Daily Newsletter – 03/10/2013

The Coalition Calls on Security Council to Take Urgent and Necessary Steps to Allow Access for Urgent Humanitarian Aid

The Syrian National Coalition called on the Security Council in a press statement “to take urgent and practical steps to press Bashar Assad’s regime to facilitate humanitarian relief operations and to ensure safe passage for international medical relief workers.” This comes after the issuance of a Presidential statement by the Security Council condemning the human rights violations and continuous breaches of international law” by the ruling regime in Syria. The Syrian National Coalition considered the Assad regime “is a main reason for the aggravation of the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria during the previous period”, according to reports by organizations and international commissions of inquiry. The Coalition called for international relief organizations in a statement yesterday,” to enter Moadamiat al Shaam to deliver the humanitarian needs of the residents immediately, and to evacuate hundreds of starving people at risk of death due to the lack of food.” This comes especially after the Assad regime’s intensification of systematic siege and starvation of the city’s residents, which has recently claimed the lives of 4 women and 3 children. In a Coalition press statement it was indicated that “the water in the district is no longer fit for drinking due to the direct bombardment of artesian wells and water tanks, the main source of nutrition for the district.” The Coalition praised the Presidential statement by the Security Council, expressing hope that “this statement was the beginning of a clear international position against the systematic killing practiced by the regime in Syria.” The Coalition called on the Security Council to “take immediate and practical steps for a political transition towards democracy based on the Geneva statement issued in June 2012.”

(Source: Coalition)   

Fighting Groups Call On ISIS to Immediately Pull Out from Izaz, Analysts: ISIS is a Distinctively Iranian and Russian Creation

Some fighting groups in northern Syria invited the Islamic Government in Iraq and the Levent to retreat from Izaz, which has been taken over by ISIS after clashes with the Storm of the North Brigade that is part of the Free Syrian Army. It is worth mentioning that the Syrian National Council who considered ISIS’s actions to be outside the principles of the revolution and the expectations of the Syrian people. Also, many political analysts consider ISIS “to be an Iranian and Russian creation, through which they are trying to join the revolution, and then challenge the principles of the revolution through the organization, aiming to bring on a bad perception on all fighting groups, political groups, and the Syrian revolution in general.”

(Source: Coalition)

37 martyrs in Syria until this evening and 62 martyrs yesterday

Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 62 martyrs yesterday, 37 were martyred up until 6 PM this evening, among them two women.  Also, 13 people were martyred in Daraa, eight in Damascus and its countryside, six in Hama and Idleb, three in Aleppo, and a martyr on Homs.

(Source: Local Coordination Committees)

Regime Forces shell Wadi Barada in the Damascus Countryside, Renew Shelling on Southern Damascus Districts

Regime forces renewed their shelling with heavy mortars on the districts of Barzah, Al Qaboun, Al Tadamun, and Al Yarmouk Camp which caused fires and severe damage to residential buildings in the area. In the same areas there were fierce clashes between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces. Regime forces also conducted a wide ranging arrest campaign on University of Damascus students in Al Mazza in Damascus, and they have been taken to an unknown location according to activists. In the meantime regime forces shelled with heavy mortars and rockets the town of Dayr Mqaren in Wadi Barada in the Damascus countryside resulting in the fall of many martyrs and the injury of others and the displacement of the residents to the surrounding towns. Many of the Imams of the Mosques and activists in southern Damascus districts announced a food strike in protest against the campaign of forced starvation and siege by the regime in the Damascus countryside. The protesters added they will continue with their strike until food reaches the besieged families, they also discussed the distribution of flyers by regime soldiers at the entrances of southern Damascus that read “Hunger, but not bowing down”. At the same time the FSA attacked and raided 555th Batallion in Al Qalamoun and took control of tens of tanks and a large amount of ammunition.

(Source: Coalition + Smart News Agency)

The Free Syrian Army Takes Control of Al Bakara, Al Jbayla, Repels Regime Advance inDaraa

The FSA announced their control of Al Bakara and Al Jbayla in Daraa and the killing of four soldiers and the killing of a military vehicle in the western Daraa countryside. The FSA was able to stop an advance by regime forces into the area between the city of Daraa and the town of Naseeb. The FSA also took control of the Military Security detachment in Nawa, destroying four military vehicles and killing 20 soldiers. They also destroyed an armored vehicle in a convoy headed towards the customs border crossing, 11 soldiers were also killed before the rest ran away. The revolutionaries continue their siege on the 61st Batallion in the town of Tafas, as the regime continued its shelling on the Dam Road and the Daraa Camp in the area of Daraa al Balad, as well as on the city of Nawa, and the town of Wadi Yarmouk in the western Daraa countryside.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

The Free Syrian Army in Al Rastan Gives ISIS 48 Hours to Leave Homs

The Military Council for the Free Syrian Army in the city of al Rastan voted against the presence of ISIS and Jabhat Al Nusra in Homs. They gave them 48 hours to leave the Homs countryside. In the meantime the regime shelled the besieged districts of Homs, Al Qusoor, and Joorat Al Shiyah with heavy mortars resulting in many being injured and the destruction of many civilians’ homes. The FSA clashed with regime forces in the town of Kafar Nan close to al Rastan in the Homs countryside in order to break the siege on the city of al Houla and opening a road to the city of Homs.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

10 Farmers Executed at a Regime Checkpoint in Hama

Regime forces executed 10 farmers and then burned their bodies in al Saqilibiya in the Hama countryside. Six of them were from the village of Ankawi and Al Qahira in Hama and four from the village of Hazareen in Idleb. Activists added that the farmers were executed at a regime checkpoint as they returned from their work. Furthermore, the regime renewed its shelling on the towns of Hur Binafsahu and Kfar Zayta in the Hama countryside resulting in the injury of many civilians and the collapse of many civilians’ homes in the area.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

 The Free Syrian Army Targets Regime Strongholds in al Nubal, al Zahra, and Shells Their Positions in al Khalidiyeh

The FSA targeted regime strongholds in al Nubal and al Zahra in the Aleppo countryside resulting in the killing of many regime soldiers and injuring others. The FSA also blew up a regime BMP in al Qurbatiyeh in Aleppo. The FSA also targeted regime positions in al Khalidiyeh in Aleppo and the Civilian Defense building with homemade rockets. Regime fighter jets fired machine guns on the village of Tal al Soos resulting in the injury of many people, some of which are in critical condition.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

Ban Ki Looks Into Latest Syrian Developments, Calls for Activating Decision Into Practical Efforts

Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon looked into the latest developments in the Syrian situation with Iranian Foreign Minister. Ban briefed the Iranian Foreign Minister on the work of the joint mission between the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Syria. The Secretary-General urged the parties concerned to participate in the Geneva 2 for peace, stressing the importance of the presence of a unified delegation made up all the political blocs opposed to Bashar Al Assad’s regime at the conference. The Secretary-General of the United Nations welcomed the presidential statement issued by the UN Security Council, which seeks to address the appalling humanitarian situation in Syria. The Secretary-General pointed out that “if the commitments and practical steps contained in the statement are implemented, it will become possible for humanitarian workers to able to reach millions of Syrians who are in urgent need, and many of them are located in places that have inaccessible for several months.

(Source: Coalition + al Hayat)

Amos Welcomes the Security Council Statement and Calls for Changing Words into Action

Valeri Amos, the Secretary General of the United Nation’s Deputy in charge of Humanitarian affairs, welcomed the Presidential statement by the Security Council regarding the humanitarian situation in Syria, which she described as horrific, confirming the need to address it.  Amos said, “Our mission now is changing these strong words into meaningful action for the sake of a children, women, and men, and those considered victims of the continued brutality and violence.” She added, “Citizens must be able to feel safe from violence, and feel that their homes, hospitals, and schools are safe. Humanitarian workers also require the securing of complete and consistent access in order to reach all those in need in any part of Syria, and they should be protected until they can conduct their work in a safe manner.

(Source: Coalition + Agencies + al Hayat)

United States Army Chief of Staff Expects the Use of Force in Syria if the Regime Does Not Comply with United Nations Decisions

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Oderno said, the United States “will be forced to think again about the possibility of the use of force in Syria if Bashar al-Assad does not comply with the UN resolution, which calls for the disposal of the Syrian chemical weapons.” The Security Council of the United Nations adopted a resolution on Friday demanding the disposal of the Syrian chemical weapons, but did not include a threat to take immediate punitive action against the Assad regime if it did not comply with the decision.

(Source: Coalition + Reuters)

A Mandate Extending Permission for the Turkish Government to Send Military Troops to Syria

According to informed sources, it is likely that the Turkish parliament will pass a mandate for the government to send military forces to Syria, after the Government signaled that the possible use of chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad’s forces represents a direct threat to the country. Parliament is scheduled to vote on the proposal next Thursday. It was stated in the proposal that “developments indicate that Bashar al-Assad’s regime has reached a stage that has made it ready to use any means or weapons contrary to international law.”

(Source: Reuters)