Syrian Revolution Daily News Round-up Day 675: Thursday 17-Jan-13

Airstrikes intensify as regime forces prepare for decisive battle in Daraya

The aftermath of the daily shelling and fighting in the Damascus suburb of Daraya

• Total Death Toll: 166
• Opposition Death Toll: 136 including 16 children, 11 women and 36 rebel fighters (Damascus and its Suburbs: 52, Hama: 19, Hasaka: 18, Aleppo: 12, Daraa: 12, Deir Azzour: 12, Idlib: 8, Homs: 2, Raqa: 1)
• Regime Soldiers  & Militiamen Death Toll: +30
• Number of areas shelled: +303 
• Number of People Wounded: +55
• Number of People Detained: +7
• FSA Key Operations:
  • Destroyed six military tanks in various areas across the country.

Summary of Events

Regime forces intensified their aerial bombardments on rebels-held towns across the country, carrying out more than 30 deadly airstrikes that lead to more massacres in the suburbs of Damascus, Homs and Hama.

The continued violence left at least 166 people dead today, with regime forces and militias killing at least 136 people, including 16 children and 11 women. Fighting also erupted in various areas across the country leaving at least 36 rebel fighters, 11 Kurdish militiamen and 30 regime soldiers dead.

More than 52 people were killed in Damascus and its suburbs, including seven women and three children that died in an airstrike carried out by a MiG fighter jet on the Palestinian refugee camp of Husainiya. Meanwhile, regime fighter jets carried out more than 11 airstrikes on the rebels-held town of Daraya amid heavy artillery and rocket shelling, thus leaving at least eight people dead. Regime forces also executed five more civilians near the town as a military force consisting of more than 20 military tanks, armored vehicle and bulldozers was spotted at the Mutahaliq Janoubi road, preparing for what seems to be a decisive battle to retake the town.

Regime airstrikes killed 11 people in the village of Kafrnbouda in the north-eastern suburb of Hama in addition to five more, including a child and three women, in the Idlib suburb of Jabal Zawiya. Meanwhile, more than 30 people were injured and many others were killed due to multiple aerial strikes that targeted a grainery, petrol station and gas canisters distribution center in the Homs suburb of Ghanto. The renewed artillery shelling in the Aleppo suburb of Safeera left at least eight people dead and many more wounded.

At least 24 rebel fighters were killed during clashes with regime forces on various fronts in Daraa, Suweidaa and Deir Azzour. Meanwhile, at least 11 Kurdish militiamen from the Kurdish Popular Protection Units and seven rebel fighters were killed as clashes renewed for the second day in the Hasaka suburb of Ras la-Ayn near the Turkish border.

French Journalist Yves Debay was reported dead after been shot by a sniper fire while covering clashes in the city of Aleppo. The sniper who killed Debay was stationed at rooftop of the central prison in Aleppo city, according to Aleppo Media Centre.

Heavy fighting erupted as the rebels thwarted the regime’s attempt to enter the Palestinian Yarmouk camp in southern Damascus as well as the Damascus suburbs of Daraya, Moadamiyat al-Sham, Irbin, Zamalka, Aqraba, Seidi Moqdad and Bait Sahem where the rebels destroyed three military tanks and a number of armoured vehicles in addition to killing and injuring many troops.

The rebels also continued their attacks on the military airbases of Jarah, Quwayres and Menneg in the suburbs of Aleppo as well as on the Deir Azzour airbase in the eastern province of Deir Azzour. The rebels destroyed three military tanks as they repelled the regime’s ground assault on the Daraa suburb of Baser Harir as well as the neighbourhood of Howayqa in Dier Azzour city.

Videos

Armed Resistance
Yarmouk Refugee Camp, Damascus: Heavy clashes continue between the rebels and regime forces
Zabadani, Damascus Suburb: Regime forces ambushed by the rebels
Baser Harir, Daraa: Rebel fighters destroy a military tank and a minesweeper, P2
Salaheddin, Aleppo: The rebels launch the revenge battle for Aleppo University

Damascus
Sananiya: Student demonstration in solidarity with Aleppo University
Hajar Aswad: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Motahaliq Janoubi: Dozens of military tanks and armored vehicles prepare for storming Daraya

Damascus suburb
Daraya: Regime military tanks try to enter the town amid heavy aerial shelling, P2
Kaferbatna: An elderly man killed as a result of the indiscriminate shelling
Mleiha: Clouds of smoke billow from the town due to the indiscriminate shelling
Aqraba: The town engulfs in fire and smoke due to the heavy shelling

Aleppo
Karm Jabal: The aftermath of the heavy shelling
Afyoul: Mass destruction caused by the indiscriminate shelling

Aleppo suburb
Safeera: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2
Bab Nerab: Many people get injured due to the indiscriminate shelling

Homs
Talbisa: Doctors save the life of a fetus whose mother died due to the indiscriminate shelling
Bab Sebaa: Sniper prevent residents from clearing out the bodies who have been lying in the streets for weeks
Khalidiya: Heavy smoke billows from the neighborhood due to the heavy shelling
Dar Kabeera: The aftermath of the heavy shelling

Daraa
Mahatta: Residents try to pull out a man who was shot by a sniper
Central City: Residents try to save the life of man who was shot by security forces
Inkhel: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling

Hama
Kafernbouda: Dozens killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling, P2
Kafrzeita: Many people killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling, P2
Tariq Halab: Demonstration demands the overthrow of the regime
Salamiya: Demonstration chant support for the rebel fighters

Idlib
Sarja: Many people, mainly women and children, killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling, P2
Kafrouma: Rocket launchers bombard the town
Hazano: Funeral procession of one of the fallen heroes

Deir Azzour
Central City: Humanitarian crisis exacerbates
Orfi: Regime forces bombard the neighborhood
Boukamal: Clouds of smoke billow form the town due to the indiscriminate shelling

Raqa
Tal Abyad: Demonstration in solidarity with the areas under attack

Hasaka
Ras al-Ayn: A rebel fighter killed during clashes with the Kurdish militias

Latakia
Salma: Regime forces bombard the area with phosphorus bombs

Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
Canada: Team light for Syria – Ontario

Source