Syrian Coalition: Assad Regime Escalating Terrorism in the Region Before Geneva II
Abdul Basit Sida, political committee member, described the clichéd talk about terrorism reiterated by Iran, the Iraqi government and the Assad regime ahead of Geneva II as “immoral attempts by the Assad regime to hammer home his political agenda at the international conference, after the Assad regime and its allies declared that the primary objective of the conference is fighting terrorism and not handing over of power.” Sida also said that the Assad regime “not only killed the Syrian people to hold on to power, but also started…Read more
FSA: ISIS is a Stab in the Back of the Syrian Revolution Luay Mekdad, FSA’s political and media coordinator, hailed the recent FSA’s fighting of Islamic State in Iraq and Sham (ISIS). “It is time for ISIS to retreat to…Read more Syrian Coalition Declares PYD an Enemy of the Syrian Revolution Khalid Saleh, head of the Media Office, said that the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is “an enemy of the Syrian revolution for repeatedly killing the Syrian…Read more
National Council Vote against Participation in Geneva II The Syrian National Council held one of the most important meetings since its transformation from an umbrella representative of the Syrian people to a political alliance of several political forces on Friday. Several points were discussed during the meeting, foremost the participation of the Syrian National Council at Geneva II, in addition to the election of a new executive bureau and head of him after the expiration of the current president, George Sabra. The Council earlier announced its rejection of participating at Geneva II within the current circumstances. The Council made a full assessment of the current situation and voted against participation. Regarding the election of a new head of the Council in the coming period, the source said: “The predictions indicate the presence of three prominent names candidate to take over as president and they are Hisham Marwa, Salem Muslat and and Khaled Nasser.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Ministry of Education Issues 2013 – 2014 School Calendar The Syrian Interim Government’s Ministry of Education assessment for the academic year 2013-2014 included ten key dates; the first involved registration for the school year, which began on Thursday, 01/08/2013 and ended on 12/09/2013. The first semester end date was determined to be 24 / 1/2014 with first semester exams to begin on Monday, 01/13/2014 and ending on Friday, 01/17/2014. The announcement of first semester exam results will held in all schools on 24/01/2014. The semester break holiday will begin on Saturday, 25/01/2014 and end on Sunday, 02/09/2014. The second semester is set to begin on Monday, 10/02/2014 and end on Friday, 06/06/2014 with second semester exams to begin on Monday 06/02/2014 and continue until Friday,06.06.2014. The ministry set the dates of holidays in all Syrian schools according to weekends in the host countries. The official national holidays were set on the independence Day on April 17 of each year, the anniversary of the Greater Syrian Revolution on March 15 and 18 in addition to the religious holidays (Islamic Eid Al-Fitr – Eid al-Adha – the Prophet’s birthday) and Christian (Christmas – Easter) and the first day of the Islamic New Year, the New Year’s Day, the Teacher Day, the Mother Day on March 21, the International Day of Human Rights on December 10, Universal Children’s Day November 20, Labor Day on May 1, in addition to the public holidays for schools in the host countries. The exams dates for basic education and high school will be determined at a later date. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Free Syria Sports Organization Established A number of Syrian athletes signed a founding document of the sports organization concerned with the affairs of Syrian athletes in Syria to organize competitions and to participate in international forums. The organization raised the slogan “Athletes for Syria.” Several key points were agreed on in the document, where the organization considered itself a civil society organization interested in finding appropriate solutions to the problems facing the future of the Syrian athletes. The organization is to be mainly headquartered in Turkey. The organization started the legal proceedings and will hold a press conference announcing the official launch of the organization. The administrative body will be composed of the secretary-general and a deputy, the head of the Office of Management, general coordinator, media spokesperson, financial manager, and director of marketing activities. The organization is to start some projects, such as issuing daily sports paper in the liberated areas, and the establishment of training courses for the preparation athletic abilities under the supervision of an international Olympic athletes. The document also considered the organization as a non-profit and non-government organization, and its membership includes all those who wish to work in order to build an ideal sports organization. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
226 Journalists Killed In Syria Free Press Committee of the Syrian Journalists Association said in a report released yesterday that six Syrian journalists and media activists were killed during the month of December, bringing the total deaths to 226 since March 2011. The report pointed out that many journalists were killed by the latest aerial campaign on the city of Aleppo. In addition, the report highlighted the violations against journalists in Aleppo, including beating, break into the media centers and looting its contents and tearing newspapers. “The Association of Syrian Journalists call on all the battalions and armed groups, which extended its control over the liberated areas to show respect for freedom of the media work and work to ensure the safety of media workers and to hold accountable those who are involved in the violations against journalists and media activists.” (Source: Association of Syrian Journalists + Syrian Coalition)
Clashes Between Al Mujahideen Army and ISIS in Atareb West of Aleppo Al Mujahideen Army and the Free Syrian Army clashed today with ISIS’s fighters near the town of Atareb and Regiment 46 west of Aleppo, alongside aerial shelling by regime forces. Activists said that al Mujahideen Army captured ISIS’s head in Atareb. ISIS shut down all roads linking between rural eastern and western Aleppo and some neighborhoods in the city. The Mujahideen Army declared the Jandoul roundabout and Castillo military zone to ensure the safety civilians. The Mujahideen Army was formed yesterday, a consortium of several factions, including Nur al-Din Zanki, Fastqm Brigade, Al Hurriya Brigade, Amjad al Islam Brigade, Ansar al Khilafa, Nour Movement and other factions. In the meantime, several demonstrations were held in Manbej, Azaz and Aleppo against ISIS, with reports that ISIS tried dispersing the protestors by gunfire in addition to arresting three protesters and flogging them. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
FSA takes over ISIS’s positions in Maret al Nouman The FSA took over today ISIS’s headquarters in the city of Maart al Nouman after violent clashes. Several demonstration were held in in Kafr Tkharim and Kafranbel where demonstrators chanted for freedom and anti-ISIS slogans. In the meantime, violent clashes took place between Ahrar al Sham and ISIS’s fighters in Saraqeb near Idlib. ISIS stormed Shifa Hospital and kidnapped a wounded and his medic and took them to an unknown destination. (Source: Coalition + LCC)
Clashes In Yarmouk, Heavy Artillery Bombardment On Eastern Ghouta The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces the neighborhood of Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, alongside heavy artillery shelling by regime forces. Reports stated that three civilians and five FSA fighters were killed. Regime forces opened fire on a bus in al Abbasyen, Damascus, killing the driver. In the meantime, regime forces raided a neighborhood in Damascus for a third day in a row and the arrest of a number of civilians. Regime forces shelled Zabadani, Madaya, Douma and several regions of Eastern Ghouta with reports of civilian casualties and material damage. (Source: Coalition + LCC)
FSA Capture A Regime Checkpoint In Homs The FSA captured a regime checkpoint in Wadi Atheeb in eastern rural Homs after heavy clashes with regime forces, killing 20 pro-Assad fighters. In the meantime, regime forces shelled neighborhood of Karam al-Shami and the Old City of Homs, with reports of civilian casualties and material damage . (Syrian Coalition)
FSA captures regime barracks in Jassim near Dara’a The Free Syrian Army captured regime barracks near the Jassim Hospital and blew up another barracks after violent clashes with regime forces. Regime forces retaliated by dropping barrel bombs on the town, killing and wounding dozens of people. The FSA also clashed with regime forces near Zmaren north of Dara’a. Regime forces shelled the towns Salmin, Jassim, and Inkhil, with reports of civilian casualties and material damage. (Source: Coalition + LCC)
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