Syrian Revolution Daily News Round-up Day 679: Monday 21-Jan-13

More than 69 regime soldiers killed, Russia evacuates its citizens

Syrian rebel fighter opens fire on regime forces during clashes in the suburbs of Damascus

• Suicide bomb attack killed more than 30 pro-regime militiamen in Hama.
• Russia sent two planes to Beirut to evacuate its citizens from Syria.
• Regime soldiers and loyalist militiamen continue their military campaign on Homs.

• Jobar, Homs: Some five civilians from the same family brunt to death by Assad’s militiamen as the military campaign continues, P2, P3
• Safeera, Aleppo: Regime forces attack schools leaving many children critically wounded, P2
• Raqa: Rebel fighters form King Abdul-Aziz Brigade

• Total Death Toll: 202
• Opposition Death Toll: 133 including 11 children, 10 women and 45 rebel fighters (Homs: 25, Hasaka: 25, Damascus and its Suburbs: 23, Aleppo: 22, Hama: 13, Qunaitera: 10, Idlib: 9, Daraa: 3, Raqa: 3, Deir Azzour: 2)
• Regime Soldiers  & Militiamen Death Toll: +69
• Number of areas shelled: +260 
• Number of People Wounded: +50
• Number of People Detained: +12
• FSA Key Operations:
  • Carried out a suicide attack in the Hama suburb of Salmiya, killing at least 30 militiamen.
  • Stormed a military checkpoint south of Idlib city.
  • Seized control of a military gas station in the Aleppo suburb of Khan Asal.
  • Stormed al-Mashlab checkpoint in the Raqa suburb of Tabaqa.
  • Destroyed five military tanks in the suburbs of Idlib, Daraa and Damascus.

Summary of Events

At least 30 pro-regime militiamen were killed and dozens more were injured in a suicide car bomb attack that targeted the headquarters of the pro-regime popular committees in the mainly Alawite town of Salamiya of the eastern suburb of Hama. There have been civilians among the deaths which could rise to more than 50.

The National Coalition for the Revolutionary Forces and Opposition ended its monthly meeting that was held in Istanbul and attended by more than 60 members. Members discussed the formation of an interim government to conduct business in the liberated areas. They agreed on the need to form a capable interim government as soon as possible due to the local and international developments.  The General Assembly of coalition agreed to form a committee to communicate with political and revolutionary forces inside Syria, and with international organizations and governments to assure support for the interim government. The chair of this committee is Ahmed Maaz Al-Khateeb, president of the National Coalition Syrian, and includes George Sabra, Mustafa Sabbagh, Professor Bourhan Galion, Dr. Ahmed Syed Yusuf and Ahmed Al-Jerba. The Committee was asked to complete its mission within 10 days and send a report to the General Assembly. A decision to form the interim government will be made then.

The Russian government said on Monday that it will send two planes to Lebanon to evacuate Russian citizens from Syria. The Emergency Situations Ministry said two of its planes will fly to Beirut on Tuesday to carry more than 100 Russians from Syria.

The rebels stormed the Zaidani military checkpoint south of ldlib city where they continued their major offensive for the second day. Meanwhile, the rebels destroyed three military tanks and one armored vehicle as they ambushed a reinforcement convoy heading towards the town of Ma’arrat al-Numan, where they also continued their attacks on the camps of Wady al-Dayf and Hamdiya.

Regime forces carried out more than 21 air raids on civilian areas across the country, using cluster, phosphorus, therbombaric and explosive bombs, causing extensive material damage and leaving many people dead and wounded.

The continued violence left at least 199 people dead today. Regime forces and loyalist militiamen killed at least 112 people, including 11 children and ten women. Fighting also erupted on various fronts between the rebels and regime forces, leaving at least 25 rebel fighters and 36 regime soldiers dead.

Fighting also continued between the rebels and Kurdish Popular Protection Units in the Hasaka suburb of Ras al-Ayn, killing at least 21 fighters from both sides.

Regime forces and loyalists militias accompanied by Hezbollah fighters, continued their major onslaught on the neighbourhoods of Jobar and Sultaniya as well as the village of Kafara’aya in Homs, leaving at least 25 people dead including women and children.

In Damascus and its suburbs, regime forces killed at least 30 people, seven of whom were executed in the provincial town of Artouz, while dozens more were killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling in the provincial towns of Hamouriya, Daraya, Hazerma, Irbin and Moadamiyat al-Sham. Meanwhile, dozens of civilians and rebel fighters were killed due to the heavy clashes and shelling that took place in various places around Aleppo, Daraa, Deir Azzour, Raqa, Idlib, Hama and Qunaitera.

Just few days since it increased prices of heating fuel by 40%, Syrian authorities increased prices of gasoline, wheat and flour. A decree issued by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Protection under which the price of Octane 95 was increased by 0.9% per litre, i.e. 60 SYP. Wheat price was increased from US$419 to US$434 per ton while the price of flour used for making bread was increased from US$321 to US$337.

Videos

Armed Resistance
Daraya, Damascus Suburb: Rebel fighters repel a ground assault by regime forces
Bosra, Daraa: Rebel fighters repel a ground assault by regime forces
Idlib: Rebel fighters captured big quantity of weapons and ammo after storming a military checkpoint west of Idlib city
Quwayres, Aleppo Suburb: Rebels secure the defection of a colonel pilot as they continue their attack on the airbase, P2

Damascus
Hajar Aswad: Dozens killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling, P2, P3
Qadam: Livestock killed due to the indiscriminate shelling

Damascus suburb
Aqraba: The devastating aftermath of the heavy shelling
Irbin: Dozens killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling
Daraya: Regime warplanes continue their daily aerial raids on the town
Hamouriya: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2

Aleppo
Saif Addola: Two undefined bodies discovered in the neighborhood
Marja: The devastating aftermath of the artillery shelling
Sukari: Protesters chant their support for the areas under attack

Aleppo suburb
Al-Bab: Demonstrators chant their support for the rebel fighters
Deir Hafer: A man crtically injured after been hit by shrapnel
Tal Refat: A rebel fighter killed during clashes with regime forces

Homs
Central City: Clouds of smoke billow from the city due to the heavy shelling
Bowayda: A man dies after been injured during the heavy shelling
Rastan: Buildings destroyed due to the indiscriminate rocket shelling

Daraa
Daraa Balad: Civilians flee their homes as the shelling intensifies, P2
Khirbet Ghazala: Many people die and more get injured due to the indiscriminant shelling
Tafas: Media Activist Basem Zo’bi shot dead by regime forces

Hama
Latamna: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2
Kaferzeita: Regime shells target funerals

Idlib
Ma’arret Masreen: Regime shelling leaves many people wounded
Harbanoush: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded
Sermeen: One of the victims who died due to the indiscriminate shelling

Deir Azzour
Central city: Wheat shortage exacerbates the humanitarian crisis
Sheikh Yaseen:
Howayqa: Clouds of smoke billow from the neighborhood due to the heavy shelling
Hamidiya: The devastating aftermath of the heavy shelling

Hasaka
Ras al-Ayn: Rebels evacuate civilians as clashes intensify

Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
Bahrain: Bahraini people respond to the humanitarian crisis in Syria

Source