Syrian Revolution Daily News Round-up Day 719: Saturday 2-Mar-13

Rebels seize control of Aleppo police academy

A rebel fighter approaches a helicopter gunship that was shot down
near Minnegh Airbase in Aleppo

• Rebel fighters seized control of a police academy and shot down a helicopter gunship in Aleppo.
• Iraqi armed forces bombarded rebels’ positions inside the Syrian territory.
• Syria’s unemployment rate increased to 34.9% by December 2012.

• Aleppo: Rebels storm Aleppo’s police academy and shoot down a helicopter gunship above Minnegh airbase, P2
• Dar Kabeira, Homs: Regime shelling causes several casualties and triggers mass exodus, P2, P3
• Nabek, Damascus Suburb: A number of detainees released following a prisoner exchange deal with the regime

• Total Death Toll: 164
• Opposition Death Toll: 115 including 10 women, 9 children and 37 rebel fighters (Damascus and Suburbs: 35, Aleppo: 25, Homs: 17, Raqa: 11, Daraa: 7, Hama: 5, Idlib: 5, Qunaitra: 4, Deir Azzour: 3, Tartous: 2, Hasaka: 1)
• Regime Soldiers  & Militiamen Death Toll: +49
• Number of areas shelled: +365
• Number of People Wounded: +60
• Number of People Detained: +8
• FSA Key Operations:
  • Seized control of Aleppo’s police academy.
  • Shot down a helicopter gunship above Minnegh airbase in Aleppo.
  • Stormed several checkpoints in Raqa city.
  • Stormed Tal Ottoman base in the suburb of Hama.
  • Destroyed 2 military tanks and 5 armored vehicles.

Summary of Events

Rebel fighters made one of their biggest victories in Aleppo after seizing full control of the police academy and detaining dozens of regime soldiers in the suburb of Khan Asal after several months of continuous fighting. Meanwhile, the rebels shot down a helicopter gunship as they continued their attack on the Minnegh airbase.

In Hama, the rebels destroyed the towering Tal Ottoman army base in the ancient town of Madiq Fortress, a base that have always been a major source of artillery and tanks shelling on the surrounding towns and villages.

Another rare incident also took place near Deir Azzour when the rebels set dozens of detainees free as they ambushed a convoy on the Deir Azzour-Damascus road which the regime seems to have lost control of due to the continued rebel attacks.

Jabhat al-Nusra-led fighters launched an all-out offensive on the central prison of Raqa and stormed the checkpoints of Forousiya and Meshlab as well as the Hagana army base in the city as they used tanks and heavy artillery to bombard the base of the army’s 17^th division in its suburb. The clashes left at least eight rebel fighters, including the Amir of Jabhat al-Nusra in Raqa, Abu Abdullah al-Gharib, and More than 14 regime soldiers dead.

The two-year Syrian conflict has taken a dangerous turn when Iraqi armed forces bombarded rebels’ positions in the Syrian town of Yaroubiya to support the embattled Syrian forces that fled into the Iraqi territory, following a series of advances made by the rebels. Syrian fighter jets violated the Iraqi airspace to carry out airstrikes on rebels’ positions near the Yaroubiya border post as Iraqi fighter jets were also seen flying nearby.

Meanwhile, regime forces continued their attacks on opposition-held areas across the country, shelling more than 365 locations, 21 of which were pounded with fighter jets while two others were hit by Scud-type missiles.

Today’s death toll reached more than 164. Regime forces and loyalist militiamen killed at least 115 people, including ten women, nine children and 36 rebel fighters, whereas the rebels killed more than 49 soldiers and militiamen.

At least 35 people were killed in Damascus and its suburbs, eight of whom died as a result of the heavy fighting and shelling that took place in the eastern neighborhood of Jobar. Regime indiscriminate shelling also left at least ten people dead in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Akhdar and Marjeh in Aleppo city, and in its provincial town of Kafernaha in addition to four in the Homs suburb of Dara Kabeera, and two in each of Hatleh village in Deir Azzour and the town of Tal Hameis in Hasaka.

Unemployment Rate in Syria increased to 34.9% by the end of year 2012 from %14.9 in December 2011, thus, increasing the list of impoverished Syrians by six million, according to a research study issued by the Syrian Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

Videos

Armed Resistance
Darayya, Damascus Suburb: Rebel fighters destroy a military tank
Hama Suburb: Rebel fighters storm the Tal Ottoman base, P2
Raqa: Rebels storm the Mashlab checkpoint in the city
Central City: Rebel fighters set dozens of detainees free in the Deir Azzour-Damascus road

Damascus
Jobar: Regime shelling leaves many people dead and wounded, P2
Barzeh: A woman dies as a result of the indiscriminate shelling
Harasta: The devastating aftermath of the violent shelling
Sayida Zeinab: Car bomb explosion causes extensive material damage, residents accuse Hezbollah fighter of being behind it

Damascus Suburb
Ghouta Sharqiya: Regime warplane drops ordnances on the area
Thiyabiya: The town comes under heavy aerial bombardment
Irbeen:
Darayya: Regime forces try to enter the town amid heavy aerial and tanks shelling
Ein Tarma: A rocket lands in the town and causes extensive damage

Aleppo
Sukkari: Regime shelling stirs panic among civilians
Sheikh Khedr: Dozens of people killed and injured as a result of the indiscriminate shelling
Central City: A rebel fighter killed by regime forces

Aleppo suburb
Al-Bab: Huge crater caused by a Scud-type missile
Hreitan: Clouds of smoke billows form the town as a result of the heavy artillery shelling
Khan Asal: A rebel fighter gets injured during clashes with regime forces
Minnegh: Regime warplanes bombard the vicinity of the airbase to push the rebels back
Minbej: Regime shelling causes several casualties

Homs
Dar Kabeira: Residents pull out another body from the Orontes River
Talkalakh: Regime forces bombard the town
Kaferaaya: Regime warplanes bombard the town
Ghanto: The town comes under heavy shelling

Daraa
Daraa Balad: Regime warplanes carry out airstrikes on the city
Seida: Clouds of smoke billow from the town as a result of the indiscriminate shelling
Sabeel: Regime forces carry out arbitrary arrest campaign
Mahatta: Regime forces bombard the city

Hama
Aleppo Road: Protesters chant for freedom and demand the overthrow of the regime
Kafrenbouda: Regime warplane bombards the town
Breideej: A rebel fighter killed during clashes with regime forces

Idlib
Habeet: Regime shelling leaves a number of civilians dead and wounded, P2
Ma’arret Nouman: A number of civilians get injured as a result of the indiscriminate shelling

Deir Azzour
Hawiqa: Regime warplane bombards the neighborhood
Mowathafin: The aftermath of the daily indiscriminate shelling

Raqqa
Central City: Fighting and shelling triggers mass exodus from the city

Demonstrations and Activities Abroad
USA: George Mason University – Flash Mob by Muslims without Borders to expose the crimes of the Syrian regime

Source