascus and destroyed a number of military tanks and armoured vehicles as they repelled the regime’s ground assault on the Damascus suburbs of Zabadani and Daraya. The rebels shot down a helicopter near the Mazeh airbase in Damascus in addition to two fighter jets in the suburbs of Hama.

Videos

Armed Resistance
Khan Asal, Aleppo Suburb: The rebels bombard the police academy using captured military tanks, P2
Menneg, Aleppo Suburb: The rebels bombard the airbase using captured military tanks, P2
Aleppo: A civil aircraft lands in the besieged airbase of Quwayres

Damascus
Jobar: Protesters chant for freedom and demand the overthrow of the regime
Dummar: Protesters demand the overthrow of the regime
Qaboun: Regime indiscriminate shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2
Qadam: A man gets shot by regime snipers

Damascus Suburbs
Yabroud: Protesters chant their support for the areas under attack
Daraya: Clouds of smoke billow from the town due to the heavy shelling
Nashabiya: The devastating aftermath of the fierce shelling
Misraba: Many people die due to the violent artillery and aerial bombardments
Kafrbatna: A child gets his head smashed after been hit by a shrapnel

Aleppo
Qorlok: Mass destruction caused by the indiscriminate shelling
Jazmati: The devastating aftermath of the fierce shelling
Bustan Basha: Mass destruction caused by the indiscriminate shelling

Aleppo Suburbs
Menbej: A rebel fighter gets killed during clashes with regime forces
Maree: Regime warplane drops thermobaric bombs on the town

Homs
Zafaraneye: Regime forces bombard the village
Old city: Clouds of smoke billow from the city due to the heavy shelling
Jobar: Many people die and more get injured due to the violent shelling, P2
Talbisa: A man dies due to the indiscriminate shelling
Qusayr: Funeral procession of a child who died due to the fierce shelling

Daraa
Maraba: Regime forces bombard the town
Tseel: The devastating aftermath of the fierce shelling
Harra: Regime forces burn down activists’ houses
Ataman: Residents wait for long hours under heavy rain in hope to get some bread

Hama
Kafarzeita: Bloodied bodies caused by the violent shelling stirs panic among civilians
Morek: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2, P3
Souran: Regime forces heavily bombard the town
Mourek: Regime forces use phosphorus bombs against civilians

Idlib
Ma’arrat Noman: A number of rebel fighters get killed during clashes with regime forces, P2
Kefrouma: Residents say many people die due to phosphorus bomb attack on the tow, P2
Kefrnabel: Funeral procession of the fallen heroes who died due to the indiscriminate shelling, P2
Kefrtakhareem: One of the rebel fighters who died during clashes with regime forces

Deir Azzour
Howayqa: Regime forces bombard the neighborhood
Masaken Shuhadaa: Clouds of smoke billow from the neighborhood due to the violent shelling
Hamideye: Clouds of smoke billow from the neighborhood due to the violent shelling
Jubaila: Regime forces bombard the neighborhood

Raqqa
Central City: Mass protest in solidarity with the town of Mazraat Kahtaniya

Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
Saudi: The National Saudi Campaign for the Syrian people
Jordan: Syrians protest the regime’s crimes against humanity

Source