Daily Newsletter – 11/10/2013

Sabra: Abu Al Fadl, Hizbullah, and the Regime Grin with Sectarian Teeth

A member of the Syrian National Coalition, George Sabra, considered the massacres of al Thiyabiya and al Husseiniya, which claimed the lives of more than 120 people today, committed by the Abu al-Fadl Abbas Brigade and the terrorist Hezbollah and other militia forces supporting Bashar al-Assad as, “smug and clear signs of sectarianism by the regime and its cronies from Hezbollah, Iran, and al Maliki’s militias.” Sabra asked, “Will the Syrians will pay more blood” for what he called “the American-Iranian understanding towards the Iranian nuclear issue and disarmament of Syrian chemical weapons?” He added, “Is the international community not aware that, in light of a series of massacres committed by Bashar al Assad’s regime and the sectarian militias supporting him, the Syrian people will not give up their main goal of toppling the regime and achieving freedom?” Sabra mocked the international community’s decision regarding what he described as the “capture of chemical weapons”, asking “who are the chemical weapons so that we can arrest them and let Bashar al Assad go, who is considered the only one responsible for what is happening on the ground.” He noted that they “al Thiyabiya and al Husseiniya massacres, during which women, children, and safe civilians were slaughtered by Bashar al Assad’s forces and their supporting militias, are evidences that the issue is not with the weapon used but with the criminal himself.” (Source: Alliance)

Jarba Speaks With Homs Rebel Commanders About Growing Humanitarian Crisis in Homs

Head of the Syrian National Coalition Ahmed Aweinan al Jarba discussed with rebel field commanders in the city of Homs, mechanisms used to confront the regime’s insistence on preventing the International Red Cross’s evacuation of wounded civilians and the introduction of humanitarian aid to the besieged Homs. The meeting also dealt with the unprecedented escalation by the regime on al Waer district, which is one of the most important strategic centers of the city of Homs, and also represents the center of the Syrian revolution. The President of the Coalition explained to the rebel field commanders political, military and diplomatic efforts pursued by the Coalition in coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Free Syrian Army in the face of  the fierce campaign waged by Bashar al Assad’s regime on civilians inside the city. Jarba also stressed the Coalition’s non-interference in determining military field commanders on the ground, but supports all decisions agreed upon by the rebels, stressing “that any military or civilian Council derives its strength from the will of the Syrian people.” The President of the Coalition explained that “revolutionary leadership on the ground own the decision on whether to go to Geneva or not.”  He stressed to the leaders “there is no dialogue with Bashar al-Assad and that a political solution needs to be objective with certain issues at the head of the solution such as the withdrawal of Iranian and terrorist militia Hezbollah troops and obtaining guarantees from Arab and Islamic nations to negotiate on the basis Assad and his regime cronies leaving power.” At the end of the meeting the President of the Coalition and the attending leaders agreed that the focus on the issue of the chemical weapons, the sidelining as if it were the biggest problem, is unacceptable to the rebels as well as the leadership of the Coalition that “will not allow the misdirection of the Syrian people’s compass from the revolutions first and foremost goal, toppling Bashar al Assad’s regime.”

(Source: Coalition)

President of the Interim Government Continues Consultations With Political Blocs in the General Assembly Meeting of the National Council

The President of the interim government Dr. Ahmad Toumah met with members of the General Assembly of the Syrian National Coalition which convened the start of its meetings today after consulting with political blocs of the coalition. The Prime Minister discussed the likelihood of recognition for the interim government from the Friends of Syria Group and the types and kinds of support they would provide the interim government, as well as the interim government’s role in the Geneva conference, since it is a powerful card that strengthens the Coalition and other revolutionary groups’ positions during negotiations. Prime Minister Dr. Ahmad Toumah added that he is constantly seeking to consult with the revolutionary and civilian powers. He described some of the difficulties faced by the government and recent developments near the northern border, and the plan which he will follow to overcome these difficulties. Toumah guaranteed government commitments from some of the Friends of Syria nations who will provide funding for the operation of the interim government, as well as well studied plans for the management of liberated areas. He said. “This is an austere governmental aimed at working and not gaining celebrity.” The Prime Minister also confirmed that all the names circulating as possibilities for ministerial positions were incorrect. He does not accept any dictate from any party, adding that “he will not tolerate any demands from any official source, whether western or Arab nation which contains any sort of demand of any kind.” Toumah close by saying, “I have not finished my consultations with the political blocs and powers,” adding, “I will not be able to finish my consultations in the available time and I request more time for consultations, because I cannot present a trustworthy government without consulting with all national, political, and revolutionary groups.” (Source: Coalition)

Coalition Spokesperson Talks About Call for Ceasefire During Islamic Holiday

The spokesman of the Syrian National Coalition Louay safi considered the Arab League ‘s call for a cease- fire in Syria “as unreasonable because it does not deal with the root of the problem, relieving the suffering of the Syrians besieged by Bashar al Assad’s regime.” Safi ruled out the possibility of reaching a political solution in Geneva, considering such a solution to be “far away due to the lack of a clear commitment by the regime for the transfer of power to an interim government that will have complete executive powers.” Safi stressed that the meeting, between Coalition leaders and the United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, on preparations for Geneva, “showed that Brahimi still does not have basic information about the commitment to the objectives of Geneva and the basic framework set forth in the Geneva statement . ” (Source: Coalition)

63 Martyrs in Syria until this Evening and 105 Martyrs Yesterday

Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 105 martyrs in Syria yesterday, among them 163 martyrs died up until 6 PM this evening, 19 of which were children and several women, and a martyr who died under torture. Also, 141 people were martyred in Damascus and its countryside, six in Aleppo, five in al Raqa, four in each of Homs and Daraa, and three in Idleb.  (Source: Local Coordination Committees)

A Horrific Massacre Committed by the Regime in Saqba Damascus

Regime forces shelled the city of Saqba with rockets today resulting in the martyrdom of nine people and a large number of people being injured. Regime fighter jets targeted the cities and towns of Jisreen, Housh Arab, and al Qasimiya, resulting in the injury of many people and the destruction of many homes. Regime forces shelled the towns of Irbeen, Hamouria, Zamalka, and Yelda, with rockets and Fozdikha mortars resulting in the injury of a large number of people. Also, twenty civilians were martyred and another twenty civilians were injured yesterday evening as a result of mortar shells falling near a market center in Jaramana, Damascus. Regime forces abducted a number of civilian young men and raided homes in Nahar Aisha in the capitol Damascus. Also, regime forces continued their choking forced sieged on the Ghoutas of Damascus and southern Damascus districts, causing starvation in the area and deaths due to malnutrition, especially among the children.  (Source: Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Clashes Around the 17th Battalion in al Raqa as well as Wadi al Dayf Military Camp in Idleb

The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces around the 17th Batallion and explosions could be heard all around al Raqa. This happened at the same that the regime shelled an area known as ‘the Garage’ in al Raqa, with reports that several people were martyred and many others were injured. Also, fierce clashes between the FSA and regime forces occurred around the Wadi al Dayf Military Camp in the Idleb countryside as the FSA attempted to take control of the camp for the fourth consecutive day.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

Formation of a Teachers Union in the Liberated Areas of Aleppo and Air Strikes on Kafar Naha

A number of educational mechanisms, free teachers and school administrators in the liberated areas in the city of Aleppo formed a union for teachers in the city of Aleppo, which included a number of educational offices of the Aleppo districts that assembled in order to standardize work and coordinate of efforts in the field of education. Also, fighter jets struck the town of Kafar Naha in the Aleppo countryside which resulted in a number of people being wounded and the destruction of a number of homes. The number of victims of the air strike by regime fighter jets on the city Minbej in the Aleppo countryside yesterday has risen to seven civilian martyrs and a number of wounded.  Fighter jets also targeted the city of Minbej Local Council’s headquarters, controlled by the Free Syrian Army for more than a year. (Source: Coalition + Smart News Agency )

Protests In A Majority of Syrian Cities on a Friday called “Our Weapons are for the Battle Fronts and Not for the Liberated Areas”

The people of Syria protested in the different provinces today on a Friday called “Our Weapons are for the Battle Fronts and Not for the Liberated Areas”. Also, protesters called for the fall of the regime in al Mleiha, Maraba, Irbeen, and al Yarmouk Camp. As for Aleppo, the residents of Sukari and Minbej went out in protest chanting for the unity of Syria, land and people, in the face of who they described as the murderer of the revolution Bashar al Assad.  (Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

A Boat Sinks Near Alexandria Carrying Illegal Syrian Immigrants

A boat which passengers from different nationalities , including Syrians drowned today near Alexandria , according to Major General of Amin Izz al – Din, the Alexandria security director, adding that the boat is now on the Ajami beach west of Alexandria. Amin Izz al-Din said during his press statement that “the numbers of survivors are 116 people, including 40 Syrian, 72 Palestinians, and 4 Egyptians.” He pointed out that “the Navy continues to recover the bodies of the victims numbering 12 bodies so far, they have been transferred to the morgue, while the the survivors were transferred to the headquarters of the naval base in Ras al Tin.” A leading journalist, Raid al Wahsh, wrote on his Facebook page : “My three brothers drowned in the Mediterranean today with dozens of Syrians and Palestinians, they remained at sea for five hours, my brother Muhannad remained missing until the morning, and was found alive in the end.” (Source: Seventh Day + Coalition)

The Security Council Agrees to Form an Oversight Committee for the Destruction of the Chemical Weapons

Security Council members acknowledged the international recommendations made by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon,  about creating a “joint committee” – the first of its kind – from the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to oversee the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal . Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters that the 15 members of the Security Council did not object to these recommendations, when preliminary talks were held on Thursday for consideration. For his part, French Ambassador Gerard Aro said , “Everyone said that the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are doing a fantastic job,” speaking of a “meeting characterized by compatibility”, which was also confirmed by the British ambassador to the United Nations Mark Lyall Grant in Tweets on his Twitter account. Ban Ki-moon has recommended – in a report released on Monday to the Security Council – the establishment of this “joint committee” of one hundred individuals, to be based in Damascus and its rear base in Cyprus, and be headed by a “special civilian coordinator”.

(Source: Al Jazeera)

America Suggests Using Their Unit for Destroying Chemical Weapons  

The United States Department of Defense (the Pentagon) proposed to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to use a mobile destruction unit – made by in the United States- for the destruction of toxic chemical stockpiles in Syria. The officials said that the DOD had provided information on the unit last Tuesday as officials from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons based in the Hague is scheduled to determine type of technology to be used in chemical weapons destruction plan. The organization should take a decision on the type of technology to be used by November 15. The type of technology used in Syria depends to a large extent on how chemical weapons in Syria are stored, which is believed to have tons of serine gas, mustard gas and other chemical weapons.  (Source: Reuters)

China Supports Iran’s Initiation to Geneva 2

A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry Hua Chun Ying announced her country’s support for Iran’s participation in the peace talks on Syria, Geneva 2, denying the possibility of the issuance of an appropriate resolution for the situation in Syria without the participation and support of the region’s countries, especially countries that have an impact on the parties concerned. She added “a political solution is the only way out of the Syrian impasse” and that “China expresses the hope that the parties concerned will seize the opportunity and make joint efforts to convene the Second Geneva talks.”

(Source: al Nahar)