General Assembly discuss Geneva II and the interim government
“The General Assembly of the National Coalition of the Syrian Opposition and Revolutionary Forces began meeting in Istanbul today to discuss several topics on the agenda, including issues related to the formation of the interim government and the Geneva II Conference. Khalid Saleh, Director of the Media Office, said, during a press conference held today, that the topics to be discussed in the meetings will be centered on “the interim government, which was commissioned to be formed by Dr. Ahmad Tomah. There, he announced he was ready to reveal the names of Ministerial candidates to the National Coalition for vote and approval. The government’s budget will also be discussed. The Syrian Coalition will also review developments that center …Read more
Civilians killed in Yarmouk camp Two civilians were killed and others were injured by regime forces while they were trying to get out of Al Yarmouk camp which has been under siege for more than a year now. Also, a number of civilians were injured due to the regime forces shelling on Kaboun and Qadam neighborhoods of Damascus. Activists talked about the fall of mortar shells behind the State Security branch building in the neighborhood of Kafarsouseh in Damascus. (Source: Sham News Network + Smart News Agency)
Air raids on Damascus and its rural areas Assad warplanes launched air raids on the Hajar al Aswad neighborhood as well as on the towns of Al Nishabiya, Herzima and Yalda in rural Damascus causing injuries among civilians and damage to their homes. Meanwhile, a woman was killed and others were injured by Assad’s artillery fire on the town of Hammuriya. Regime forces also shelled the western region of the towns of Dariya and Moadamiya in the countryside of Damascus with heavy artillery, inflicting injuries and material damage. For their part, the Free Syrian Army’s snipers killed three Assad regime soldiers while they were trying to sneak into Dariya on the northern front. In the meantime, fierce battles raged on between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces near Tameco facility in Maliha in rural Damascus. Two Free Syrian Army fighters were killed during violent clashes with regime forces in the town of Beit Sahem in rural Damascus. (Source: Sham News Network + Local Coordination Committees)
Free Syrian Army retakes ”80” Brigade in Aleppo, kills 50 Hezbollah militiamen The Free Syrian Army regained control of the strategic “80” Brigade near Aleppo’s International Airport and inflicted heavy losses on Assad’s forces, including vehicles and tanks, after heavy fighting that began at dawn on Friday. In addition, the Free Syrian Army regained control of buildings in Al Khalidiya neighborhood of Aleppo. Also, 12 of Assad troops were killed after the Free Syrian Army detonated three land mines in the Old City of Aleppo near Al Ghafikiya school and the Department of Civil Affairs, which had been turned into bastions for the regime forces. In addition, the Free Syrian Army shelled the barracks of Hanano in Aleppo with homemade rockets and mortar rounds, with direct hits on the officers’ buildings and ammunition depots. Meanwhile, mortar rounds fell on Karam al Jabal and Bab al Nassr in coordination with violent clashes between the Free Syrian Army and Assad’s regime forces in the region. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Sham News Network)
Regime continues to shell Homs with dire warnings of catastrophic situations in besieged neighborhoods Assad forces shelled Al Waer neighborhood in Homs with mortar rounds, while heavy artillery pounded the outskirts of Palmyra, and attacked the town of al Ghannto in rural Homs with all kinds of weapons killing three people and injuring dozens of others. In the meantime, mortar rounds fell on Al Inshaa’at neighborhood. Activists sent a distress call to help thousands of displaced people in the town of Quaryeten in rural Homs. Activists also warned of a catastrophic situation inside the besieged Homs neighborhoods following a year and a half of relentless siege because of the low level of health services and the lack of basic needs. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Sham News Network)
Weapons shipment seized off Greek island Greek authorities have detained a cargo ship carrying large quantities of weapons and ammunition reportedly on its way to Turkey; however, there is information that part of the cargo could be meant for delivery to the ports of Syria and Libya. The Sierra-Leone flagged vessel was intercepted in Greek waters earlier on Friday near Imia Islands east of the Aegean Sea. It was later taken to Simi Island then to Rhodes Island where it will be subject to further investigation after preliminary inspections showed that it was carrying large quantities of weapons and explosives. According to media associated with Greek authorities, 20,000 AK-47s were found on board. Informed sources reported that the ship set sail from the Ukraine with the port of Iskenderun in Turkey as its registered destination. However, there is information that part of the cargo could have been meant for delivery to the ports of Tartus in Syria and Tripoli in Libya (Source: UPI + Syrian Coalition)
Russia and America expect six month delay in destruction of Syria’s Chemical Weapons Moscow and Washington expect the deadline of the destruction of the Syrian chemical arsenal to be delayed six months behind the scheduled deadline which was mid- 2014. A draft document mentioned that the United States and Russia want to ship Syria’s stockpile of lethal chemicals out of the country by the end of this year, but they expect that the Syrian regime will be unable to meet target date for final destruction in mid- 2014. The document calls for bringing out most of the chemicals from the country by December 31, less than eight weeks from now, with the remaining chemical weapons facilities scheduled to be destroyed beginning in March, and final destruction of all toxic substances to be complete by the end of next year. This date will be six months behind the original date which was selected for Syria to complete the ‘removing’ of all chemical weapons materials. (Source: AP + Reuters)
Turkish authorities take action against extremist militants without restricting Syrian ‘opposition’ Turkish authorities have begun to take serious action to prevent the growing influence of “militant groups linked to al Qaeda” according to Turkish government sources. However, Turkey stressed that this does not mean in any case ‘putting restrictions’ on Syrian dissidents who are working in close coordination with the Turkish authorities. These sources expressed concern about these militant groups targeting Turkish security, noting that Turkey has put ‘the threat posed by these groups in high-ranking security’. Turkish authorities also explained that the security and military apparatuses in the border areas are working to prevent any risks that target Turkish citizens after receiving intelligence information about attempts by militant groups to target Turkey. Turkey declared maximum alert in the provinces of Hatay and Gaziantep in anticipation of it. (Source: Al Shark al Awsat)
