Syrian Revolution Daily News Round-up Day 686: Monday 28-Jan-13

Two more conferences on Syria, more promises given to the Syrian people

French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius flanked by senior members of the Syrian opposition attend a press conference during the International support meeting of the Syrian National Coalition in Paris, today

• The Syrian National Coalition demanded “actions not words” by the international community.
• More than 223,000 Syrians took refuge in Lebanon, 1500 more cross into the country daily.
• First Christian Military Council formed to fight against the Assad regime.

• Damascus: Regime forces carry out summary executions against unarmed civilians, P2
• Tabaqa, Raqa: Rebel fighters joined by Jabhat al-Nusra storm the Air Force Intelligence branch, P2, P3
• Ma’arrat al-Noman, Idlib Suburb: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2, P3

• Total Death Toll: 176
• Opposition Death Toll: 131 including 19 children, 8 women and 40 rebel fighters (Damascus and Suburbs: 45, Aleppo: 25, Idlib: 23, Hama: 11, Homs: 11, Daraa: 9, Deir Azzour: 6, Hasaka: 1)
• Regime Soldiers  & Militiamen Death Toll: +25
• Number of areas shelled: +337 
• Number of People Wounded: +60
• Number of People Detained: +0
• FSA Key Operations:
  • Shelled Damascus International Airport and stormed a checkpoint nearby.
  • Stormed a military checkpoint in the Homs suburb of Qusair.
  • Stormed the Air Force Intelligence branch in the Raqa suburb of Tabaqa.
  • Bombed a military checkpoint in central Daraa city.
  • Destroyed 4 military tanks and a number of military vehicles.

Summary of Events

During the “International meeting in support of the Syrian National Coalition” held in Paris today and attended by more than 50 countries and international NGOs, the Syrian National Coalition urged the international community to replace promise with actions and fulfill its promises and obligations towards the Syrian opposition and pleaded for arms and more financial aid. Meanwhile, France warned that extremists could prevail in Syria if the international community fails to support the opposition coalition and don’t deliver promised funds and political support to it soon.

Simultaneously, another international meeting was held in Geneva and attended by President of Tunisia Monsef al-Marzouqi in addition to representatives from Russia, the U.S. and Europe. The Tunisian President urged the Syria opposition to unite its ranks and avoid divisions. The Head of the opposition National Coordination Committee, Haytham Mana’a accused France of targeting the civil revolutionary forces in Syria which reject the militarization of the Syrian uprising.

The UNHCR has registered more than 223,000 Syrian refugees who crossed into Lebanon and receive humanitarian aid. Official reports said that the influx of refugees continues with an average of 1500 crossing the border every day, the majority arriving from Homs, Idlib, Damascus and Aleppo.

Today’s intense shelling on the Idlib suburbs of Ma’arrat al-Numan and nearby villages of the northern suburb of Hama triggered a mass exodus with more than 1500 people arriving to the Atama refugee camp in the suburb of Idlib near the border with Turkey. Some 150 families could be accommodated in a nearby mosque while 150 others were left in the open amid severe shortage in tents, blankets and food supplies.

Different factions from the minority Christian Assyrian ethnicity formed what they called “The Syrian Assyrian Military Council” which aims at “continuing the revolution against Bashar al-Assad and his Shabiha militia” according to a statement they issued today. President of the International Assyrian Union Ibrahim Morad said “we announce the formation of our military council in order to defend our land and the people of Syria against the criminal Baathist regime, and we will support this council politically, militarily and logistically and we shall never give up until we achieve the goals of our revolution.”

Rebel fighters fired a barrage of mortar and locally-made missiles on Damascus International airport and a nearby air defense base. They also stormed a military checkpoint near the town of Harran Awamid, less than 5km east of the airport. In Homs, the rebels killed more than 20 regime soldiers and militiamen when they stormed a military checkpoint in the village of Josiya in the Homs suburb of Qusair near the border with Lebanon. They also stormed the Air Force Intelligence branch in the Hasaka suburb of Raqa, killing and injuring many security forces. They bombed a military checkpoint in the neighborhood of Abasiya in central Daraa city and fought heavy battles with regime forces in the Daraa suburbs of Bosr Harir, Herak, Saida and Dael.

Regime forces continued their indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas across the country, using cluster, phosphorus, therbombaric and explosive bombs as well as the long-range surface-to-surface missiles, causing extensive material damage and leaving dozens of people dead and wounded.

The continued violence left more than 176 people dead today. Regime forces and loyalist militiamen killed at least 131 people, including 19 children, eight women and 40 rebel fighters, whereas the rebels killed more than 55 soldiers and militiamen.

Regime forces committed a massacre in the Idlib suburb of Ariha after pounding the town with heavy artillery, killing at least nine people and wounding 20 others. They committed another massacre that claimed the lives of more than ten people in the village of Howayja in the Hama suburb of Sahl al-Ghab, when a rocket targeted a group of mourners during a funeral procession.

Regime forces executed nine civilians in the Damascus suburb of Adra and four more in the neighborhood of Tishrin, north of Damascus. Meanwhile, many people were killed and dozens more were injured in the Damascus suburb of Hamouriya when a fighter jet attacked the densely populated town’s centre where a bakery and a clinic are located. Moreover, at least nine people were killed due to the indiscriminate shelling in the neighborhood of Karm Homed in Aleppo city as well as in its provincial town of Safeera.

Videos

Armed Resistance
Qadam, Damascus: Heavy clashes continue
Karnaz, Hama: Rebels say they shot down a fighter jet
Dier Azzour: Rebels continue their attack on the State Security branch

Damascus
Qadam: The railway station set ablaze after been shelled by regime forces
Asaly: Residents flee their homes as the shelling and clashes intensify
Hajar Aswad: Many people get injured due to the indiscriminate shelling

Damascus suburb
Saqba: Dozens killed and injured due to the indiscriminate shelling
Mleiha: Mass destruction and more casualties caused by the heavy shelling, P2
Shabaa: Houses set ablaze as a result of the violent shelling
Hamouriya: Funeral procession of a rebel fighter who died during clashes with regime forces

Aleppo
Bustan Qasr: Many people get injured after been shot by regime snipers
Maadi: Funeral procession of a rebel fighter who died during clashes with regime forces
Salheen: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded
Marja: Demonstration chants support for the areas under attack

Aleppo suburb
Safeera: The town comes under heavy shelling
Rasem Aboud: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Indan: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling

Homs
Houla: A mother mourns her slain son
Qusair: Funeral procession of a fallen hero killed by regime forces
Qusour: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Rastan: Children traumatized by the daily shelling

Daraa
Refugee Camp: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded
Bosr Harir: The town comes under heavy shelling
Herak: The town comes under heavy shelling

Hama
Kaferzeita: Houses set ablaze due to the indiscriminate shelling
Central City: A civil airplane lands in Hama airbase
Kirnaz: Heavy fighting and shelling continue
Howayja: A funeral hit by a rocket shell

Idlib
Ariha: Regime shelling causes dozens of injuries, P2
Ma’arret Harem: Funeral procession of a rebel fighter
Tamanaa: Mass destruction caused by the heavy shelling

Deir Azzour
Kanamat: Houses set ablaze due to the indiscriminate shelling
Sheikh Yaseen: The neighborhood comes under heavy shelling
Howyqa: Clouds of smoke billow from the neighborhood due to the violent shelling

Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
Canada & US: “I stand in solidarity with the students of Aleppo University

Source