Yahoo: Assad predicts disaster if West meddles in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...86L03F20120722

Heavy fighting rocks Syrian capital Damascus, Aleppo

Syrian rebels battled President Bashar al-Assad's forces near the main intelligence base in the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday as helicopter gunships bombarded several districts of Damascus in an effort to drive out insurgents, witnesses said.

Fighting raged in other parts of Aleppo, Syria's main commercial and industrial hub, while in the capital Assad's forces appeared to clawing back territory, driving rebels from Mezze district, residents and opposition activists said.

Elite Fourth Division troops were besieging the northern Damascus neighborhood of Barzeh, they said.

Bashar's brother, Maher Assad leads the Fourth Division.



https://twitter.com/NMSyria

Smoke rising from behind the Cabinet building in Kafarsouseh as shelling in the area continues this morning. https://twitter.com/NMSyria/status/2.../photo/1/large
3:54 AM

Activists in Zabadany, Damascus suburbs asking for immediate help as the humanitarian conditions continues to deteriorate.
3:55 AM

Over 100 homes have been destroyed, at least 15 killed, dozens injured, families fleeing the area. Zabadany
3:56 AM

https://twitter.com/Reuters

SYRIAN HELICOPTER GUNSHIPS BOMB THREE DISTRICTS OF DAMASCUS
4:01 AM

https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak

Reuters: Residents say Syrian rebels withdraw from Damascus district of Mezze after heavy aerial and ground bombardment by Assad's forces
4:13 AM

https://twitter.com/MajdArar

At least 10 mortar shells landed in Mazeh groves, smoke rises in the sky.
4:11 AM

Today Assad is targeting Mazeh w/ mortar shells & Barzeh w/ helicopters & tanks. Damascus is still under fire.
4:22 AM

Eyewitness from Mazeh talks of 200 soldier frm 4th division trying to enter the groves, it's been bombarded since morning.
4:27 AM

I can see smoke rising from at least 5 places in Mazeh groves.
4:33 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-midd...16#TWEET176251


Mazeh/Mezze is to the left of Kfar Sousa


Destruction throughout the entire town of Irbeen, Damascus Suburbs.


Residential buildings pounded by missles in Rastan, Homs

[visionary]

http://www.extremeskins.com/editpost...postid=9046975
20,181 people killed so far in Syria


http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticl...aspx?ID=421556

Over 2000 Syrians flee fighting to Jordan

"More than 2000 Syrians sought refuge in Jordan at dawn," said Zayed Hammad, head of the Ketab and Sunna Society which has been taking care of more than 50,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan.

"They fled from violence. We could hear the sound of gunfire and clashes on the Syrian side last night. The fighting was very intense," Hammad told AFP.

He could not elaborate because he said he was rushing a Syrian man to hospital for urgent medical treatment.

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

about 3 hours ago
Amer al-Sadeq, an activist in Damascus, told Al Jazeera about the situation in Barzeh neighbourhood a little earlier:

Almost 15 tanks have arrived and big, big numbers of soldiers using military pick-up trucks. They have started seizing a lot of property. Snipers have been deployed in many areas of Barzeh Balad, in my area. Reports of them shooting people have started coming out. So far it's been confirmed three people were shot. Helicopters have been flying over as well."

State-run SANA news agency has released this picture of Syrian General Ali Abdullah Ayub, the new chief of staff, meeting Assad in Damascus. State TV said Assad gave Ayob some instructions and wished him success in his duty.

Ayob replaces General Fahad Jassim al-Freij who became defence minister after his predecessor Daoud Rajha was killed in a blast targeting senior officials on Wednesday.

What happened to the first replacement? Interim only?

about 2 hours ago
Regime troops besieged the outskirts of the Damascus district of Mezzeh on Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Three people have been killed and 50 injured in the outskirts of Mezzeh," the UK-based group said.

"Dozens of tanks are besieging scores of wounded people. A medical team could not reach [the area] because of the presence of military and security forces," it said. [AFP]

41 minutes ago
A video grab made from a handout video made available by Shaam News Network shows smoke rising from the site of bomb explosion in Damascus, Syria, 22 July 2012.

According to media reports on 22 July, Syrian helicopter gunships on 22 July bombarded a rebellious area in the capital Damascus, said the opposition, hours before a meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers on the 17-month conflict.

Unspecified casualties occurred when the helicopters shelled the district of Barza, which has been the scene of heavy fighting between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebels in the past three days, reported the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights [EPA]

18 minutes ago
Syrian rebels patrol with a pickup truck near Aleppo city, in Syria 22 July 2012.

https://twitter.com/DanielePinto

Syrian gov't forces batter eastern city of DeirAlZor with artillery and rockets from helicopters -- Witness tells @Reuters
4:56 AM

Syrian rebels say they capture Bab Al-Salam border crossing post with Turkey.
5:58 AM

Rebels now control three Syria border crossing posts with Turkey (Bab al-Hawa, al-Salam and Jarablus) in addition to two on Iraq border.
6:15 AM

@UN observers leave Syria to gradually return to home countries. They are ready to redeploy at short notice should mission get extended.
6:27 AM

https://twitter.com/alhazrid

They're attacking the Prime-Minister's office which is in Kafar-Souseh, not the Parliament which is in Salhiyeh.
6:29 AM

https://twitter.com/Thanku4theAnger

FSA attacking Prime Ministry building in Mezzeh with a RPG in Damascus http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop...roA2IXz4&gl=GB …
6:52 AM

https://twitter.com/HamaEcho

AJA had a reporter speaking from the Turkish side of this post, and live video of helicopters shelling it.
7:05 AM

Unification Brigade have announced the battle to liberate Aleppo, and that they have entered it from several sides. pic.twitter.com/toJ4ogDR
7:14 AM

Another FSA convoy heading to Aleppo last night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgx32Xrp4E&feature=plcp FSA capture a security forces pick-up in Aleppo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgtEODKCHSU
7:19 AM

Aleppo FSA military council has also called on troops across the region to head to the city to being the liberation battle.
7:52 AM

Here's another DIY one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmsc...layer_embedded Home made BMP cannon "Hamza 1" in Deir Ezzor. Homs FSA made 120mm mortars too.
8:40 AM

https://twitter.com/Turk4Syria

What happened to Turkish forces being on high alert on the Syrian border & keeping away helicopters? That's sooo 3 weeks ago!
7:07 AM

According to Al Jazeera, Assad forces have regained control over northern border crossing between Iraq & Syria.
8:35 AM

Al Jazeera reports Assad's helicopters shelling border crossing with Turkey Bab al Salame. LOL at Turkey's previous threats...
10:01 AM

Turkey on Sunday deployed ground-to-air missiles on the border with Syria --Anatolia news agency, AA
10:40 AM

https://twitter.com/QueenNoor

As a proud Halaby, praying for the people and cultural heritage of Halab=Aleppo.
10:04 AM

https://twitter.com/IvanCNN

Fighter at Bab Salama tells CNN rebels captured this Syrian-Turkish border gate,pushed Gov't forces back 60 km, captured prisoners AND tanks
7:32 AM

CNN's Joe Duran & @yesimcf filming Syrian military chopper circling close to Kilis-Bab al Salama border gate, now in rebel hands.
10:26 AM

https://twitter.com/WashingtonPoint

US official--Washington given $100 mn in aid to Jordan to help host tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled and taken refuge in d kingdom
10:25 AM

One more Syrian general crossed into Turkey overnight, bringing to 25 the number of generals who have fled the unrest in Syria, AFP
10:30 AM

https://twitter.com/blakehounshell

Rami Jarrah (@AlexanderPageSY) says he's going back to Syria to fight http://fb.me/2318WgJ9q
10:33 AM

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

Qunaitra: Jbata Al-Khashab: More than 10 martyrs fell and many were injured in the intense shelling of the town that started in the morning while regime's forces are trying to storm it from 5 sides
10:03 AM

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

Damascus: Barzeh: Field executions by the regime's army after raiding the neighborhood and corpses are in the streets and many injuries were reported amid severe shortage of medical and first aid supplies.

The residents are sending appeals to elevate pressure from the disaster-stricken neighborhood that is being shelled by all kinds of weaponry since 3 days. The shelling is being intensified at the neighborhood since the early morning after besieging and raiding it
10:02 AM

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

Aleppo: Helicopters are shelling the neighborhoods of Alsakhur, Tarek Bab and Hanano housing with heavy machine guns
10:44 AM

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

Damascus: Mazzeh: Reports of 24 martyrs and more than a hundred wounded by shelling in different areas in Mazzeh
10:46 AM

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...72683116117004

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt helping in giving humanitarian aids to Syrian refugees' Camp in Turkey, at time many other people in this world, even among Syrians have not bothered about their brothers and sisters, specially at this holy month of Ramadan!

Arab, Muslims, and other Humanitarian organizations world wide, need to learn from Jolie!

[visionary]

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

about an hour ago
Jordan vowed to take "all necessary measures" to secure its borders with Syria as fighting near the frontier sparked a new influx of thousands of refugees into the kingdom on Sunday.

"The recent development forces Jordan to take all necessary measures to protect the northern region as well as national security from any kind of infiltration," Information Minister and government spokesman Samih Maaytah said.

Uh...hmmm. Wonder what they have in mind.

11 minutes ago
Syrian rebel commander told Reuters on Sunday that 11 kidnapped Lebanese Shias are staying in air-conditioned rooms and are in good health but will not be released until President Bashar al-Assad leaves power and a new parliament is elected.

"Their health is good and they're fine and they're eating and drinking well, staying in a farm with full comfort and air conditioning and they're alive," Abu Omar, commander of the Storm of the North brigade told Reuters at the Bab al-Salam border gate which his men had overrun on Sunday.

Aaagh. I don't get why they haven't released these guys yet.
Maybe there's more to them than we know. Still....


https://twitter.com/DarthNader

Western leftists are so concerned that Bashar might get the "Gaddafi-treatment" but could care less about all our other martyrs.
4:59 AM

https://twitter.com/janearraf

iraqi Kurdistan training Syrian Kurdish fighters to go back into Syria when needed, president Barzani says in AJE interview.
9:17 AM

Syria forces retake Yarabia border crossing w Iraq after sending in helicopter - border official says. Says FSA included Kurds, Arabs.
9:39 AM

https://twitter.com/emmasuleiman

Finally photo from the Cactus fields in Mezzeh that Assad forces r destroying now! what did they do?? https://twitter.com/emmasuleiman/sta.../photo/1/large
10:44 AM

Noone has really mentioning my village [in Qunaitra by the Israeli border] that is being shelled as we speak by Assad forces & what does that mean to Syria & Israel
11:09 AM

Heavy smoke in Damascus now..Guess its shelling on Kafersouseh https://twitter.com/emmasuleiman/sta.../photo/1/large
11:59 AM

Shelling on Mezzeh cactus fields this morning Damascus https://twitter.com/emmasuleiman/sta.../photo/1/large
12:06 PM

https://twitter.com/RenaNetjes

France 24 shows footage of Head of the Military Council of Aleppo in which he declares his defection to the FSA.
11:13 AM

https://twitter.com/THE_47th

"leave already you son of a ***** my hand hurts from spray painting all these walls" https://twitter.com/THE_47th/status/.../photo/1/large
11:22 AM

https://twitter.com/Avend93

a big number of Shabiha pickups with BKC on it were seen today in Qamişlo. -UPDATE.
11:41 AM

Qamişlo: Assad thugs are planning to response brutally to any trying for liberating the City tonight. -UPDATE.
11:43 AM

https://twitter.com/SkyNewsBreak

Reuters: Israeli military says President Assad & his family are still in Damascus.
11:51 AM

https://twitter.com/LeShaque

Now that Israel has kindly confirmed to us that Assad is still in Damascus, can they also pinpoint his exact coordinates please?
12:08 PM

https://twitter.com/WashingtonPoint

Syria accused d West on Sunday of planing to "hijack" d country's satelite tv chanels to broadcast misinfo abt an alleged coup or defections
12:11 PM

https://twitter.com/tweets4peace

horrible messages from Talbiseh Homs saying war planes are now bombarding like never before..a full air raid on the city.
12:11 PM

I asked them they have videos but can't load, they said its a true war and homes are flat now. 1000x baba amr shelling
12:59 PM

Absolute war on Talbiseh and Alrastan now. So heartbreaking no one is even listening to their calls. Make du3a esp those fasting please.
1:03 PM

https://twitter.com/SyrianSmurf

Rastan Homs being shelled right now by MIG-23 military aircraft.
12:42 PM

A car carrying 2 families headed from Damascus to JabalAlazwiyah to escape shelling was targeted. Little girl martyred, the rest injured.
1:13 PM

https://twitter.com/javierespinosa2

the first victim I've seen in my return to Syria is the dove my driver has shot for Iftar
12:18 PM

Head of Iranian diplomacy, Ali Akbar Salehi, said today that the situation in Syria is "calm",politicians never cease to amaze me
12:30 PM

https://twitter.com/BreakingNews

Syrian army forces overrun northern Damascus district; summarily execute 5 young men, witness and opposition activists say - @Reuters
12:39 PM

https://twitter.com/Avend93

some asked weather Dêrik is liberated or not? yet, it is not completely liberated.
12:41 PM

https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov

Turkish police used teargas and clashed with Syrian refugees at two camps in Turkey who were protesting insufficient food.
12:40 PM

Turkey deploys large numbers of missile batteries, armored vehicles and troops in Mardin's Nusaybin district on the Syria border.
12:52 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Qudsaya: Continued heavy shelling on the city and more than 40 mortar shells fell on the town, cannons were set up in the area of Republican Guard housing
11:37 AM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Zabadany: Heavy shelling on the city and more than thirty shell landed on homes within ten minutes
11:44 AM

https://twitter.com/AmalHanano

Assad. Get your tanks out of my city. Now.
1:04 PM

[visionary]

https://www.facebook.com/ramijarah/p...51146796397873
Rami Jarrah AKA AlexanderPageSY explaining his decision to return to Syria to fight.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...86L0L820120722

Rebels seize Syrian army infantry school near Aleppo -defector

Syrian rebel forces on Sunday seized the army's infantry school in the town of Musalmiyeh, 16 km (ten miles) north of the city of Aleppo, a senior military defector based in Turkey and rebel sources inside Syria said.

"This is of big strategic and symbolic importance. The school has ammunition depots and armored formations and it protects the northern gate to Aleppo," Brigadier General Mustafa al-Sheikh told Reuters by phone from the town of Apayden on the border with Syria.

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

Syria: Assad regime retakes control of Damascus suburbs

Backed by heavy artillery and helicopter gunships, the 4th Armoured Division, commanded by President Bashar al-Assad's feared younger brother Maher, swept through three rebel-held districts and laid siege to a fourth.

It was confirmed by the Israeli military last night that Mr Assad remains in the capital, following rumours in the aftermath of last week's attacks that he had fled for the coastal city of Latakia.

Sunday's counter-offensive effectively ended rebel hopes of capturing the Syrian capital and bringing a swift end to an uprising that has ground on for 16 months, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated yesterday has now killed over 19,000 people

Equipped with only assault rifles and the odd grenade-launcher, the rebels were no match for an enemy that relentlessly struck their alleyway hideouts with tank rounds and cannon-fire from the air.

Having consolidated control of the Midan area, captured on Friday, soldiers from the 4th Division took Qaboon, one of the city's most fiercely contested districts, leaving a trail of rebel corpses in their wake.

A force of more than 1,000 government troops, backed by armoured vehicles, tanks and even bulldozers, then drove the rebels from Mezzeh, the capital's diplomatic district.

Even in the northern suburb of Barzeh, rebels found themselves besieged on all sides and five captured troops were reportedly summarily executed last night.

The revival of the regime's fortunes appeared to owe much to Maher al-Assad, whose perceived tactical deficiencies are outweighed by his use of brute force to bludgeon enemy ranks into submission. He has previously led successful missions to subdue Deraa, Homs and a string of other rebellious cities.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...n-limited.html

Nevertheless, the U.S. officials said, the consensus view, shared by America’s European allies, Israel, and even Russia, a longtime ally of Syria, is that Assad is unlikely to fight to the death, and his family’s authoritarian regime is unlikely to last until its 42nd birthday on Nov. 13.

“Look, I think the regime will go,” Netanyahu told Fox News host Chris Wallace yesterday. “I don’t know if it’s days or weeks or months, but I don’t think it’s sustainable and I think it will go.”

https://twitter.com/NMSyria

BREAKING: Large explosions from the #Mazzeh Military Airport in Damascus.
3:54 PM

https://twitter.com/HamaEcho

FSA capture a tank in Azaz, Aleppo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-KLL4IoAps
2:06 PM

Brigadier General Zaki Ali defects and joins the FSA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qKMb...eature=g-all-u
3:23 PM

There's explosions as usual. Either shelling from Mazzeh airport or Qasioun.
4:58 PM

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

FSA has tried to blow up a statue of Hafez Assad in Aleppo today, it's suffered a partial damage http://y2u.be/3Bbxc8yBUIA
4:06 PM

Video: Hussam Hussam HaririKiller has been really captured by FSA in Damascus http://y2u.be/qzUQ7VWZujs
5:16 PM

https://twitter.com/fkauder

I forgot there's an AL meeting on Syria today & nobody on my timeline tweeted about it all day. Says it all.
6:13 PM

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

ALeppo: Daret Ezzeh: The city is under intense artillery shelling and was hit by 18 shells already
5:19 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Theyabieh: Fierce artillery shelling in the town since four day with warplanes. Dozens of rockets and mortars landed
5:16 PM

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of Syrian martyrs has risen 71 so far, including defected soldiers, children, and women. 24 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs "Qaboun, Qodsaya, Hameh, and Kafar Souseh", 12 in Idlib, 10 in Homs, 10 in Daraa, 7 in Deir Ezzor, 3 in Hama, 2 in Qunaitra, 2 in Aleppo, and 1 in Banyas
5:09 PM

[visionary]

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/...=MasterAccount

Is al-Assad losing control?

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syr...emical-weapons

US warns Syrian officials over chemical weapons

The United States declared Sunday that it would "hold accountable" any Syrian official involved in the release or use of the country's chemical weapons.

Fears have been rising in the West after reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad might be prepared to use his arsenal of chemical weapons to save his embattled regime.

The US is "actively consulting with Syria's neighbors and our friends in the international community to underscore our common concern about the security of these weapons and the Syrian government's obligation to secure them," said White House spokesman James Carney.

"There are a variety of ways that a government or individuals can be held accountable for this kind of behavior that would result in the deliberate release of chemical weapons or use of chemical weapons," Carney said.

"I wouldn't want to speculate about what particular measures would be taken."

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/liveblog

40 minutes ago
A large explosion rocked Salaheddin neighbourhood, an activist in Aleppo told Al Jazeera.

The blast "minutes ago" was followed by a round of gunfire, Jad al-Halabi said.

There were immediate reports of casualties.

27 minutes ago
Syrian troops executed at least 20 unarmed men in the Damascus neighbourhood of Mezzeh on Sunday who they suspected of aiding rebels in the area, opposition activists in the district said.

The bodies of 20 men, aged approximately 20 to 30, were collected from the neighbourhoods of al-Ikhlas, al-Zayat, al Farouk, Hawakir al-Sabbarah and al-Basatin, several activists said by phone from Mezzeh.
[Reuters]

https://twitter.com/Austin_Tice

Checked in w/ prisoners in Al Tal. Of 40+ taken, about 25 released, 8 executed, the rest still being 'processed.' Have been well treated.
3:58 PM July 21

I didn't see the executions, told of them by FSA.. Spoke w/ 1 pris; told me he supported the rev but never defected b/c needed a paycheck.
4:02 PM July 21

Alleged war crimes. FSA said they had individual files on each man.
8:04 PM July 21

@Visionaryck I apologize, I made a mistake. FSA did destroy 2 tanks in the battle Thursday in Al Tal; they are still in the road here.
6:18 PM July 22

https://twitter.com/SyrianSmurf

Assad forces shelling Maarat Al-Nouman as tanks and soldiers begin to group near the main highway. Residents fearing the worst.
2:54 PM

Regime army is trying to enter Maarat Al-Nouman by force. Shelling them for hours now and the army is waiting outside the city.
6:46 PM

Mosque loud speakers in Maarat Al-Nouman calling out to every person with a weapon to go out and defend the city from being breached.
6:49 PM

The regime army tried to breach Maarat Al-Nouman but failed when the ‪‪‪‪‪FSA‬‬‬‬‬ bravely stopped them cold! ‪‪‪‪‪IDLIB‬‬‬‬‬ حيو المعراوييية!!!!
8:17 PM

https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi

OK, this is freaky and will kinda be difficult to explain but I need to tell you about the epic weirdness going on in Syria state TV.
7:24 PM

Since yesterday, Syria state TV has been saying that there are attempts to impersonate or hijack its signal.
7:24 PM

Moreover, news have been leaked that one of its anchors has been "kidnapped" near Damascus.
7:24 PM

The news said not to believe any reports read by that particular anchor in the future coz he's "being coerced".
7:24 PM

Putting it together it seems Syria state TV is either expecting a coup or expecting to be taken over by the FSA.
7:25 PM

https://twitter.com/Repent11

Arab League offers Al Assad a safe exit if he steps down immediately. Calls on FSA/opposition to form a transitional government
7:27 PM

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

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria:

Sunday drew to a close with 111 martyrs: 65 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its suburbs, 13 in Daraa, 12 in Idlib, 10 in Homs, 7 in Deir Ezzor, 5 in Hama, 3 in Aleppo, 2 in Quneitra, 1 in Lattakia, 1 in Banyas, and 1 in Raqqa
6:37 PM

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

Raqqa: Ain Issa: Clashes are reported between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces
8:19 PM

[visionary]

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...d-7965154.html

Robert Fisk: If Alawites are turning against Assad then his fate is sealed

And that's the point. While the drama of last week's assault on Bashar al-Assad's regime in Damascus stunned the Arab world, the sudden outbreak of violence in Aleppo this weekend was in one way far more important. For Aleppo is the richest city in Syria – infinitely more so than Damascus – and if the revolution has now touched this centre of wealth, then the tacit agreement between the Alawite-controlled government and the Sunni middle classes must truly be cracking.

As the birthplace of agriculture – the Euphrates is only 70 miles to the east – Aleppo is also the headquarters of the International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (Icarda), one of the finest institutions of its kind in the world. It increases food production in Asia and Africa in an area containing a billion people, 50 per cent of whom earn their living from agriculture. Donors include Britain, Canada, the US, Germany, Holland, the World Bank – you name it. And its 500 employees are still operating in Aleppo.

Alas, its principal research station at Tel Hadya, 20 miles from Aleppo, was raided by gunmen who stole vehicles – to use them as "technicals" mounted with machine guns – along with farm machinery and computers. Mercifully, Icarda's gene bank is safe and has been duplicated outside Syria. The Syrian government moved a military checkpoint closer to Icarda's property at Tel Hadya – the Syrian ministry of agriculture was always one of the more progressive offices in Damascus – but what use this will be in the coming days, we shall see.

Across all of Syria, the revolution has spread. Tragically, there now seems to be a Baathist pattern of destroying Sunni villages on the edge of the Alawite heartland, the "frontier" of Alawi-stan in the great agricultural plain of Hama province, below the mountains where the Assad home town of Qardaha stands.

Last Wednesday, for example, two Syrian helicopters attacked the small Sunni town of Haouch, forcing its 7,000 population to run for their lives. For two weeks, Haouch and other small Sunni towns have been shelled; they do indeed contain rebels but there is a growing suspicion – no evidence, mark you – that this is a deliberate policy of the Baath to prepare Syria for partition if Damascus falls. Ominously, this "frontier" of fire matches almost precisely the "State of the Alawites" temporarily created by the post-First World War French mandate which chopped Syria up into mini-nations partly on sectarian lines.

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

about an hour ago
The US government has been quietly trying to block arms and oil shipments from Iran to Syria in a bid to accelerate the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, The Wall Street Journal reported late Sunday.

Citing unnamed US officials, the newspaper said the efforts are aimed at getting Iraq to close its airspace to flights between Iran and Syria flights that US intelligence believes are carrying arms for Syrian pro-government forces.

https://twitter.com/NMSyria

Family in Mezzeh sleeping in their corridor, crawling to get from room to room. Damascus
8:39 PM

Clashes between the FSA and regime forces reported at the Bebela Police HQ - Damascus Suburbs
8:48 PM

Such a large family in Damascus, I don't think it's going to be long before I hear that one of them has been killed...
8:56 PM

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

Attack on Infantry School Aleppo Syria 1.Colonel Salameh Hammoud captured 2.Colonel Hasan al-Taweel killed 3.Officer Issa al-Qady killed
10:10 PM

https://twitter.com/Mou2amara

NOW: Activists say convoy of 4X4 trucks along with security vehicles have emerged from Presidential Palace heading towards Omayeen Sq
10:52 PM

Is this an attempt to leave the country? Or is this something dreadfully worse?
10:55 PM

VIDEO: Damascus without power as the sun rises. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBAeJKUJ3Do&sns=em
11:07 PM

Homs city...wow.
https://twitter.com/Al_Sununu/status...large?tw_p=twt


Tanks in Mezzeh neighborhood, Damascus
https://twitter.com/Al_Sununu/status.../photo/1/large




http://www.lccsyria.org/9517

Daraa: Kherbet Ghazaleh: At least 8 people were martyred and many injured, most of them critically due to more than 150 shells falling on the town until now

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

Damascus: Military reinforcements, consisting of more than 15 security buses and more than 50 pedestrians arrived to the Zein Al-Abdin Mosque. They have encircled the city's neighborhoods and Nahr Aisha, and are heading to Al-Zahira
11:08 PM

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

Deir Ezzor: Fierce artillery shelling by regime forces targeting Abed Allah Bin A'abas Mosque, in Jabalieh area, followed low-flying aircraft and shelling in A’amal district
11:39 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Zabdeen: Fahd Abdelfattah Noula, child Muhammad Taljah, and child Muhammad Al-Habbet were martyred, and a large number of people were injured due to heavy artillery shelling with mortars and rockets
12:23 AM

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

Homs: Rastan: Two martyrs have fallen due to intense shelling by helicopters and rocket launchers, accompanied by intense clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime army south of the city
12:44 AM

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

Homs: Shelling resumes on the Old Districts of Homs, Joret Al-Shayyah, Safsafeh, Bab Dreib, and Bab Houd, and explosions shake these neighborhoods
12:44 AM

Shelling in Jouret Al Shayyah neighborhood, Homs


Shelling of Talbiseh, Homs



http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...75#post9046975
20,302 people killed so far in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8610SH20120723

Syria says could use chemical arms against foreign intervention

Syria acknowledged for the first time on Monday that it had chemical and biological weapons, saying they could be used if the country faced foreign intervention.

International pressure on President Bashar al-Assad has escalated dramatically in the last week with a rebel offensive in the two biggest cities and a devastating bomb attack which killed four members of his inner circle in Damascus.

Assad's forces have launched fierce counter-offensives, reflecting his determination to hold on to power even at great cost and he has dismissed an Arab offer to grant him a safe exit in return for a swift step down.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said the army would not use chemical weapons to crush rebels but they could be used against forces from outside the country.

"Any chemical or bacterial weapons will never be used ... during the crisis in Syria regardless of the developments," Makdissi said.

"These weapons are stored and secured by Syrian military forces and under its direct supervision and will never be used unless Syria faces external aggression."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8IN9N020120723

Russian carrier Aeroflot to stop flying to Damascus

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot will next month stop its flights between Moscow and the Syrian capital Damascus, where rebels are waging a 16-month battle to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

"As of 6th of August we will stop flights to Damascus due to low demand," an official at Aeroflot's press office said. The company operates two flights from Moscow and two from Damascus each week.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middle...487535587.html

Jad Al Halabi, an activist in Syria's largest city Aleppo, said fighting in that city is the worst to date.

“I travelled to Salahedin neighbourhood. I was shocked to see the revolution flags everywhere, in the streets, on buildings, at the balconies. I also saw a large number of Free Syrian Army members,” he said by phone.

Syrian forces regained control of one of two border crossings seized by rebels on the frontier with Iraq, Iraqi officials said, but rebels said they had captured a third border crossing with Turkey: Bab al-Salam, north of Aleppo.

"Seizing the border crossings does not have strategic importance but it has a psychological impact because it demoralises Assad's force," a senior Syrian army defector in Turkey, Staff Brigadier Faiz Amr, told the Reuters news agency by phone.

"It's a show of progress for the revolutionaries, despite the superior firepower of Assad's troops."

Rebels also seized an army infantry school in the town of Musalmiyeh, 16km north of Aleppo, and captured several loyalist officers, while others defected, a senior military defector in Turkey and rebel sources inside Syria said.

"This is of big strategic and symbolic importance. The school has ammunition depots and armoured formations and it protects the northern gate to Aleppo," Brigadier General Mustafa al-Sheikh said by phone from the town of Apayden on the Turkish border.

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

about 6 hours ago
The EU beefed up sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime on Monday and agreed to tighten an arms embargo by inspecting vessels and planes suspected of carrying arms, diplomats said.

Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc began talks with an agreement to freeze the assets of 26 Syrians and three firms close to the Assad regime in the 17th round of sanctions since protests erupted in March 2011.

They will be added to an existing EU blacklist of 129 people and 49 entities.-- AFP

about 3 hours ago
Syrian athletes have arrived in London and will compete at the 2012 Olympic Games, an International Olympic Committee official said on Monday.

"They arrived as planned and are ready to compete. Some officials decided not to come and that avoids a lot of problems," Pere Miro, the official in charge of relations with national Olympic committees, told the Reuters news agency.
-- Reuters

about 2 hours ago
Iran's parliamentary speaker is proposing Syria hold presidential elections as a way to end the civil war between Syrian rebels and the regime of key Tehran ally President Bashar al-Assad.

Such as plan is almost certainly to be rejected by many opposition factions and would be nearly impossible to stage under the current level of violence. But it suggests Iran recognises the growing pressures on Assad's regime and is seeking ways to preserve a pro-Iranian leadership in Damascus.

Ali Larijani told Iran's state-run Arabic language Al-Alam TV on Monday that presidential elections in Syria could be held while planning future parliamentary elections. He said fighting in Damascus and elsewhere has blocked an attempt to organise voting.

Larijani claims Assad's government backs the idea.
-- AP

https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov

2 Syrian colonels, 3 lt. colonels, 1 major, 3 captains, 2 lieutenants, 34 soldiers, along with 500 people, defected and fled to Turkey today
8:47 AM

https://twitter.com/Hevallo

The village of Sanjak is under control of Kurds. this pic is taken in Sanjak near city of TirpSpi. pic.twitter.com/yysh96uV
8:48 AM

https://twitter.com/NuffSilence

FSA is seen here trying to make use of a tank they seized today in Sakhour, while helicopter is shelling in distance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6W5Mk0NUYY
8:52 AM

https://twitter.com/jeniferfenton

IRAQ REJECTS ARAB LEAGUE CALL ON ASSAD TO STEP DOWN, SAYS OTHERS SHOULD "NOT INTERFERE" IN SYRIA'S AFFAIRS-GOV SPOKESMAN REUTERS
9:18 AM

https://twitter.com/alextomo

In basement of major hospital, Damascus. Rotting corpses all over: male, fighting age, civilian clothing. Gunshot and blast wounds.
9:44 AM

Inside Midan w/out minders. Pulverised by tank shells, mortars & helicopter gunships. Army already painted out anti-Assad grafitti
9:46 AM

Midan, Damascus, many independently reporting massacre here of 16 members of Ismail family by shabbiha militias
9:47 AM

https://twitter.com/BBCiPannell

Midan, Damascus, many independently reporting massacre here of 16 members of Ismail family by shabbiha militias
9:47 AM

Hundreds of rebel FSA fighters moving into Aleppo City. Lightly armed and confident but army remains far stronger.
9:50 AM

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

Assad's tanks are either destroyed http://y2u.be/4EOzn6oaqFw or captured http://y2u.be/_5wCi1RDCHc in Sakhour neighborhood in Aleppo today
10:28 AM

https://twitter.com/Reuters

IRAQ PM HAS GIVEN ORDERS TO OPEN ALL IRAQ'S BORDERS TO SYRIAN REFUGEES-SENIOR IRAQI BORDER COMMANDER
10:31 AM

https://twitter.com/jfoleyjourno

amazing front line photos of aleppo from Lemond photog Laurent Van der Stockt http://www.lemonde.fr/international/...or=AL-32280258 via @lemondefr
10:38 AM

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

Daraa: 3 people were martyred and a large number wounded due to heavy missile shelling. Heavy clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army are reported
8:54 AM

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

Raqqa: Tabaqa: The Brigadier Adeeb Ahmed Al-Shalaf, the Head of Tabaqa area and the leader of the city's police, has defected. Also, the Major Ali Sheikh Ali, the deputy head of the area and the head of Dabsi Afnan, and the First Lieutenant Adnan Al-Khalaf, who is the Head of Criminal Security in Tabaqa, and the First Lieutenant Hussein Khalifa, the Head of Traffic have defected in the city
10:17 AM

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

Homs: Talbiseh: Defected Recruit Ahmed Shaalan Al-Mathloum, 20, was martyred at the Moukhabarat Jawiya Branch checkpoint while trying to sneak away to join the Free Syrian Army
9:58 AM

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

Damascus: Qadam: Tanks have started shelling the area of Basateen Al-Qadam and Kafr Souseh after heavy clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime forces took place
10:23 AM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Shelling from helicopters using missiles and machine guns on the towns of Sayyeda Zainab, Theyabieh, and Hojairet Al-Balad has started, targeting houses and anything the moves. Civilian's houses were severely damages
10:26 AM

[visionary]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...s-weapons.html

Syrian Opposition Leaders: We Need U.S. Weapons

Two Syrian rebel commanders interviewed by The Daily Beast say they need advanced weapons to take out President Bashar al-Assad’s regime within the month and transition to a stable government. Khaled Habous, the head of the Damascus military council of the Free Syrian Army, said, “Before the end of this holy month of Ramadan it will be over.” Ramadan ends on Aug. 19.

But Habous also said that depends on whether his forces get high-tech weapons from the United States to finish the job. He cited Stinger missiles, the shoulder-fired rockets the Central Intelligence Agency supplied Afghan holy warriors in the 1980s, “that can neutralize the helicopters and tanks of Assad’s regime.” According to Habous, “This is all in the hands of the Americans. They have the say and we will hold them responsible for more victims."

Another rebel commander, Ahmed Nema, who heads the military council for the Free Syrian Army in Daraa, said on Sunday, “The regime is falling no matter what. I expect in four weeks the regime will go down, but because we lack advanced equipment it could go longer.”

Habous, a former commander in Syria’s southern command, has been trying to unify the approximately 8,000 rebel militia members fighting in and around Damascus. Louay Sakka, the head of the Syria Support Group, said Habous commands between 1,000 to 1,500 fighters.

Nema said his fighters near the Jordanian border have come across Russian intelligence officers providing communications support and repairs on aircraft as well as cargo flights to Syrian government forces.

A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Washington didn’t respond to requests for comment on Sunday. A U.S. official with access to U.S. intelligence on Syria said Russian intelligence officers are providing assistance to the Syrian military on the ground. The Russian navy relies on the Syrian port Tartus for access to the Mediterranean Sea.

Two U.S. officials with top security clearances working on Syria policy say the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, urged Assad in June to step down and cooperate with the plan developed by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to negotiate a new government with Syria’s opposition. In June, Lavrov also told Assad Russia would not be able to protect the Syrian president or his family if he deployed chemical weapons, according to two U.S. officials who work closely on Syria.

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/23/157202...sc=tw&cc=share

In 'Free' Syrian Village, A Plea For U.S. Help

Inside the rebel headquarters, the men waiting to talk to Zaza grill me about why the U.S. isn't doing more to help the rebels hold this territory and topple Assad's regime.

You can't send troops, you can't enforce a no-fly zone, they say. We know that. But why not send more weapons? The rifles and rocket-propelled grenades we're getting from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not enough, they say. Why not help us coordinate our operations, like NATO advisers did in Libya?

One resident later tells me he has seen two undercover Americans passed through here. He says one gave the rebels a couple of high-end sniper rifles. The other was interested in the types of helicopters used by the Syrian regime.

A young girl who's volunteered to translate asks me the same question the rebels asked in the police station: Why won't anybody help us?

I tell her the U.S. doesn't want to get mired in another Iraq or Afghanistan, especially not now, in an election year. I feel like I'm saying something normal, but it shatters the girl. She starts to cry and can't stop. She eventually tells the other women in the room what I said.

The women stare at me. We won't forget this, the sister of the dead man says finally. When we control Syria, we won't forget that you forgot about us.

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

about an hour ago
The Revolution Leadership Counsel of Damascus, a Syrian opposition group, has issued a statement on a "massacre" in the Syrian capital

A horrifying massacre against humanity was perpetrated today in Mazzeh No one can imagine that such crimes, full of hatred and rancor, can be committed in our time. What happened today is that many civilians were brutally killed by regime forces, they underwent summary execution. All bodies bear signs of torture, most of them received at least eight bullets, some of them particularly in the eyes, some of them were killed then run over by cars>

https://twitter.com/HamaEcho

There's more Assad army in Hama region than Homs even, there's the airport too where he drops off his top soldiers.
7:18 PM JULY 2

Brigadier Barri should be kicked out of the FSA. He is actively telling the FSA not to do anything, just to watch the raids
8:49 AM

They do, but if they break off with the Hama military council then the great organisation between the groups will go.
9:01 AM

The idiot even promised to increase attacks after Traimseh, instead he commanded a battalion to shoot at a jet with an ak47
9:02 AM

He's hopeless. Former commander was one of the best of the country, now this Barri idiot is in charge, Hama M.C. is dying.
9:17 AM

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

FSA has destroyed pictures of Assad & his ****ing father in Seif Doleh communication center in Aleppo today http://y2u.be/E9km6AGo2nQ
10:45 AM

FSA announces the capture of 3 neigh. in Aleppo & promise more today http://y2u.be/_x9g26Ra8tQ
11:00 AM

https://twitter.com/natlsecuritycnn

EXCLUSIVE- Peres says if Syria uses chemical weapons, Israel will act "until it will stop being a danger" http://on.cnn.com/MD6IEK
11:04 AM

https://twitter.com/DarthNader

"Leave Baba Amr Alone, shell Meedan." Graffiti in Meedan, Damascus from March, unfortunately it has become reality. http://pic.twitter.com/cp3I7qE9
11:50 AM

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 82 including 20 bodies from Barzeh and 12 unidentified bodies from Mouadamieh. 44 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs, 11 in Daraa, 10 in Aleppo, 5 in Homs, 4 in Deir Ezzor, 4 in Idlib, 2 in Hama, 1 in Lattakia and 1 in Raqqa.

[visionary]

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

Michel Sleiman, the Lebanese president, has delivered "a letter of protest" to Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, the Syrian ambassador after violations of the two nations' shared border.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from the Lebanese capital says Sleiman's protest, coming after weekend violations on the border, shows "growing concern in Lebanon" that the tensions in Syria may spill over across the sharted porous border.

Our correspondent said Sleiman's protest shows "how weak the Syrian government has become in the eyes of the people neighbouring countries", particularly because the Lebanese president had not protested the measures taken by the Assad government until this point.

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

[Three neighborhoods now under control of FSA] Al-Bab road, Sakhour and Sheikh Najjar
1:17 PM

https://twitter.com/Peace4Syria

NOW: clashes between FSA and Assad forces on the Turkish borders near Kassab. Latakia
12:40 PM

https://twitter.com/DavidKenner

Syrian Foreign Ministry continues to tie itself in knots over whether it possesses chemical weapons. http://sana.sy/eng/21/2012/07/23/432...medium=twitter …
1:13 PM

https://twitter.com/ZeinakhodrAljaz

UNWRA: situation Damascus neighborhood of Yarmouk and in rural Damascus, home to both Syrian and Palestinian, is especially worrying.
1:34 PM

https://twitter.com/columlynch

Babacre GAYE, the chief UN mil. advisor selected to lead UN mission in Syria after Mood leaves http://bit.ly/O07hvv
2:20 PM

https://twitter.com/MahirZeynalov

Turkish PM Erdogan: If Syria again repeats its hostile military act against Turkey, Ankara will respond with equal retaliation.
2:24 PM

More Turkish hot air.

https://twitter.com/BSyria

Very good article by @stephenstarr but one with a serious problem: http://bit.ly/NP6867
2:46 PM

@stephenstarr reported from the relative calm of Damas suburbs; after one traumatising incident, he quickly left Syria.
2:47 PM

From Cyprus, he has decided to write an encompassing article about the Syrian revolution, without, by his own admission, visiting Homs or
2:49 PM

any of the major flashpoints in Syria. It is well-known that the regime initially avoided escalation in Damas and evirons. End.
2:52 PM

The article in my opinion gives some good insight into the view of those in Syria trying to watch the revolution from the sidelines.
It provides a very limited and flawed view of the opposition however.


https://twitter.com/RulaAmin

Lebanese Almayyadeen TV : syrian activists had been kidnapped in lebanon to be traded for the 11 shiaa pilgrims kidnapped in syria
2:39 PM

https://twitter.com/alihashem_tv

almayadeen: An unknown Lebanese group kidnapped pro-opposition Syrians to swap them with Lebanese hostages in Syria
2:55 PM

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

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 111 so far, among them 25 bodies found in Barzeh and 12 unidentified bodies, which had been tortured and burned, in Mouadamyet Al-Sham. 50 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs, 20 in Daraa, 14 in Aleppo, 7 in Homs, 7 in Deir Ezzor, 6 in Hama, 5 in Idlib, 1 in Latakia and 1 in Raqqa.
2:00 PM

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

Raqqa: Tabaqa: Heavy deployment of tanks and regime's army agents are entering the city after many defections were reported there
2:10 PM

[visionary]

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

Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army has said that fighters have "liberated" several areas of the northern city of Aleppo.

Speaking to the AFP news agency via Skype, Oqaidi said Monday's actions were "the first step towards the liberation of the city".

"Regime forces continue to pound these [captured] districts from the outskirts with tanks and helicopters," Oqaidi, said of the Salah el-Din, Shaar, Hanano City, Tareq al-Bab and Sheikh Najjar neighbourhoods.
3:34 PM

http://www.enduringamerica.com/home/...d-country.html

Saleh el Dine (map) is in southwestern Aleppo, on the opposite side from today's heaviest fighting, an area where the largest protests have been, and an area that is not far from the Assad Military Academy and artillery bases south of the city:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...338173&iwloc=A

1858 GMT: Syria. Last week, during the initial wave of fighting in Damascus, a large group of Assad's soldiers reportedly defected and joined the Free Syrian Army in Qaboun, a strategic suburb in northeast of Damascus (map). The defection turned the tide for the neighborhood, but by the weekend the FSA had withdrawn from the area, taking the fresh equipment and fighters with them in order to fight another day.

Zilal, who has many contacts in Damascus, tells us that the regime has retaliated against the civilians, looting homes and businesses, and destroying as many as 20 buildings. She also shares with us this video, taken today, of the International Red Crescent building in the area. The regime has held control of the area for days, so activists are saying that this damage could only be the result of the work of regime forces or loyalists:

https://twitter.com/Avend93

@delanizz PYD & KNC are now completely united, PYD fought with assad men 3 days ago in Qamişlo @Hevallo
3:33 PM

a huge regime force attacked the liberated Border point "the Kurdish Tel Koçer" &controlled it all over again.
3:26 PM

BREAKING: a protest just started in Qamişlo.
3:40 PM

https://twitter.com/IvanCNN

Assad regime is losing ground to rebels. Street sign in rebel-controlled Atareb, 20 miles from Aleppo pic.twitter.com/BzF7SmfY
3:31 PM

Burned out government tank on Bab el Hawa highway. pic.twitter.com/ULNmsojd
3:32 PM

https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi

Disturbing news in Aleppo, a prison riot is being put down with force.
3:44 PM

Live gunfire is heard from within Aleppo central prison.
3:45 PM

https://twitter.com/blakehounshell

Lots of people writing about post-Assad future of Syria. Anyone writing about how we get there from here?
4:41 PM

https://twitter.com/Thanku4theAnger

AJA: 7 martyrs killed in Aleppo central prison with tens injured by prison security
4:48 PM

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

Raqqa: 11 officers defected from the police and joined the Free Syrian Army
3:51 PM

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

Raqqa: Tabaqa: Regime's army stormed Rudwan mosque and fired to intimidate worshipers and they're beating them
4:09 PM

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 130 so far, including 25 bodies in Barzeh, and 12 unidentified bodies, who were tortured and burned in Moaadamyet Al-Sham. 52 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs, 20 in Daraa, 15 in Aleppo, 15 in Idlib,10 in Deir Ezzor, 7 in Homs, 7 in Hama, 3 in Lattakia, and 1 in Raqqa
4:19 PM

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

Homs: Homs Central Prison: Security forces are threatening to storm Homs Central Prison.

Explosions and fires were reported in the interior offices of the prison, resulted many victims among prisoners, who participated in the sit-in for the third day in a row. All this amid a catastrophic humanitarian situation due to the military siege and ban of water, food, and children's milk in the women's section.

A mass defection was reported of about 60 unarmed policemen in the prison. Prisoners announced a distress call to them international organization to protect prisoners from the risks of mass executions. Local Coordination Committees in Syria appeal to all organizations and international institutions concerned to take responsibility and act immediately and without delay, to prevent a massacre towards unarmed sitters in Homs Central Prison
4:52 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Mqailabieh: A defection was reported in the 75th Battalion of the Air Force Defenses in Mqailabieh, and the regime's army is searching for the defectors using searchlights.

There is shelling reported from inside the Air Force building, directed at Salah Al-Teir Mountain in the west
5:14 PM

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

Damascus: Qadam Neighborhood: It was reported that a massacre was committed towards residents of Basateen Al-Qadam, and Daraya after many farmers and civilians, who were present in the vicinity of the clashes areas, were arrested
5:15 PM

[visionary]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/23/world/...ath/index.html

A Syrian town's 'Street of Death'

After months of fighting, the regime's men finally abandoned this strategic crossroads.

President Bashar al Assad's troops left behind a bullet-riddled ghost town patrolled by rebels and a handful of shell-shocked residents.

Fighters had renamed the stretch of the Bab el Hawa highway, which ran through the center of town, the "Street of Death." Until recently, they said anyone who dared set foot on it became a target.

A mini-graveyard of burned-out armored personnel carriers sat next to the main municipal building, which served as a base for government soldiers. Several weeks after rebels captured the town, the building's walls were still decorated with pro-regime graffiti proclaiming frightening ultimatums: "Either Bashar or we'll burn this city" and "Bashar or nothing."

Though rebels appeared to control Atareb, the fight in the surrounding countryside was still far from over.

The commander of the local rebel brigade, Ahmed el Faj, was killed on Friday along with at least 11 of his fighters, rebels said, during a botched attack on a nearby regime-controlled police school. Three days later, rebels said they were still waiting for a government hospital to release Faj's body, so that they could hold a proper burial.

And residents and fighters said the town still came under daily fire from nearby artillery.

"There is a military base about 6 kilometers away, and it shells us with artillery every day," said a resident named Abdul Sayyid, whose restaurant lay in ruins due to the fighting. There also hadn't been any electricity or running water in Atareb in months.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/bread...comes-damascus

Bread queues, destruction as war comes to Damascus

After a bloody, weeklong siege in the Syrian capital, residents who stayed behind are facing hours-long lines for gasoline and bread, stinking piles of garbage in the streets and scenes of destruction unimaginable in a city that had long been spared the worst ravages of the country's uprising.

It's a gruesome turn for the distinguished Middle Eastern city of Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and a sign that Syria's civil war appears doomed to escalate.

Residents in the hardest hit neighborhoods of Midan, Qaboun and Barzeh picked through the rubble of destroyed homes, charred cars and mangled electricity cables. Even as the government claimed on Monday to have largely put down rebels in the city, some residents fearing more violence continued to trickle into neighboring Lebanon, where thousands fled during the height of the fighting last week.

"I never thought I would see gunmen clashing with the army on the streets of Damascus, people fleeing their homes," said Nahed, a 32-year-old peace activist in Damascus. "It's like Lebanon but in reverse," she said, referring to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah when thousands of Lebanese poured into Syria, looking for safety.

https://twitter.com/HamaEcho

The world is a boring place without Kafranbel's signs http://pic.twitter.com/zIaIQmaD [Probably NSFW]
6:29 PM

https://twitter.com/AnonymousSyria

Aleppo is undergoing shelling right now.
6:46 PM

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

Aleppo: Three prisoners were martyred and a number of others wounded at the hands of regime forces in the Central Prison
5:44 PM

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

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 175 thus far, and includes 25 corpses in Barzeh and 12 unidentified corpses that were subjected to torture and burning in Moudamiet Al-Sham. 12 corpses were found in the orchards of Daraya and bore signs of torture. 90 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its suburbs, 25 in Daraa, 15 in Aleppo, 15 in Idlib, 10 in Deir Ezzor, 9 in Homs, 7 in Hama, 3 in Lattakia, and 1 in Raqqa
5:45 PM

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

Idlib: Ma'art Numan: 7 fully equipped soldiers defected from the regime's army at the Municipality checkpoint
5:58 PM

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

Aleppo: Fouad Hekmat is martyred suffocated with tear gas fired by the regime forces in the central prison in Aleppo
6:25 PM

[visionary]

Damn it! I hate it when I spend an hour searching through news, typing things up, sizing, quoting, linking everything and then the ****ing page expires and I have to start all over again.


Anyway....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...G5W_story.html

In Syria conflict, U.S. struggles to fill intelligence gaps

Sixteen months into the uprising in Syria, the United States is struggling to develop a clear understanding of opposition forces inside the country, according to U.S. officials who said that intelligence gaps have impeded efforts to support the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. spy agencies have expanded their efforts to gather intelligence on rebel forces and Assad’s regime in recent months, but they are still largely confined to monitoring intercepted communications and observing the conflict from a distance, officials said.

Despite the limitations, President Obama has given the agency authority to provide aid to anti-Assad forces through a collection of operations that require the president’s signature on a covert action “finding.”

The agency has supplied encryption-enabled communications gear to opposition groups, presumably enabling the United States to monitor their talks. A small team of six or so CIA officers based along the Turkey-Syria border has worked to vet opposition leaders and coordinate the flow of equipment and medical supplies, according to U.S. officials.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...y.html?hpid=z4

Syrian rebels still hopeful as government regains initiative in Damascus

AL-TAL, Syria — In a valley tucked away behind the mountains just to the north of Damascus, Free Syrian Army rebels are gathering their strength and preparing for what they hope will be a final assault on the capital.

They may have to wait longer than they had hoped.

The rebels might be outgunned, but it is clear they are learning how to use the weaponry they have effectively. Two burned-out tanks loll in the road, evidence of an unsuccessful government reinforcement attempt during the battle. One had its turret blown off, the result of a rocket-propelled grenade shot that was either very skilled or very lucky. Fighters said eight other tanks retreated after the lead tanks were destroyed.

The rebels are taking shifts guarding newly captured checkpoints that ring the town, watching and waiting for the reinforcements they have been told are coming to help with the final push on Damascus.

https://twitter.com/edwardedark

very loud sounds of artillery fire coming from an army barracks inside Aleppo city, fears regime has started shelling neighborhoods
6:18 PM

confirmed from several sources, regime is shelling civilian areas inside Aleppo city now, a lot of casualties reported, all civilians
7:32 PM

people in some neighborhoods in Aleppo right now are evacuating their buildings and trying to find safe shelter anywhere
7:43 PM

clashes still ongoing in parts of Aleppo city now, getting disturbing reports that a civilian building has collapsed from shelling
8:33 PM

the regime is deliberately shelling civilian areas as a collective punishment for Aleppo rising up and FSA entering it. mad murderers
9:09 PM

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

Hama, armored vehicles including forty Tanks, Anti-Aircrafts, and Infantry fighting vehicle, are moving towards Aleppo road neighborhood then to Al-Villat square on the international highway, and families fear of moving toward Latamna's city
10:56 PM

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

Homs: Krak des Chevaliers: Renewal of the massive shelling on Al-Trkoman neighborhood in Massiadeh village and the clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the Regime's army on the southern entrance continues
11:16 PM

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

Hama: Latamneh: At least 10 people were martyred and others wounded when a bus was targeted by regime forces with a shell, while transporting displaced residents from the city to a nearby village
12:09 AM

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

Homs: Intense nonstop shelling by the artillery battalion located near Waer garden and targeting Talbiseh and Rastan
1:25 AM

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

Damascus: Naher Aisha: The regime's army has stormed the neighborhdood from the direction of the Kaziya (Gas Station) with over 700 fully equipped security forces and Shabiha. Two tanks are stationed near the gas station amid intense gunfire, the purpose of which is to terrorize residents
1:26 AM

http://www.lccsyria.org/9534

Aleppo: Fierce clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the Regime’s Army in Bab Al-Nayrab and Marja

Aleppo: Central Prison: The following detainees were shot dead by the regime forces: The martyrs:

Mohammad Fallaha, Yazan Mtawe’, Reyad Al-Gobari, Amir Ammouri, Hasan Ali Khaddour, Mostafa Ahmad Nouri, Zakariya Al-Khatib, Fouad Hekmat, and Mohammad Ramo

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthre...75#post9046975
20,477 people killed so far in Syria

[visionary]

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Loc...#axzz21WTYanTA

Three Syrians kidnapped, released in Lebanon

BEIRUT: Three Syrians who were kidnapped in east Lebanon late Monday were released in the same area hours later, security sources told The Daily Star.

The three were identified as Mohammad al-Ali, Rifaat al-Mohammad and Saddam al-Khlif from the city of Hama.

Several masked and armed men in a black Mercedes intercepted a van with a Syrian license plate in the Bekaa town of Bazzaliyeh. After they forced the vehicle to stop, the armed men checked the identification cards of the 16 passengers and abducted three.

The three were released on the outskirts of Shaath, Bekaa.

Local media reported that the kidnapping could have been in exchange for the 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria on May 22.

An-Nahar reported that the three men who were kidnapped belonged to the opposition and that the aim of the gunmen was to exchange the three for the Lebanese abductees.

https://twitter.com/Bambuser_Alert

LIVE NOW: Broadcaster with Free Syrian Army, FSA, in the streets of Aleppo, Syria: http://bambuser.com/v/2851198
2:07 AM

https://twitter.com/NMSyria

FSA: "The Syrian government has moved chemical weapons to airports on its borders" http://english.alarabiya.net/article...24/228048.html
2:47 AM

https://twitter.com/martinchulov
BREAKING: Syrian troops and tanks storming the neighborhoods of Barzeh and Nahr Aishe in Damascus
2:48 AM

I hope that with all these fighters coming from the towns and villages that it won't leave them unprotected.
https://twitter.com/javierespinosa2

FSA is sending reinforcements from Jabal Zawiya Idlib towards Aleppo, hundreds of fighters went out last night
2:56 AM[

riot in a prison in Aleppo, there are at least 8 dead
4:16 AM

https://twitter.com/jfoleyjourno

this should put to bed the questions abt Houla, great reporting! Searching for the Truth Behind the Houla Massacre http://spon.de/adIcY
3:01 AM

Some new ground on Houla here esp Colonel who defected after asked to give false evidence http://spon.de/adIcY@SPIEGEL_English
3:08 AM

https://twitter.com/janearraf

Only one of Iraq's 3 border crossing w Syria open - Rabia in the north still shut after Syrian side looted of stamps, computers.
3:33 AM

UNHCR to move Iraq/Syria refugee camp in al-Anbar further from border for protection, not seeing large numbers so far - official tells AJ
3:35 AM

https://twitter.com/Turk4Syria

1 Colonel & 5 officers among 208 Syrian that have entered Turkey at Hatay.
3:47 AM

https://twitter.com/SyrianSmurf

Regime forces have withdrawn from Ibleen in JabalAlzawiyah! Idlib
3:57 AM

It seems a little late for this to me.
There probably isn't anyone at this point that I can think of who is with the regime that would be accepted by people.
Of course it could be that someone in the regime is a double agent and they would recommend this person, or it may be that this statement is meant to cause a coup or infighting.


https://twitter.com/LeShaque

BREAKING SNC pres Sida on AJA: The reports about SNC accepting a transition headed by regime figure are inaccurate.
5:15 AM

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

Homs: Rastan: Child Zahra Shameer and the young man Mohammad Ayoub were martyred in the intense shelling of the city with aircraft and rocket launchers2:33 AM

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

Aleppo: Fierce clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime's army in Sukari neighborhood
3:01 AM

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

Idlib: Jabal Zawiya: The regime's army has stormed the village of Awram Jooz with tens of military machinery amid intense gunfire with heavy machine guns an a raid and arrest campaign
3:08 AM

Regime soliders pour into Naher Aisha neighorhood, Damascus

[visionary]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18973719

Syria conflict: Aleppo bombed by fighter planes

The attack is seen as a significant escalation in the conflict.

It is thought to be the first time that warplanes have been used in Aleppo, our correspondent says.

Rebels launched an offensive against Aleppo at the weekend in an attempt to wrest control of the city from the army. Fierce fighting has been reported close to Aleppo's historic Old City.

Helicopter gunships were reportedly involved in the clashes earlier on Tuesday, the BBC's Ian Pannell says from the outskirts of Aleppo.

Pro-government troops bombarded the city, Syria's commercial centre, with shells and rocket fire as the government attempted to take back districts seized by the rebels.

A French correspondent there has spoken of rebels besieging a police headquarters close to the walls of the Old City, which is a world heritage site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18972098

Stories of fear and defiance at Syrian-Lebanese border

A week ago, as fighting escalated in the very heart of the capital Damascus, as many as 30,000 Syrians fled across the border into Lebanon in 48 hours.

Now the vehicles go back and forth, ferrying both the fearful and defiant, and those just making money out of mayhem.

We even met a Syrian accountant still making days trips to Beirut as if it was business as usual.

Some Syrian travellers support President Assad, some do not, and many just want this ordeal to end.

Everyone has their own story. Almost everyone hides their name, and some want their story kept secret too.

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

We will win, say rebel fighters facing a brutal onslaught in Syria's second city

As the insurgents poured into the city, so thousands of residents fled in the face of a government onslaught.

Hassan Abdul Majid, one of the many refugees, told The Daily Telegraph how he watched as one of the regime's helicopter gunships attacked an apartment building in the city's middle- class Hanano district.

"I was bending down in the street to clear some rubbish when I saw the helicopter sit still at the junction," the father of five, still shocked by the barbarity of the fighting, said. "I waited until it fired into a block of flats facing it. They all collapsed."

The 35-year-old Mr Majid was speaking after squeezing on to a minibus with his wife and children, and abandoning the war-torn city for the safety of a village in the swathe of Aleppo Province now under the control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Sy...ls-3729618.php

With sequential rebel attacks on the country's two largest cities and a bombing that wiped out some of his top security advisors, President Bashar Assad reshuffled his top security posts, dismissing one general and appointing a national security council chief to replace the one killed in the attack.

https://twitter.com/tweets4peace

Alharak refugee shelter hit by regime forces. 5 kids killed. Ikhlas, 22 yrs old, was killed with her 3 daughters Maria, Hind + Asma
5:15 AM

https://twitter.com/BreakingNews

More: Syrian forces put down mutiny in main jail on outskirts of Aleppo killing 15 prisoners - @Reuters
6:32 AM

https://twitter.com/BBCiPannell

Fighter jets have bombed eastern Aleppo city. A significant escalation and perhaps the first time they've been used in Syrian conflict.
9:50 AM

https://twitter.com/arwaCNN

endgenocide poll: just over half americans think US shd take military action in syria but most say shd B part of coalition
9:34 AM

As I listen 2 SecClinton speaking about US moral obligation 2 endgenocide just got email "54 dead" syria...175 dead y'day
9:44 AM

https://twitter.com/HalaGorani

A source inside Aleppo confirms to me can hear heavy bombing ongoing in parts of the city.
10:45 AM

https://twitter.com/alextomo

Still bodies in houses in al-Qaboon,n Damscus as people drift back to inspect damage to their homes
10:34 AM

People in al-Qaboon, Damascus, say around 150 rebel fighters left the area yesterday #syria
10:39 AM

Damascus - in the city' s big hospitals all patients insist blast injuries caused by rebels. NB rebels have no heavy weapons.
10:42 AM

As we enter El Mushtahed Hospital, Damascus, a man whispers:" Tell the truth - the Syrian Army is killing the people."
10:46 AM

Some are coming back to bomb-damaged areas of Damascus to stay - some to get belongings and flee again fearing more fighting
10:48 AM

https://twitter.com/javierespinosa2

In Maarat Al Numan Idlib FSA members told us that Bashar's army is also sending tanks from the area towards Aleppo
10:20 AM

In Saraqeb Idlib,snipers shooting around the highway,cars driving through that stretch of road speeding like crazy
10:23 AM

another 2 syrians kiddnaped today in Lebanon, another three were released yesterday
10:54 AM

https://twitter.com/NuffSilence?tw_i...w_p=tweetembed

9 minutes video from Bab Al Hadeed shot a while ago shows empty roads, FSA in charge, Takbeerat from the mosque http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUJySKG6HHY
11:20 AM

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

Homs: Talbiseh: Dozens of wounded fell due to fierce shelling in the city
9:27 AM

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 80 thus far today including defected soldiers and children: 20 martyrs in Aleppo including 13 martyrs in the Central prison, 20 martyrs in Hama including victims who were killed when a shell fell on the vehicle carrying individuals who were fleeing Latamneh, 11 martyrs in Daraa including a whole family from Herak,10 martyrs in Homs, 5 martyrs in of Damascus and its Suburbs, 5 martyrs in Idlib, 5 martyrs Deir Ezzor, 3 martyrs in Hasaka, and one martyr in Lattakia
10:38 AM

[visionary]

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

Clinton sees opposition 'safe havens' forming in Syria

Rebel fighters battling Syrian President Bashar al Assad are making territorial gains that will eventually become "safe havens" and provide a base for further operations against government forces, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday.

"We have to work closely with the opposition, because more and more territory is being taken and it will eventually result in a safe haven inside Syria that will then provide a base for further actions by the opposition," Clinton told reporters during an appearance with Haiti's visiting prime minister.
- Reuters

Unfortunately the helicopters, planes, and artillery make it so that even safe havens aren't particularly safe.

https://twitter.com/ZeinakhodrAljaz

Clinton: Transition is inevitable in Syria, it would be better if sooner, fewer people would die
12:21 PM

Clinton : It’s not too late for Assad regime to commence with planning for transition to find a way to end violence
12:21 PM

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

about 7 hours ago
Saudi Arabia collected nearly $32.5m on the first day of a fundraising campaign "to support people in Syria," which is in the midst of of a conflict many are calling a civil war, according to official figures.

King Abdullah launched the campaign by donating 20 million riyals ($5.3m, the official news agency SPA reported on Tuesday.

about 4 hours ago
The former head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon, General Rustom Ghazali, has been named chief of political security, a Syrian security source told the AFP news agency on Tuesday.

Ironically or maybe not so ironically, there was a rumor if his defection a couple of weeks ago.

https://twitter.com/Thanku4theAnger

Mahdi Harati's Liwa Alummah Brigade control Sehyan check point in Idlib after heavy clashes. Many Assad forces killedp
12:20 PM

Mahdi harati's with Military council of Idlib attacked Hesh, Alsermek, Almajresha checkpts in op called "Idlib liberation"
12:25 PM

https://twitter.com/Avend93

BREAKING: Assad shelling just started on the Kurdish mountains.
7:25 AM

Qamişlo, serê kaniyê, dirbêsê are 100% under assad control so far.
7:32 AM

BREAKING: heavy clashes again between the #FSA and Assad thugs in the Kurdish mountain.
7:39 AM

Kurdish areas in the province of Latakia, in the coast.
7:42 AM

i reported a heavy shelling on the Kurdish mountains by Assad warplanes in the afternoon. unfort a young guy killed minutes ago.
12:29 PM

Assad is now completely controlling on the Kurdish Rukn El-Din in Damascus
12:38 PM

https://twitter.com/borzou

Russia warships of Baltic & North fleets entering Mediterranean for war games, maybe using Syria base at Tartus, Def Min tells RIA Novosti
12:25 PM

Oh, lovely timing.


https://twitter.com/HamaEcho

AJA: The Syrian ambassador to Cyprus has defected. http://pic.twitter.com/EztDD47I
12:37 PM

https://twitter.com/hahussain

Second Syria diplomatic defection. Assad Amb to Cyprus Lamia Hariri arrives in Qatar.
12:49 PM

https://twitter.com/WilliamsJon

"Unmistakeable sound of fighter jets, appeared to be Russian made MIGs, bombing & strafing targets on ground" says @BBCiPannell in Aleppo
1:18 PM

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

Damascus Suburbs: Housh Arab: Two women were martyred along with their children, and another youth, when regime forces unleashed fierce artillery and helicopter gunship shelling in the town

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

Local Coordination Committees in Syria

The number of martyrs in Syria has risen to 91 thus far today including defected soldiers and children: 20 martyrs in Aleppo including 13 martyrs in the Central prison, 20 martyrs in Hama including victims who were killed when a shell fell on the vehicle carrying individuals who were fleeing Latamneh, 18 martyrs in Daraa including a whole family from Herak,10 martyrs in Homs,9 martyrs in Damascus and It's Suburbs,5 martyrs in Idlib,5 martyrs Deir Ez80 zor,3 martyrs in Hasakeh and 1 martyr in Lattakia
12:37 PM