Yahoo: Assad predicts disaster if West meddles in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/...yt-127119.html

Anthony Shadid said to have blamed death on New York Times

Anthony Shadid, the Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times reporter who died in Syria this year, had heated arguments with his editors just prior to his final trip into the country, a cousin of Shadid's says, and told his wife that were he to die the New York Times would be to blame.

"The phone call the night before he left [Turkey for Syria], there was screaming and slamming on the phone in discussions with editors," Ed Shadid, a cousin to the late reporter, said last night at the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee's convention in Washington, D.C.

"It was at this time that he called his wife and gave his last haunting directive that if anything happens to me I want the world to know the New York Times killed me," Ed Shadid said.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/24/155597...sc=tw&cc=share

Syrians Now Willing To Talk, But No Names, Please

In Damascus, Syrians now openly speak their minds, but often won't offer a name for the record.

The "wall of fear" is crumbling even in the capital, where the security police have the heaviest presence. Syrians have lived under surveillance and emergency law for years, but after 15 months of anti-government protest and a brutal response by the regime, the killings have changed people.

"Now, I believe that most of the Syrians feel in their bones that the regime is over and it's only a matter of time," said one veteran activist, "There are wide areas that aren't under the control of the regime, and Syrians are learning to speak for themselves."

The capital is still under heavy control, however, with military checkpoints on the highway into the city and patrols in the heart of Damascus after dark. The sound of shooting and explosions in the suburbs, the poor neighborhoods of Douma and Qudsaya, now reach the wealthy neighborhoods of the city.

"Now, things are too graphic. You can hear the bombs here in Damascus," says a musician turned activist. "I had a friend who said, 'It's not happening,' but they can go to their balconies and look east. It's not a secret any more."

https://twitter.com/#!/Austin_Tice

Frustrating couple of days. I guess it can't always be easy. Keep moving forward.
5:02 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/DamascusSYR

Douma of Damascus has became a ghost town. Lot's of it's residents moving out, destruction is horrible there.
5:13 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: One day-old child Mohammad Musaaed Al-Wazaal was martyred as a result of the shelling of the town of Buleel. He is now the youngest martyr in the Syrian Revolution
3:20 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Karak: More than 7 missiles have fallen on the town so far
3:26 PM

Deir Ezzor: Fierce clashes between FSA and regime army in Al-Ommal neighborhood at PortSaid street and around the area of Alsafa mosque
3:44 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Ghab Plains: Daily artillery and morter shelling continues on the city
4:21 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Aleppo: Atareb: Violent cannon shelling with rocket launchers by 46 troops was reported at the city and the surrounded villages
5:36 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

Sunday is over with 82 martyrs in Syria, 23 in Deir Ezzor, 15 in Hama, 14 in Aleppo including 7 passed away under torture, 9 in Homs, 8 in Idlib including 7 of one family killed in a massacre in Areha, 7 in Daraa, 4 in Damascus suburbs and 2 martyrs in Latakia
5:22 PM

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...94#post8951494
(First 30 days: 1,095 killed)
(Second 30 days: 1,473 killed)
(Third 30 days: (14 days in) 1,127 killed)

3,695 people killed since the ceasefire went into effect.

Pre-Ceasefire death total- 13,368
Current total- 17, 061

[visionary]

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politi...skin=text-only

New Syria sanctions aimed at regime

AUSTRALIA will impose new sanctions on Syria, covering trade in oil, petroleum, financial services, telecommunications and precious metals, although in practice the sanctions will have minimal if any direct impact.

They restrict or prohibit trade with Syria across entire sectors, and come on top of Australia's existing arms embargo and financial and travel sanctions on individuals and groups and organisations associated with the Assad regime.

Australia's total merchandise trade with Syria in 2011 was only about $18 million, with nearly $17 million being exports to Syria, including pulp and paperboard, dairy products, plastic and natural resources, with the latter not detailed because of commercial-in-confidence considerations.

Our imports from Syria include vegetables, aluminium, vegetable oils and fats and cereal preparations.

The sanctions mark a shift from action against individuals to taking action against sectors, and Australia is ahead of many countries in doing this.

Government sources said the areas for sanctions, the same as those imposed by the European Union, had been chosen as ones that directly involved the regime or from which it profited, rather than hit the Syrian people.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/47941759

Turkey turns to NATO over Syrian attack

Turkey has accused Syria of shooting down one of its military reconnaissance jets in international airspace without warning and summoned a NATO meeting for Tuesday to agree a response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey's cabinet was due to meet on Monday to discuss Friday's incident, which lent a more threatening international dimension to the 16-month-old uprising against Assad. Britain called the attack over the eastern Mediterranean outrageous and said it stood ready to back strong action in the United Nations.

Syrian tanks and artillery shelled the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, killing at least 20 people in the second day of heavy bombardment in the country's main oil-producing region, opposition activists said.

"Regime forces have dismantled their roadblocks from inside of Deir al-Zor after incurring heavy losses from rebels. They have withdrawn from residential areas and are now shelling the city from the outskirts. The victims are mostly civilians," a source at a hospital in Deir al-Zor told Reuters.

https://twitter.com/#!/GinnySacksMole

The FSA being back in BabaAmr must be making assad's head explode-looks like he's planning another ethnic cleansing
6:33 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Soldier Shamdin Hussain Alrashi was martyred for his refusal of shooting civilians. He is from Ras Alain, Hassaka
6:35 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Busra Alsham: Many wounded by continues shelling for more than six hours till now at the city. A lack of midecs is reported in field hospitals due to the big number of wounded
6:31 PM

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8HO17R20120625

RPT-Jet incident shows Syria's defences capable, jumpy

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPol...aspx?id=275108

Russia's Putin arriving in Israel to discuss Iran, Syria

https://twitter.com/#!/Turk4Syria

Syria needs all the attention it can get right now. Things are worsening by the day. Assad still acts with full impunity.
6:30 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/DSyrer

@Turk4Syria Everybody's letting him get away with far too much - ethnic cleansing, mass atrocities, even shooting planes…
7:01 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/DamascusSYR

Open your eyes on Homs people. Something is happening there. Big chance of another massacre.
6:49 PM

The SNC and people of Homs are sending SOS messages to the world. A major military campaign is about to take place.
7:07 PM

People I'm going to go ahead and beg you to give full attention to Homs and Syria in general. Something ugly is going to happen.
7:10 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Turk4Syria

Latest info from Turkish media: The Turkish jet was shot down with a missile, not with anti-aircraft guns.
7:31 PM

After targeting & hitting the Turkish jet, Syrian soldiers informed higher-ranked officials: "We hit it, we hit it".
7:34 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/tweets4peace

For those who didn't know, 4 medical workers were returned tortured&burnt to death in Aleppo today. 5th body remains held in hospital
8:36 PM

They were all detained tortured and killed while in custody by air-force intelligence unit prisons. Details available. May they RIP.
8:37 PM

The account of a Pro-Assad journalist who went to Syria and changed his mind after he was tortured in prison.
https://twitter.com/#!/arabized

Syria – A Journey to Hell : In the heart of the Syrian Intelligence Service prisons. http://www.pierrepiccinin.eu/pages/S...l-7890737.html
9:54 PM

"To write is a heavy responsibility. It is therefore important to be able to recognise one’s mistakes, correct one’s omissions " -Pierre
9:56 PM

"I turned my face to the wall opposite the door & w/my thumbnail, I inscribed a little cross in the plaster: I made my confession to God. "I promised Him that if I escaped I would speak everywhere of what I seen during that night "- Pierre
10:03 PM

In that prison I met prisoners of all nationalities: Algerians, Saudis, Iraqis, Sudanese, Somali, Palestinians, Syrians of course. realizing they were to be expelled, waiting for a human eternity of imprisonment, an order/ help which would remove them from this rat-hole.
10:06 PM

"I now join in their call for military intervention in Syria, which will overthrow the abominable Baath regime" -Pierre
10:09 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Sumayya92

Syrian solidarity can help us get anything done. Let's stop Mufti Hassoun from entering US territory. #StopTerrorMufti https://www.facebook.com/events/252976628150532/
1:39 AM

Mufti Hassoun basically owned to the existence of sleeper cells ready to attack if need be. Why are we allowing him in? #StopTerrorMufti
1:46 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/SkyNewsBreak

William Hague: Absolutely condemn action of Syria shooting down Turkish plane, will discuss crisis with other EU foreign ministers today
3:25 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Skytwitius

UK and France pile in on Syria at EU meeting. Downing of Turkish jet 'completely unacceptable'. More sanctions follow.
3:41 AM

Shelling of Talbiseh Homs


Some of the Shelling destruction of Homs City

[visionary]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today...00/9731459.stm

Syria rebel army 'on the offensive'

The rebellion against the Syrian government has been running for a year and violence appears to have escalated.

Opposition activists claim more than 200 people were killed over the weekend and there is heavy fighting between government forces and rebel fighters.

Correspondent Ian Pannell spent two weeks with the rebel forces in Idlib province in northern Syria, witnessing an attempted IED attack.

http://theaviationist.com/2012/06/25...m-down-theory/

Turkish Phantom shot down in Syria update: it may have violated the Syrian airspace to probe the air defenses readiness

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syr...anctions-syria

European Union is set to slap fresh sanctions on Syria

The European Union is set to slap fresh sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's regime on Monday, targeting six entities and clarifying an existing arms embargo, EU diplomatic sources said.

The measures were agreed by ambassadors of the 27-nation-bloc early Monday and will be approved later in the day by EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

The asset freeze and travel against the six entities, some of them government ministries, according to the sources, will be the 16th round of restrictive EU measures against the Assad regime.

You know, when you get to the 16th round of sanctions...don't you have to wonder if they're working?




https://twitter.com/#!/wissamtarif

Basil Asslan died under torture. His nails were pulled out, arms and legs broken then they set him on fire. Aleppo University
4:07 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/javierespinosa2

"Annan and Major-General Mood are no more than sponsors of the criminal regime" Revolutionary Council of Homs' statement
4:19 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/BreakingNews

Syrian general, 2 colonels, 2 majors, 1 lieutenant and 33 troops defect from Assad regime, arrive in Turkey - @Reuters
4:36 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Irbeen: Massive military reinforcements arrive at the town and the people fear they might start raiding the houses and arbitrarily detaining the residents
3:53 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Fierce shelling at the city from haigh-caliber machine guns and it is targeting the civilians' homes
4:22 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Fierce shelling at the city from haigh-caliber machine guns and it is targeting the civilians' homes
4:24 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Talbiseh: Intense bombardment with Mortar and heavy artillery targetting the centre of the town, and both the Northern and the Southern Mashjar neighborhoods were reported
4:33 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Regime's army is bombarding the Waar neighborhood as 30 missiles fall on the residential buildings
4:34 AM

Shelling destruction of Qusoor neighborhood, Homs

[visionary]

http://www2.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/cam...2w1vpB.twitter

Arming the Armed Opposition in Syria - The Realities & the Risks

As for Amnesty, we have been calling on the UN Security Council to request that any country considering supplying arms to the armed opposition should have in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure the material supplied is not used to commit human rights abuses and/or war crimes.

Such a mechanism should include a rigorous monitoring process, which would enable such arms transfers to be halted should evidence emerge that they are being used to carry out human rights abuses, or are being transferred or diverted to third parties. T

he mechanism should also include a system for limiting arms to only those weapons, munitions and related equipment which are not inherently indiscriminate (e.g. no use of anti-personnel land mines for instance), and importantly, a system for conveying to recipients practical knowledge and awareness of standards to respect international human rights and humanitarian law. I will come on to whether this is happening later.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Lates...yrian-conflict

Syria's downing of Turkish jet unlikely to pull NATO into Syrian conflict

Syria's downing of a Turkish fighter-bomber has the feel of a turning point that could drag Western powers into a conflict that is spiraling out of control.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has vowed to hold Syria to account, while Britain's foreign minister said Damascus won't be allowed to act with impunity.

But for all the hard talk, the prospect of Western military intervention in Syria remains remote, at best.

For one thing, military action is unlikely to get the support of either the U.N. Security Council or the Arab League, and outside intervention without the blessing of both of those bodies is all but unthinkable. And there is little appetite among the 28 NATO countries — of which the U.S. is the largest — for another war in the Middle East.

https://twitter.com/#!/mannoush

Military intervention, safezones,no fly zones,human corridors and Arming the Free Syrian Army is a must to put an end to Assad Massacres
10:37 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Tadmor_Harvard

The world is imposing more sanctions on Asad, banning a new type of chocolate bars! Asad is crying now!!
11:35 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Bambuser_Alert

Broadcaster Homslive got injured today in Homs. Homslive is a team of two. One has a leg injury and it's unclear about person nr 2.
11:00 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/AnonymousSyria

[to the US State Department] Syrian people think you are not doing anything significant to stop the slaughter. When are you going to take serious steps?
12:18 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Ugariti_Homsi

It's sad watching my own lovely country being destroyed daily by its own "national" army.
1:06 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/javierespinosa2

Turkish govt says another turkish plane fired at by syrian forces furing initial search
1:24 PM

"syria's downing of jet will not go unpunished", turkish govt spokesman
1:34 PM

Ankara confirms analysis: diplomatic reaction and may be economic sanctions, but there will be no war with Syria said Dep. PM Bulent Arinc
1:41 PM

turkish outrage comes from syrian attitude: with that policy this year Turkey would have downed 114 aircraft that crossed its airspace

https://twitter.com/#!/AmbassadorRice

On Syria, it is a shame that the UNSC continues to stand by rather than stand up.

1:26 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Turk4Syria

Turkey is walking away from the jet incident with its tail between its legs. Its restraint actually feels more like helplessness.
1:36 PM

It's extremely embarrassing. The funny thing is: we're not even talking about going to war or set up free zones, but self-defense.
1:41 PM

Assad is really rubbing it in. His defiance after shooting down the Turkish plane is making the embarrassment in Turkey much bigger. Ouch.
1:44 PM

Media close to the Turkish government actually tried to prevent image of helplessness by claiming Assad was ready to apologize and that the plane might have been shot by a rogue officer or that a 3rd state might have been involved. By stating once again that they are firmly behind their decision to shoot down the plane, the embarrassment of the big-talking Turkish government has become worse.
1:47 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/fkauder

So, according to Turkey, their generals had to literally ask Syria's regime to stop shooting at them. Insane.
1:54 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Syrian Life Aleppo: Hreitan: Fierce artillery Bombing in the city using regime's army tanks
9:51 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Jomaa Matar was martyred from fierce bombing at Mandaljy roundabout
9:56 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Kafar Shams: Fierce bombing in the western neighborhood in the town. 12 tank shells fell so far
10:01 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Daraa: Kafarshams: At least two martyrs are reported following heavy shelling by Assad army. There are also reports of clashes between the Free Syrian Army and Assad army in an attempt to prevent invasion of the town by Assad forces
10:25 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Daraa: Kafr Shams: Rabah Fozan Al-Abbas and another man were martyred in the indiscriminate shelling and gunfire from helicopter gunships by the regime's army on the city . More than 30 people are reportedly wounded
10:55 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir EzZor: Intense clashes between the Free Syrian Army and Assad army at al-Mandalgi roundabout, by al-Koukh al-Jam restaurant, and in al-Mwazafeen neighborhood
10:22 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Lajat: Intense Shelling from warplanes by the regime's army is reported on Shiyyah and Shomra towns
10:58 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Darayya: Regime's army stormed the city backed with tanks, BMP and armored Vehicles, ZIL trucks and buses loaded with soldiers. Snipers were deployed atop buildings and checkpoints were erected around the city
11:25 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Damascus Suburbs: Darayya: Fierce clashes are reported between FSA nad regime's army, heavy gunfire from Shilka and heavy-graded weaponry from regime's army's checkpoints is also reported
1:21 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Ali Ahmad El-Salameh, 60, was martyred by shrapnels from an artillery shell that hit him while he was waiting for his daughter, a high school student, in Safira Tahtani
12:37 PM

Shelling destruction of Qahera Street, Homs

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...85O15J20120625

US says will work with Turkey to hold Syria "accountable"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...n-General.html

Syrian army is 'destroyed physically and mentally', says defected Syrian General

Earlier this month, Syrian Brigadier General Ahmad Berro, head of a tank unit in Aleppo province, fled to Turkey with his family.

The Brigadier General said that he estimated that the Syrian army had lost control of about 60 per cent of the country. He added the Free Syria Army was growing in strength.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-Damascus.html

Syria general deserts senior command in Damascus

The officer, who has promised to disclose his identity in the coming days, was accompanied by a colonel and at least 20 other soldiers. While other generals have deserted, he is believed to be the most senior yet to have abandoned the regime.

His decision provides further evidence that the military balance inside the country is swinging against President Bashar al-Assad's government. At the beginning of the year, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) was on the defensive, evicted from its strongholds by the regime's superior firepower.

Since then, however, the insurgents have become an effective fighting force, deploying anti-tank weapons provided by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to strike Mr Assad's mechanised infantry with increasing regularity.

The general fled into Turkey during the course of Sunday night, arriving yesterday morning. Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the FSA military council, said the general had travelled all the way from Damascus where he was "responsible for a large ammunitions store". Mr Sheikh added: "It remains under the control of the Syrian army but he was able to escape".

He spoke inside Apaydin camp in Turkey's Hatay province, where the general is believed to have been taken. This base, heavily guarded by the Turkish army, was set up specifically for defecting Syrian officers and their families.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Situation in Hama is very mixed today, around the city center it's normal, but in north and south neighbourhoods big troops presence.
5:49 AM

Finally got out of this city which become like a hell after it's stormed so many times. In Damascus probably until Assad is finished.
1:49 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/THE_47th

Exclusive (unless u heard it from some1 else): FSA captures Syrian Central Bank, Homs branch. "we were scared to bomb safe not to burn $$".
1:54 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Mar15Syria

http://mar15.info/2012/06/video-bbc-...ney-into-hell/
“They told us to shoot protesters.I refused.I cant kill my own countrymen.I turned my gun around & shot at the officer that gave the order."
1:51 PM

[unrelated quotes from the same video]

“11 members of his family died, 5 were under 13-yrs-old. They were killed by a cluster bomb. We couldn't tell one piece of them from another.”
1:59 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/DamascusSYR

BREAKING: Jordan to give back plane of defected Syria'n pilot who flew to a military airport in Mafraq tomorrow http://twitpic.com/a0h4tc
2:07 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/LeRifai

FML! We do NOT Want your sanctions Europe!!
2:19 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/mpoppel

REU: TURKISH GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS TURKEY HAS NO INTENTION OF GOING TO WAR WITH ANYONE
1:22 PM

BREAKING -- AP: Turkey says it’ll push NATO to consider Syria’s downing of Turkish jet as attack on alliance.
2:38 PM

Under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, any armed attack against a NATO country is an attack against all NATO countries
2:39 PM

So....? Turkey confuses the hell out of me.


https://twitter.com/#!/DSyrer

Turkey threatens to end electricity exports to Syria. This is pretty much a punishment for the people rather than the regime.
3:06 PM

Hopefully not. Although, the announcement itself is quite unnecessary & reeks of impotence. What a trainwreck.
3:11 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Madeeq Citadel: An intense artillery shelling from regime's army checkpoint is reported in the city
11:26 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Boqros: Several Shells Landed in teh Hweija Area, Residents of the Area are Terrorized and in a State of Panic
11:43 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Intense artillery shelling is reported on Qosur neighborhood, Several stores were set on fire by pro-regime's thugs (Shabiha)
11:44 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: An entire family from the city of Homs was martyred when the car they were travelling in was targeted and exploded near Madlaji Roundabout
12:12 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Ariha: Shelling by helicopter gunships and tanks by the regime's army is reported in the city now
1:40 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Deir Sunbul: Many were injured as a result of the intense shelling of the village with Mortar shells
1:40 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Intense shelling of the town of Jarjanaz was reported as more than 6 shells have fallen so far and the shelling is still underway coming from the center of Wadi Al-Daif
2:24 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Mouadamiet Al-Sham: Regime forces erected a temporary checkpoint at the entrance to the residential project, and three public transportation vehicles full of the regime's shabiha arrived
2:28 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Lattakia: Shafiq Ahmad Darwish, 70, was martyred in Wadi Basour as a result of the indiscriminate shelling by Assad's forces. One of the shells landed on the martyr's home. Two other martyrs were reported but are still unidentified
2:30 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: The regime's army is shelling the refugee camp and the Tareeq Al-Sad district and Daraa Balad. Multiple martyrs and wounded are reported, and homes are being completely destroyed.

There is a severe shortage of medicines and first-aid care in the field hospitals, and regime forces are targeting anyone who attempts to rescue the wounded
2:53 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Maaret Al-Nouman: Dozens of wounded were reported after the regime's army shelled the area using mortars from the Wadi Al-Deif checkpoint
3:01 PM

[visionary]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/25...an-rebels.html

Weeks spent with Syrian rebels reveal a force of Sunni Muslim civilians

KHAN SHEIKHOUN, Syria -- They are doctors, they are teachers. They are students and the unemployed. They are farmers and pharmacists.

The armed rebellion that has plunged Syria into what one U.N. official has called a civil war has been cast by the Syrian government as led by Islamic extremists, and the lack of a clear understanding of who the rebels are has been cited by Western governments as one reason not to arm them.

But a month of traveling with the rebels in northern and central Syria reveals that the armed opposition here is based as much on geography and ethnicity as religion. Some of the rebels are pious, but many more are not.

http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-ne...-military-jet/

Turkey Toughens Response to Syria’s Downing of Military Jet

Turkey has toughened its response to Syria's downing of a Turkish military jet last week, saying it will ask fellow NATO members to consider the incident a Syrian attack on the whole alliance.

NATO envoys are due to meet Tuesday at Turkey's request, to discuss a reaction to the attack on the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft near the Syrian-Turkish maritime border. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc Monday said Ankara called the meeting under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one alliance member shall be considered an attack against all members.

NATO previously said Turkey requested the meeting by invoking Article 4 of the treaty that allows one member to hold consultations with others if it feels its security has been threatened.

Speaking after a Turkish Cabinet meeting, Arinc said Ankara has the right to retaliate under international law for what he called Syria's “hostile” act against the unarmed military jet. He accused Syrian forces of deliberately shooting down the aircraft in international airspace over the Mediterranean. But Arinc also said Turkey does not want to go to war over the incident, which left two Turkish pilots missing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...51V_story.html

Rebel-held town in northern Syria struggles to keep army out, avoid sectarian strife

http://lattakianews.blogspot.com/201...x-none_25.html

Daily report from Latakia on Monday 25 June 2012

More than 75 mortars fell on Kurds Mountains area between morning and noon while left few houses and mosques damaged. Ahmad Abu-Mousa mosque in Salma was targeted with mortar which left many injuries in the area. Also, more than 13 missiles targeted areas in the mountains between Salma, Saqiet al-Kert, Marouniat, Mraij, and kinsebba.

More than five were wounded in random shelling on Mraij and Kert villages.

70 year-old Shafeeq Ahmad Darweesh passed away after a rocket fell on his house in Wadi Basur village, two more passed away as well. Many were killed or wounded in the random shelling on Salma and Ain al-Qantara as rocket launchers were used.

Assad army is shelling Kurds Mountains using mortar and rocket launchers from the following places: Yuniseih, Zubar, Samia, obeen, Saqiet al-Kert, and Iramo.

Last night brutal shelling was continued on many villages and targeted many farms. One rocket fell Tirtiah village’s cemetery, and another fell on a house in Marj Khokha.

Tonight, shelling with mortar and rocket launchers was renewed on many villages like Salma, Shellef, Barzeh, Kindeh, and Kabbineh.

Three buses full of Assad gang members were seen near Zeghreen village heading to Kassab.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Syria Foreign Ministry regarding the Turkish plane incident "Even if the plane was Syrian we would have shot it down" http://blogs.aljazeera.net/topic/syr...an-sovereignty
3:43 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/CAIRNational

CAIR Urges Denial of U.S. Visa for Assad Regime Figure #StopTerrorMufti http://conta.cc/LlT2uN
3:51 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/AnonymousSyria

We, the revolutionaries, assure you that if Turkey cuts electricity supplies to Syria, ordinary people will be negatively affected! RT!
4:19 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Brown_Moses

If Turkey cuts Syria's electricity it may hasten the fall of the regime, but the ordinary people would suffer, but they suffer already, hm
4:26 PM

Victory! Woo hoo!
https://twitter.com/#!/abuhatem

Here is official statement by @FMEP that the event has been cancelled with Mufti Hassoun of Syria http://e2.ma/webview/h9zvc/7ce12e0ef...d58ca6825d0e35 #StopTerrorMufti
4:41 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/alihashem_tv

Just left @ALJADEEDNEWS HQ that was under attack by five masked armed men #Lebanon
4:11 PM

One of the attackers was arrested by Lebanese Army intelligence
4:12 PM

Our colleagues @ALJADEEDNEWS were under the shock of the attack
4:13 PM

Many @ALJADEEDNEWS HQ were speculating the attack is linked to an interview with Sunni cleric Ahmed Alasir
4:16 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Thanku4theAnger

Can Turkey bomb presidential palace in Damascus by accident please? #HonestMistakesHappen
5:01 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Douma: Ahmad Hosain Ahmad, 53 years old, originally Palestinian, was martyred from being shot in his car while returning home from work. He works as the principal of Beit Nayem School and lives in Hejarieh neighborhood
3:30 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus: Military recruit Solaiman Adel Younis was martyred by regime's shabiha. He is Kurdi from Qamishli
4:08 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Harasta: A mortar fell on a demonstration and injured a child
4:14 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Aleppo: Atareb: Fierce random bombing in the city using tanks and mortar from the 46th regiment
4:32 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Saraqeb: Yousef al-Sheikh Ali, a young man, is martyred, and two others are wounded as a result indiscriminate shelling of the city by Assad forces
5:46 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Karnaz: Assad forces are heavily shelling the city and surrounding villages with artillery
5:47 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus: Mazzeh: A large number of helicopters are taking off from the Mazzeh Military Airport, and hovering above Mazzeh, Kafarsouseh, and Daraya
5:47 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Kafarshams: Assad forces resume indiscriminately shelling the town, accompanied with a power outage and panic among the residents
5:48 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syrian

Monday has ended with the fall of 80 martyrs in Syria.
20 martyrs were reported in Daraa most of them were martyrdom in a massacre the the refuge camp17 martyrs in Deir Ezzor, 11 in Idlib, 10 in Homs, 10 in Damscus Suburbs, 4 in Lattakia,3 in Aleppo ,2 in Hama, 1 in Damascus,1 in Qameshli and 1 in Hasakeh

[visionary]

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Mid...#axzz1yskKv8uc

U.S. envoy calls U.N. Council 'colossal failure' on Syria

The council, which is divided on how to end the conflict, "continues to stand by, rather than to stand up," Susan Rice, US envoy to the United Nations, told the 15-nation body.

The Security Council is to get an update on the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) on Tuesday from Nasser al-Kudwa, deputy to UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.

"The situation in Syria represents a colossal failure by the Security Council to protect civilians," Rice told a council debate on civilians in conflict.

"For over a year, this council has not been willing to protect the Syrian people from the brutal actions of their government," she added, saying the Assad government's crackdown "has grown ever more reprehensible and ever more dangerous to international peace and security."

"It is a shame that this Council continues to stand by rather than to stand up," Rice said.

"We must take meaningful steps, including by imposing binding sanctions under Chapter VII, to pressure" Assad to comply with Annan's six point peace plan and work toward a political transition, the US envoy added.

http://www.canada.com/news/Harper+wa...809/story.html

Harper was warned Syria ignoring outrage over massacres: memo

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syr...lp-resolve-row

Iran offers to use its good ties with Damascus and Ankara to help resolve the row.

https://twitter.com/#!/WashingtonPoint

Interesting.. Seems like Turkey will ask NATO for sea and air blockade on Syria.. Turkey also might invoke 5th following 4th-- pro-gov Sabah
1:13 AM

Early morning:“@Khaledkhoja: LCC : 30 people killed, 5 members of one family excuted this morning in damascus and Deir Zor by Assad forces”
2:11 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Brown_Moses

NATO starts their meeting on Syria in around one hour from now Turkey
3:05 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

First night in a long time without any gunfire at last, not a "safe" place since the batta is less than 2KM away, but it's quiet. #offline
7:38 PM

There's heavy shelling on Qudsaya and Hammeh, Damascus today, 12 people have been killed so far [LCC]. Syria http://pic.twitter.com/gtB0D3ED
3:16 AM

Hammeh is a lovely town, this album I posted is from there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chronic...7630290867604/ There's heavy shelling there. a lot of dead &wounded now.
3:19 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/SkyNewsBreak

AFP: Fierce fighting around Elite Republic Guards post near Damascus, Syria
3:15 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Bambuser_Alert

Latest report about the team Homslive in Homs, Syria is that they are ok. No 100% confirmation though. Earlier blog: http://ow.ly/bPeyD
3:42 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/oh_bergine

@WilliamJHague you r losing faith in ArabSpring and Arabs are losing faith in your humanity. Leaving Syrians die 4 their universal rights. By "you" I mean free, Western, "civilised" world. It seems not all human beings r born equal nor do they deserve same rights.
4:17 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hasakeh: Fierce clashes were reported between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army amid heavy gunfire from inside the youth military camp in the Salhieh district. This was accompanied by intense gunfire at the Hafez Al-Assad roundabout
6:24 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Aleppo: The regime's 46th Regiment is shelling the villages of Babka, Kafar Halab, and Batbo using large-grade weapons
6:25 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Jassem: Heavy shelling was reported in the town, and 5 shells have landed thus far
7:16 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Daraa: Jassem: More than 70 people are wounded, most in critical condition, in addition to 5 martyrs as a result of the heavy artillery shelling of the city by Assad forces
7:24 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Shelling by the regime's army continues in Daraa Balad, the Tareeq Al-Sad district, and the refugee camp
7:17 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Al-Hameh: Regime forces shelled the city heavily using tanks and mortars, amid an electricity blackout in the city and in parts of Qudsaya
9:42 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Al-Hameh: Heavy artillery shelling was reported in the area from the 105th Brigade of the Republican Guard in the Dummar district
10:38 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Damascus Suburbs: Al-Hameh: A large number of military reinforcements have arrived on the main road headed towards Qodsiya and Hameh consisting of 10 Station Wagons and two buses filled with soldiers
10:47 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Kafr Shams: The indiscriminate shelling of the town continues as it is surrounded from all entrances by tanks and buses filled with security forces and Shabiha amid residents' fears of an impending massacre
11:11 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Daraa: Kafr Shams: The indiscriminate shelling of the town continues as shells fall on the medical clinic and a school and two homes are completely destroyed
3:33 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir EzZor: Assad forces are again heavily shelling with artillery each of al-Ommal and al-Arafi neighborhoods. There are direct injuries in houses on Bor Saeed Street
12:28 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Intense shelling was reported and a large number of shells fell on Jbeila neighborhood
2:01 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Deir Ezzor: Shelling of Jbeila neighborhood intensified at a rate of two shells per minute
2:50 AM

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...94#post8951494
(First 30 days: 1,095 killed)
(Second 30 days: 1,473 killed)
(Third 30 days: (15 days in) 1,207 killed)

3,775 people killed since the ceasefire went into effect.

Pre-Ceasefire death total- 13,368
Current total- 17,141

[visionary]

I'm not sure this is true. I haven't heard too much about this. Maybe there was more chatter about it while I was sleeping though.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog/topic/Syria-153

Syria about 5 hours ago

Syrian activists in the outskirts of Aleppo say that 280 soldiers defected in Idlib near the main highway leading to Aleppo, on Tuesday.

They said there were clashes between the defectors and the Syrian army and that one helicopter had been shot down and six tanks destroyed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/wo...er=rss&emc=rss

Syrian Insurgents Strike a Nerve with Attack on Elite Damascus Guards

The assault on the Republican Guard base, which is adjacent to the palace, began on Monday night and was only intended as a probing attack, according to a lieutenant of the Free Syrian Army whose unit launched the attack, and who was interviewed by Skype telephone afterward.

“It was not a big confrontation, it was just to test the Guards’ capacity, for future attacks,” said the lieutenant, who for security reasons asked to be identified only by his rank. “Our fighters were really surprised by the huge forces that immediately came and encircled the area.”

As he put it, the incident proved that “one bullet in Damascus has more impact than a tank barrage in Idlib or Homs, because the regime doesn’t hear the bombings but for sure they hear the bullet in Damascus.”

Only 20 lightly armed fighters were involved in the attack, he said. “It was just a test for when the battle does move to Damascus.”

The elite Republican Guard Division has an estimated 8,000 or more soldiers and is devoted to protection of President Assad and his subordinates. The Republican Guard has taken the lead in suppressing dissent in the capital area.

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-...163950488.html

Syrian rebels say they destroyed helicopter, tanks

Syrian rebels aired footage on Tuesday of burnt-out tanks as well as a helicopter engulfed in smoke and flames which they said they had destroyed after it landed in a field in northern Idlib province carrying Syrian special forces.

An amateur video posted on the Internet showed a military helicopter with its blades spinning as if it had just landed. "Special forces are being deployed from a helicopter to kill civilians in (the town) of Mar Dibsi," a voice off screen says breathlessly to the sound of gunfire.

A second video, which appears to be from the same town, shows the helicopter in flames, with a white rotor blade poking out of the plumes of smoke.

Other videos posted on Tuesday by rebels who are fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad showed the burnt-out shells of four tanks and two BMPs - Russian-made tracked infantry fighting vehicles. One video showed a man firing rocket-propelled grenades at a passing tank.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

First defection from the Palestine Liberation Army http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSMP0...eature=g-all-u In response to the shelling on Palestinian camp in Daraa Syria
6:01 AM

Interesting week for defections. Brigadier generals, the first Major General, Alawite and Druze officers and now the first Palestinian.
6:08 AM

Ghalioun [former head of the SNC] enters Syria in disguise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNXoejZ0VU&feature=plcp meeting with some revolutionaries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPshRSd_J24&feature=plcp Good move.
1:14 PM

Dr. Ghalioun meeting with FSA inside Idlib Syria http://pic.twitter.com/7Ermq9Nh
1:20 PM

Ghalioun getting ready to leave after his meeting in Idlib. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WWS...g&feature=plcp I love the mini flag on the car, like a diplomat. Syria
1:31 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/GinnySacksMole

Assad is bleeding tanks, FSA are giving them a hammering today, lots of video coming out
10:57 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/BreakingNews

UN peacekeeping chief tells security council increasing danger not conducive for monitors in Syria to resume operations: envoy - @Reuters
11:15 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/WashingtonPoint

Just last night there were 342 Syrians fled to Turkey,inc 3 lieutenants..Turkey is constructing another refugee camp near S.Urfa,total ~35K
11:37 AM

Turkey finally moves to put the credible force of threat on d table by massing some armors&tanks to the border. Th message shouldn't be lost
12:47 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/BBCBarbaraPlett

France UN envoy says Annan will decide tonight on whether to hold Geneva mtg on Syria
12:42 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Mohasen: Ghassan Ahmad Salem, 40 years old, and child Raad Mohammad Al-Abed, 5 years old, were martyred amid the shelling in the city which also resulted in the fall of many wounded
10:19 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310
Deir Ezzor: Mohsen: Raed Al-Rasli, Ghassan Al-Ahmad Al-Salem Al-Eid, Raaed Mohamad Al-Abd Al-Matar, were martyred during the indiscriminate mortar shelling on the city
11:32 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Kafar Shams: The number of the martyrs, who fell in the town from bombing by regime forces, and gunfire by security forces, has risen to 9. Bombing the town continues, houses are being destroyed, the number of wounded rose, and there's a lack of first aid
11:22 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Fierce clashes between the Free Syrian Army and regime's army, involving heavy and mid-size weapons in al-Hurriya (Freedom) square
12:03 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Intense artillery shelling coming from the brick factory checkpoint, and targeting the towns of Saraqeb and Maarbleet
12:06 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs has reached 86 thus far today. Of those, 33 were in Damascus Suburbs (Hameh, Qudsaya, and Douma), 11 in Daraa, 9 in Idlib, 10 in Deir EzZor, 7 in Aleppo, 9 in Homs, 5 in Hama, and 2 in Damascus.
12:27 PM

Funeral for those killed in Palestinian Camp massacre

[visionary]

https://twitter.com/#!/i_magpie

As far as Syria is concerned, NATO means a No Action Treaty Organisation!
2:04 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/CitizenGeo

I have just arrived from a two-week visit to my relatives in Homs province .. no safe access was available
2:22 PM

no safe access to the net was available.. thanks for your concern .. still no word from @SooriMadsoos !!
2:26 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/WashingtonPoint

First hand witness Syria:now you can reach from Turkish border city Antakya to Aleppo thru liberated areas which are under control of FSA
2:33 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

13 defected Syria officers including 3 colonels arrive into Turkey via @AJALive
2:48 PM

A lot of defections into Turkey recently, thanks to the "safe-zone" the FSA has created along the border with Turkey.
2:49 PM

FSA destroy a T72 tank & BMP in Khan al-Sebel, Idlib http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbxZtHl46cY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepo...Y&feature=plcp & another tank https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U7K...E&feature=plcp #Syria
2:56 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Mou2amara

Activists reporting Qudsaya in RifDimashq is turning into a ghost town as citizens are fleeing the constant shelling.
3:29 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HouriaWaBas

Activists report heavy shelling/bombardment in Damascus suburbs, Deir Ezzor, Qusair, Homs & other areas; So far 90+ dead v @arwaCNN
3:36 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/markito0171

MAP of northern Syria Idlib & Aleppo shows cities & areas mostly controlled by FSA & Rebels (green) http://twitpic.com/a0uql9
3:39 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Aleppo: Nayrab Camp: Ziad Hamdo Khalaf, 27, was martyred yesterday along with Ibrahim Mohamad Al-Ameen, 21, both were shot by snipers of the pro-regime's Palestinian thugs . The news of their death could not be communicated yesterday due to the blackout of all means of communication
2:05 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Aleppo: Anjarah: Fierce shelling in the city by regime tanks and rockets. Residents are fleeing the city amid a complete power outage and a communications cut-off for the fourth consecutive day
2:07 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Inkhel: Abed Ghaffar Rahman Nofal was martyred and dozens were wounded due to the regime' indiscriminate shelling in the city
2:58 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Renewed and fierce artillery shelling is reported from Tala'a Camps
2:57 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Latamneh: Assad army checkpoints heavily shelled the city with tanks along with very intense gunfire
3:42 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Daeel: Members of an entire family are injured after a bomb targeting the square where a demonstration was taking place hit a house
3:45 PM

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...115656119.html

Assad says Syria 'in a state of war'

Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, has said that his country is in a state of war and has ordered his new cabinet to crush the uprising against his government, even as Turkey vowed to retaliate against the shooting down of one of its air force jets.

Opposition forces and Syrian army units, meanwhile, have engaged in deadly combat around elite Republican Guard posts in the suburbs of Damascus on Tuesday, as 116 people were killed across the country, a monitoring group said.

Amid mounting tensions in the anti-government uprising now in its 16th month, Assad admitted that Syria is in a "real situation of war".

"When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory," he told the new cabinet, the official SANA news agency reported.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/amer...-syria-meeting

Kofi Annan may cancel Syria meeting

Annan is trying to organise a high-level meeting involving all of the relevant countries for this Saturday in a last-ditch effort to salvage his peace plan – but Al-Kidwa told the council he wasn't going to bother unless they could agree on some basic principles and guidelines first.

Annan wants to get the process for a political transition in Syria rolling. Al-Kidwa warned council members that "an action group must be just that and not a talking shop".

But after the meeting it appeared nothing had changed in the Security Council. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the Russians were all on board for the meeting, but downplayed the need for an agreement first.

The Russians say the international community does not have the right to impose "regime change" on Syria and continue to block any punitive action against the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad.

"Our view is clear," Churkin said. "It is the Syrians themselves who need to work things out."

He accused other countries of "playing hard to get" by not committing to the Annan meeting. Annan wants Iran, with its influence on Syria, to be involved. The United States is against it.

Annan will announce on Wednesday whether or not he is holding the meeting.

None of the other Ambassadors came in front of the cameras but the French and the British are still talking tough about a new Chapter 7 Security Council resolution, either threatening sanctions or imposing them outright on the Syrian government unless it honors the cessation of hostilities negotiated by Annan and endorsed by the Security Council.

But everybody knows the Russians, and probably the Chinese, will just veto it.

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Baba Amr revolutionaries battalion capture a Brigadier General http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSbS0367aX8 Homs
5:27 PM

Proves the safe-zone idea works, since Ghalioun, senior FSA commander, defectors, weapons going through free border
5:56 PM

Will be interesting to see if Turkey is prepared to send more weapons to increase the size of the zone.
6:01 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HAMDIRIFAI

So by shooting down a Turkish Jet Assad guaranteed no Syrian Pilot could defect to Turkey without risk of being immediately shot down
10:21 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Al-Sheikh Miskeen: The regime's army stormed the southern and western districts, and heavy clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army took place; the FSA prevented the regime's army from advancing
6:05 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Fierce clashes take place between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army in the region connecting Khan Sheikhoun and Droosha amid strong explosions that shook the city
9:16 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

Tuesday came to a close with 113 martyrs in Syria. 33 martyrs were reported in the Damascus Suburbs (Al-Hameh, Qudsaya, Douma), 16 in Daraa, 24 in Idlib, 10 in Deir Ezzor, 9 in Aleppo, 14 in Homs, 5 in Hama, and 2 in Damascus
6:22 PM

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...94#post8951494
(First 30 days: 1,095 killed)
(Second 30 days: 1,473 killed)
(Third 30 days: (16 days in) 1,320 killed)

3,888 people killed since the ceasefire went into effect.

Pre-Ceasefire death total- 13,368
Current total- 17,254

[visionary]

Odd Incident. It doesn't really seem like something the rebels would do.
Why attack a tv station that few people pay any attention to?
It also comes at a very convenient time for the regime.
Sort of like those bombings that used to happen so frequently in heavily secured areas.
But of course you never know. People do crazy things sometimes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...85Q07620120627

Gunmen stormed the headquarters of a pro-government Syrian TV news channel on Wednesday morning, planted explosives and killed three employees, state media said.

"The terrorists planted explosive devices in the headquarters of al-Ikhbariya following their ransacking of the satellite channel studios, including the newsroom which was entirely destroyed," the state media said.

"Three colleagues were killed as a result of the brutal terrorist attack," it added, without giving details.

The Syrian press is tightly regulated by the Ministry of Information. Although Ikhbariya is privately owned, opponents of President Bashar al-Assad say it is a government mouthpiece.

I wonder how many people were there during this 'brutal terrorist attack'....


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-...ya-tv-station/

Syria: "Armed group" kills 4 in raid on pro-Assad Ikhbariya TV station

Syria's state-run news agency says gunmen have attacked the headquarters of a pro-government TV station, killing four employees.

SANA says the attack on Ikhbariya TV in the town of Drousha, about 14 miles south of the capital Damascus, occurred early Wednesday.

CBS News' George Baghdadi says the Syrian Minister of Information dubbed the attack a "real massacre." The government laid the blame on an unidentified "armed group". According to the Minister, some station staff were tied and tortured before being killed. None of the information could be independently verified by CBS News.

https://twitter.com/#!/Syrian_Scenes

FSA congratulates Mursi, implores him "not to allow the Iranian weapons killing our people to travel through the Suez." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96AyOo-nIpM
11:41 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/SyriaCampaigns

We've received news that an active participant in Syria Campaigns was detained some months ago & is now in the Airforce Security Branch
12:20 AM

He once told a member of our team "I have two things I look forward to every Friday, protests on the streets [of Syria] & on Twitter"
12:20 AM

Please keep him and all of Syria's detainees in your thoughts and prayers
12:20 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/hisham_melhem

When NATO’s “measured response” to downed #Turkish plane sounds almost like appeasement of Assad. http://bit.ly/MtsScZ
12:28 AM

Mortars pour on the neighbourhood of Homs. Witness the destruction http://youtu.be/AbfIxPZ-fkM
12:28 AM

Assad forces shell Rastan for the 18th consecutive day http://youtu.be/kiV9DpcGI1Q
12:34 AM

FSA takes over an Assad air base in Idlib countryside and captures huge amount of ammunition http://youtu.be/_enD0hEwqQE
12:41 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/RulaAmin

Fierce clashes in Saraqeb,‪ Idlib‬ -- 1 helicopter downed 3 tanks destroyed say activists
12:53 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/javierespinosa2

Idlib and Deir al-Zor: “Perhaps in the near future we will declare them completely liberated” Riad alAsaad FSA Official Leader http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Pol...#axzz1ymhBPYfL
1:48 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/AmalHanano

Murdering pro-Assad media employees is NOT the freedom that I want. #StopTheKilling
1:57 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamwiyaStrength

Going to have to agree with SANA on this one, that was an act of terrorism. If we preach peace, how does killing defenseless workers fit in?
2:04 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/BintAlRifai

Picture of the ikhbariya channel allegedly attacked by defected security forces killing journalists inside. http://pic.twitter.com/MeNOTrwW
1:37 AM

I'm not any moral high ground & I understand has turned into civil war between pro & anti Assad in Syria, but attack on news is bad.
1:39 AM

Closer image of the Syrian news building in fire. http://pic.twitter.com/x8wZPviR
2:26 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Mou2amara

Hard to believe these 'gunmen' were FSA. Of all the more strategic sites why Ikhbaria, a channel even the regime doesn't watch?
2:27 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/NMSyria

Targeting media personnel is unacceptable. I consider this murder. This isn't freedom. This isn't what a revolution is supposed to be
2:52 AM

Therefore I think it is suitable that I call this a terrorist attack. In my eyes, terrorists attacked Al-Akhbariya News HQ
2:53 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Khan Sheikhoun: Shelling of the city and the surrounding villaeges was renewed in the early hours of the morning coinciding with the arrival of a large amount of military reinforcements and residents fear an impending massacre
3:50 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: The regime's army is shelling the neighborhoods of Jbeila and Mwathafeen with artillery and mortar shells
3:52 AM

[visionary]

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/27/s...leeing-country

Syria: End Indiscriminate Shootings of Civilians Fleeing Country

Syrian soldiers on the border with Jordan appear to be shooting indiscriminately at anyone - including civilian women and children - trying to flee from Syria, Human Rights Watch said today. The Syrian authorities should immediately order its armed forces on the border to end all indiscriminate attacks and take all feasible measures to avoid injuries to civilians crossing into neighboring countries, and to respect their right to leave the country.

In mid-June, Human Rights Watch spoke with 17 Syrian refugees in Jordan who said that when they fled in May and June across the border in groups of up to 200 civilians accompanied by members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Syrian soldiers subjected them to sustained machine gun and sniper fire, killing three civilians and wounding 11. All of the refugees described incidents in which the Syrian army opened fire without warning, and fired on everyone who was crossing the border, FSA fighters and civilian men, women and children alike.

The story of this incident keeps growing
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...06-27-05-36-31

Syria: TV station attacked, 7 staffers killed

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/...efire-u-n-says

Violence In Syria Is As Bad, Or Worse, Than Before Ceasefire, U.N. Says

https://twitter.com/#!/NabilAbiSaab

Kofi Annan announces meeting of the Action Group for Syria is on Saturday, June 30. Iran SaudiArabia are not invited
8:27 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/LeShaque

Dear Kofi Annan, Kindly cancel the pointless conference and give us the money you would've spent for aid. Thank you.
8:34 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/columlynch

Invitations for Syria action group meeting went to: US, China, Britain, France, Russia, Turkey, sg's of UN and Arab League
9:54 AM

Invites to Syria meeting also went to:Hi Rep of EU fr For Affairs; Iraq,chair of AL summit, Kuwait, chair of Al For Affairs and Qatar for AL
9:58 AM

**** them and their useless meeting. The Syrian people want no part of it.
Stop trying to force them into something you want and listen to them, you selfish bastards.
Stop trying to appease the Russians and Assad, Syrians want nothing to do with them.


https://twitter.com/#!/abuhatem

Meeting Saturday by Annan won't solve anything. More meetings will happen and not solve anything.
10:06 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/thebaghdaddy

The Fsa yesterday attacked a caravan of tanks near khan alsibl destroying 19 tanks, 2 helicopters, and 4 soldier carriers
9:36 AM

Shelling is nonstop on Maarat Al-Nouman and Jabal Alzawiyah
9:45 AM

A military helicopter is firing rockets on us in Jabal Alzawiyah right now
9:57 AM

BREAKING till now 100 houses were burned down in Khan Alsibl, Maarat Al-Nouman
10:01 AM

A new FSA battalion is being formed in Bookamal, deirezzor. One of my friends is joining them iA.
10:03 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/thebaghdaddy

BREAKING the FSA in Khan Alsibl, Maarat Al-Nouman just seized an army carrier full of artillery
10:13 AM

3 new martyrs from the FSA in the Khan Alsibl, Maarat Al-Nouman battle
10:30 AM

Another artillery truck was just seized by the FSA
10:39 AM

The regime army is sending more tanks from Wadi Aldhaif, Maarat Al-Nouman to Khan Alsibl, Maarat Al-Nouman
10:40 AM

This battle is the largest battle since the start of the revolution
10:41 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Big protest in the Druze city of Sweidah today, I think the largest they have had. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnNyXnn8SD4
10:25 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/RulaAmin

Louay Hussein,a syrian opposition figure says Syria contact group is meant to manage the crisis not resolve it and it will fail
11:25 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs : Sultaniyeh : Rocket-shelling in the city continues since this morning accompanied with helicopter shells
9:41 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Amorein: More than 10 families fled the village to Latamna due to threats by security forces of committing a massacre in the village
9:47 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Renewal of fierce artillery and mortal shelling was reported in Jabeileh neighborhood and three shells fell on a house
9:49 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Moaath Makhlof, Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Saleh, Mohsen Hedawy, and a whole family from Homs including, Aeda Al-Aqraa, Saif Edden Betar, Abdul Rahman Betar, Qamar Betar, and Abeer Betar were martyred from fierce bombing in the city
10:04 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs: Deir Asafeir: Five wounded fell in the city from bombing by regime's army
10:08 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Saraqeb: The city is under heavy shelling and crippling siege by the regime's army
11:18 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Basamas: Abdullah Al-Mansour and Hamoudi Al-Haj Hussein were martyred, and a child and a woman were wounded due to the shelling by regime's army on the city
11:26 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of Syrian martyrs has risen to 35 so far. 10 martyrs were reported in Damascus Suburbs, 9 in Deir Ezzor, 8 in idlib, 4 in Homs, 2 in Hama, and 2 in Daraa
11:17 AM

Shelling in Kafr Nabuda, Hama

[visionary]

http://www.trt-world.com/trtworld/en...b-48407324ded4

MORE SYRIAN REFUGEES CROSS INTO TURKEY

Following the recent arrivals the number of the Syrians fleeing the violence in Syria has reached 34 thousand

https://twitter.com/#!/SchamsEU

EU has added Assad's media advisor Bouthaina Shaaban to its targeted sanctions list: travel ban & assets freeze.
10:07 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/JMiller_EA

FWIW, it's been 11 months since I thought the window for negotiated peace in Syria closed http://huff.to/MU9KDZ
11:11 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/abuhatem

Syrians are humans and not animals they just deserve to live normal lives like the rest of the free world.
11:14 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/MahirZeynalov

No, rescue teams are still looking for them. They're most probably dead. They're missing for six days.
11:20 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/WilliamJHague

I will attend Geneva meeting of Syria action group called by Kofi Annan. Must agree principles for a political transition
11:42 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/Hebeishy

with all due respect to z world politicians, if u really wanted to get rid of Assad, u'd have...long time ago
11:50 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/hlk01

it's delusional to think Syrians will accept a Yemen solution after the barbarity of the regime More time wasting I'm afraid.
11:56 AM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

Formation of the Hamza battalions of the FSA in Rastan, Homs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRJnStU4izg
12:52 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Turk4Syria

Turkish media reporting that armoured vehicles are heading to the Syrian border at this moment. They include mortar & rocket launchers.
12:05 PM

Heading to the Syrian border this afternoon. Looks like AA guns http://twitpic.com/a15ws7 and rocket launchers: http://twitpic.com/a15wwf
12:28 PM

Turkish media also reports troop movements towards Mürsitdag, a small village which is just opposite Ain Al Arab. Here: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=iskend...e,+Turkey&z=12
1:03 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/alextomo

Turkey moving tanks to Syrian border, PM saying "we won't refrain from teaching a lesson to the state of gangs." #c4news tonight
12:46 PM

Arabic news services reporting cross-border Syrian-Jordanian clashes
12:45 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/ahmed

Reports that Saudi National Guard forces are put on standby. Reasons still unclear.
6:27 AM

initial rumors were about King's health, but several sources said later it is about Syria. SANG are not only forces on standby.
12:54 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/BBCBarbaraPlett

UN spox says Annan will brief Iran after Geneva mtg on Syria, is checking whether SaudiArabia will also get briefed
1:31 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/tweets4peace

Relative fled with her kids to Deir Ezzor from Baba Amr. Shelled + killed today. Aida, 4 kids + unborn baby. Gone.
1:24 PM

Jobar is being shelled with dozens per minute and also regime aircrafts. Urgent calls for help from my village. Pray for them.
2:08 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Karnaz: Multiple wounded were reported as a result of the heavy artillery shelling in the town
12:51 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Al-Habeet: A large number of wounded were reported as a result of the heavy shelling in the town
12:55 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Houla: Heavy artillery shelling from tanks, and heavy gunfire from Shilkas and large-grade weapons were reported
1:01 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Ariha: An artillery shell landed in the city and residents are in a state of panic. It is expected that this is the prelude to total, continuous shelling
1:09 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Lattakia: A number of missiles landed on the new Lattakia-Aleepo Highway, and another missile landed on the Higher Totar line near the Wadi Sheikhan bridge
1:18 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Daeel: Heavy artillery shelling was reported at the Al-Shami checkpoint, and two mortars landed. A home on Al-Awsat Street was damaged
1:21 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Idlib: Maaret Al-Nouman: A large number of martyrs and wounded was reported as a result of the heavy and indiscriminate shelling in the city
1:38 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Abdelqader Al-Barri, Saleh Al-Masaleh Al-Tarbaji, Abdelazziz Kanaan, Mohammad Ayoub, and Abu Ali from Tir Maala were all martyred, and a number of wounded were reported, after the regime's army stormed the Arab Spring district from Al-Abassiyeh and Siteen Street using a large number of tanks
1:51 PM

[visionary]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/op...rssnyt&emc=rss

A Flashpoint on Turkey’s Border

NY Times Editorial

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/...the-right-sort

Syria intervention of the right sort

CS Monistor Editorial

Neither article really says much though....


http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/unde...oyed-bluestone

Homs’ destroyed bluestone

The picture above is of Bluestone restaurant, once considered one of the trendiest eateries in Homs.

Named after Homs’ volcanic stones, the restaurant is located in Bustan al-Diwan (Orchard Court) neighbourhood within the Old Homs district.

Like several other neighbourhoods within Old Homs, Bustan al-Diwan was home to many historical characters. Their houses are now archaeological sites. On some of the walls there, inscriptions in ancient languages, including in Roman, could be found.

Also in one of the neighbourhood’s streets is the resting place of the uncle of Saladin, Asad ad-Din Shirkuh, from the 10th century. Another historic site is the Umm al-Zinar Church, which dates back to the first century.

Bustan al-Diwan has been mainly inhabited by Christians, some of Homs’ original people whose families arrived in the city more than 700 years ago.

The rich heritage and the diversity in this neighbourhood made it a popular destination for tourists and locals who wanted to take strolls and enjoy the scenery of ancient buildings.

The square located in front of Bluestone restaurant had always been packed with young people on Sundays (the Christian holiday) and Fridays (the Muslim holiday).

But the vibrant life in this neighbourhood suddenly came to an end when the Syrian regime began bombarding it.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/orig...medium=twitter

Dozens Defect From Syrian Army, But Rebel Ranks Also Cracking

https://twitter.com/#!/WashingtonPoint

Erdogan's top adviser I.Kalin said Turkey would welcome Iran & Russia as part of solution go forward re Syria if that'd stop killings
2:00 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/jfoleyjourno

Local commander reporting at least 3 FSA brigades fighting to get back into Baba Amr, but haven't been successful yet.
2:40 PM

my vid constant shelling in rastan over 5 months devastated city of 80,000. http://www.yousendit.com/download/Ql...UnFBNkU4RmNUQw
4:28 PM

video shows FSA capturing 3 arms trucks off main road Idlib http://youtu.be/MaDajwWoh8s
3:22 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/abuhatem

Look at how much supplies & aid the Druze people of Swaida are sending to the people of Daraa. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5VoCdVnnyw
2:46 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/Dilmunite

wanted to tell u in panama i went to kosher supermarket, found FSA flag in it! was told owner is syrian jew & rev. supporter.
3:04 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/HamaEcho

TT @AJALive : SRGC: 13 women and children have been killed by shelling on Habait, Idlib
3:55 PM

https://twitter.com/#!/abuhatem

Russia has suspended the sale of the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Syria http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=275480
3:32 PM

King Abdullah of Jordan meets with Putin says there should be a "political solution" in Syria http://alhayat.com/Details/413901
4:22 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Damascus Suburbs:: Deir Al Asafeer: Renewed indiscriminate shelling by the battalion of Al-Sawareekh in Heteitat Al Turkman on the city
2:21 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Dara'a: the regime's army escalates it's military operations and increases shelling and use of heavy weapons on Dara'a Al Balad, the refugee camps, the two cities of Da'el and Al-Hirak and the towns of Kufr Shams, Al musaifera and Al Kerk
2:40 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Al Hirak: the city is being heavily shelled by heavy artillery and shells
3:08 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Dael: A number of martyrs and more than 70 wounded due to indiscriminate shelling on the city, with difficulty reaching the wounded
3:22 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Daraa: Inkhel: Heavy artillery shelling on the town with a large number of shells landing which lead to the destruction of a number of houses
3:24 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: shelling resumed on the cities' neighborhoods, with two mortar shells landing in the neighborhood of Ardhi
3:49 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Homs: Heavy artillery shelling on the village of Ghanto and Teirma'lah, amid a power cut
4:06 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Lattakia: renewed shelling with rockets on some of the villages of Masyaf Salma and near Kansba
4:22 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Deir Ezzor: Several shells landed on the Sheikh Yassin neighborhood4:50 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

Hama: Karnaz: More than 23 people were reported wounded as a result of the heavy and continuous shelling in the town
5:49 PM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...17848338242310

The Local Coordination Commitees in Syria:

Wednesday drew to a close with the fall of 104 martyrs, among them more than 20 children. 42 martyrs were reported in Idlib, 15 in the Damascus Suburbs, 14 in Deir Ezzor, 10 in Daraa, 10 in Homs, 8 in Qamishli, 3 in Hama, 1 in Hasakeh, and 1 in Aleppo
5:50 PM

This is the first time that 100+ have died two days in a row.


http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...94#post8951494
(First 30 days: 1,095 killed)
(Second 30 days: 1,473 killed)
(Third 30 days: (17 days in) 1,424 killed)

3,992 people killed since the ceasefire went into effect.

Pre-Ceasefire death total- 13,368
Current total- 17,358