Mass executions in Hama, rebels seize gas field in Raqa
Syrians take shelter in caves as the violence escalates – Helfaya, Hama
- Mass executions claimed more than 40 lives in Hama.
- Dozens killed and injured due to the regime shelling in the Palestinian Yarmouk camp.
- The rebels scored advances in the northern province of Raqa.
- Video footage shows Assad’s forces brutally executing a number of detainees
- Hesraya, Hama: Residents discover mass grave
- Damascus and Suburbs: The rebels destroy a number of military tanks during clashes with regime forces, P2
Today’s Statistics
- Total Death Toll: 164
- Opposition Death Toll: 133 including 13 children, 5 women and 28 rebel fighters (Hama: 44, Damascus and Suburbs: 37, Deir Azzour: 14, Aleppo: 12, Daraa: 11, Homs: 8, Idlib: 3, Raqa: 1, Hasaka: 1)
- Regime Soldiers & Militiamen Death Toll: + 31
- Number of Areas Shelled: +287
- Number of People Wounded: +55
- Number of People Detained: +12
- FSA Key Operations:
- Seized control of a natural gas field as well as a number of military posts near Raqa city.
- Infiltrated the defences of Wady al-Dayf camp in the Idlib suburb of Ma’arrat Noman.
- Destroyed four military tanks near the Daraa suburb of Baser Harir.
Summary of Events
Hama witnessed the most violent events of the first day of the new year as activists reported mass executions by regime forces and militias against unarmed civilians. Activists said that some 23 people, including seven children, all belong to the majority Sunni sect, were knifed and burnt to death in the mainly Alawite village of Ma’an in the suburb of Hama, when regime forces accompanied by armed militias from the nearby Alawite villages attacked a number of Sunni families who live there. Meanwhile, residents discovered a mass grave in the Hama suburb of Hesraya yesterday where they managed to exhume 16 bodies who were field executed by regime forces before the rebels take over the town.
A mortar shell that landed in small village in the suburb of Deir Azzour killed nine civilians who were disfigured beyond recognition. Some seven people were also killed and dozens more were injured as a result of the violent regime bombardments on the Palestinian Yarmouk camp in Damascus which witnessed heavy fighting with between the rebels and regime forces. Regime shelling also left dozens of people dead and wounded in the neighbourhood of Hajar Aswad as well as in the Damascus suburbs of Thiyabiya, Shabaa, Douma, Huseniya Camp and Sbeneh.
Regime forces shelled as many as 287 different locations across the country using all sort of heavy weaponry, including cluster, phosphorous, thermobaric and explosive bombs. Some 125 locations were shelled by mortar shells and 98 others were pounded by heavy artillery. More than 36 locations came under rocket shelling while fighter jets struck 22 locations and helicopter gunships dropped barrel bombs on five others. These attacks caused extensive damage to residential buildings and left dozens of people dead and wounded and sent thousands fleeing their homes.
Violence left more than 164 people dead today. Some 133 were killed by regime forces including 13 children, five women and 28 rebel fighters whereas 31 regime soldiers and militiamen were killed by the rebels.
Fighting continued between regime forces and the rebels who continued to gain victories across the country. Today they seized control of three military checkpoints in the eastern suburbs of Raqa province after killing and detaining many regime soldiers. They also seized control of a natural gas field in the Raqa suburb of Tabaqa after a heavy battle that left eight regime soldiers dead.
The rebels stormed a number of military points in the towns of Sayeda Zeinab and Harasta near Damascus where heavy fighting continued near the town of Daraya. They also pushed into the police academy and continued to besiege the airbases of Menng and Quayres in the suburbs of Aleppo. They clashed with regime forces inside the base of the army’s 80th Brigade near Aleppo international airport which was forced to shut down, with airport’s authorities saying the closure was due to maintenance work on the runway and other facilities on the ground.
Moreover, the rebels infiltrated the defenses of the strategic Wady al-Dayf base in the Idlib suburb of Ma’arrat al-Numan after taking over the Khansaa School inside it. They also unleashed bombardments on this camp and the nearby camp of Hamdiya using military tanks, heavy artillery and mortar shells.
Syrians killed: 52,512
Children killed: 3,957
Females killed: 3,881
Soldiers killed: 6,185
Protesters killed under torture: 1,372
Missing: +60,000
Protesters currently incarcerated: +140,000
Syrians injured: +137,000
Syrian refugees since March: +568,958
Refugees in Turkey: +147,107
Refugees in Lebanon: +172,904
Refugees in Jordan: +164,746
Refugees in Iraq: +67,015
Refugees in Egypt: +13,001
Videos
Armed Resistance
Sayeda Zeinab, Damascus: The rebels seize control of a military checkpoint near the town of Hejeira
Aleppo: The rebels fire locally-made rockets on Quwayres airbase
Hamidiya, Deir Azzour: Heavy clashes between the rebels and regime forces
Damascus
Qabun: Regime forces bombard the neighborhood
Zahera: Smoke rises from the buildings due to the indiscriminate shelling
Ruken al-Din: Protesters demand the overthrow of the regime
Hajar Aswad: A child shot by a sniper
Damascus Suburbs
Douma: Residents pull trapped victims from the rubble
Kesweh: Residents flee their homes in fear of their lives
Daraya: Smoke rises from the town due to the heavy shelling
Aleppo
Tariq al-Bab: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Qadi Askar: Regime shelling destroys a mosque
Aleppo Suburbs
Marea: Activists show unexploded ordnances
Hayan: Regime shelling stirs panic among civilians
Indan: Smoke rises from the town due to the heavy shelling
Homs
Bowayda Sharqiya: A rebel fighter killed during clashes with regime forces
Aabel: Regime uses cluster bombs against civilians
Talbisa: Regime shelling kills innocent civilians
Daraa
Sheikh Maskin: Regime forces bombard the town
Yadouda: The shelling destroys civilians’ houses
Msefra: Clouds of smoke billow from the town due to the violent shelling
Khirbet Ghazala: Regime forces bombard civilians’ houses
Hama
Sheikh Mohammad: Protesters chant for freedom and demand the overthrow of the regime
Kafrnbouda: Protesters vow to continue their struggle for freedom
Central City: A defected soldier dies during clashes with security forces
Idlib
Korin: The devastating aftermath of the violent
Heish: Regime shelling causes extensive damage
Jeser Shughour: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Kafartakharim: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Deir Azzour
Jubaila: Buildings set ablaze due to the heavy shelling
Mowathafin: Smoke rises from the neighborhood due to the violent shelling
Howayqa: Smoke rises from the neighborhood due to the violent shelling
Latakia
Slaybeh: Demonstration chants support for the areas under attack
Turcoman Mountain: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded
Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
Algeria: Demonstration in solidarity with the Syrian revolutionaries
