Daily Newsletter – 14/11/2013

Syrian Coalition Undecided about Moscow Visit

Syrian Coalition Holds Meetings to Promote Unity Prior to Geneva II
President Ahmad Jabra met with Dr. Walid al-Bunni, one of the components of the revolution. The meeting focused on the files that were discussed during the meeting of the General Assembly of the National Coalition. The meeting…Read more 

Bakai: PYD’s Formation of a Transitional Administration is Anti-Syrian Revolution Behavior
Marah Bakai, a member of the Syrian National Council, said in an interview with RT TV channel that the declaration of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) regarding the formation of a transitional civilian administration is not a good step and is unparalleled in the course of the  revolution, stressing that “the decision of the party is unilateral. The PYD does not represent the entire spectrum of the Kurds in Syria.” In a statement issued yesterday, the Syrian National Coalition called the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) an “anti – Syrian revolution organization and supportive of the Assad regime.” The statement came after the PYD formed a transitional civilian administration in what it referred to as “Western Kurdistan-Syria” according to a statement issued by the Kurdish party. The Syrian Coalition described this move as “separatist” and said that it does not have any link to the aspirations of the Syrian people seeking to build a unified and independent state. The Syrian Coalition’s statement stressed that there are “links between the PYD and external agendas” and condemned “the PYD’s repeated repressive practices through its military wing and its attacks on the freedoms of Arab and Kurdish citizens over the past months.” The Syrian Coalition also rejected the “PYD’s resorting to the use of power in dealing with civilians, and fighting battalions and brigades of the Free Syrian Army.” The Syrian Coalition expressed dismay at the fact that the PYD “stopped fighting the regime on several fronts and moved to strengthen its positions within the liberated areas.” Furthermore, the statement called on honorable activists within this organization to correct the disgraceful path that is being followed by the PYD, or to leave it and join the ranks of the Syrian Revolution. (Source: Syrian Coalition) 

Mortar Rounds Hit Damascus, Clashes Ongoing in Suburbs
Three people were killed and 22 injured today in central Damascus when several mortar shells fell on Al Kallasa neighborhood, the Umayyad Mosque, and on the neighborhoods of Murdam Beiq and Al Ameen Street. Mortar shells also landed in a fruit and vegetable market in Yarmouk camp, killing at least five people and causing a number of injuries. Meanwhile, several people were injured in the town of Jaramana in rural Damascus due to the fall of mortar rounds. The Free Syrian Army clashed with the regime’s forces in the al Tadamon neighborhood, which caused huge damage to the residential buildings and infrastructure. Also, dozens of regime troops were either injured or killed after two car bombs exploded near their Nasreen Street headquarters and the Rahwanji building, in the area that links the al Tadamon neighborhood and Sidi Mekdad. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Regime Troops Shell Rural Dara’a                                                                        
Civilian casualties were reported in the towns of Abta and Yadodeh in Dara’a after shelling by the regime’s artillery. In the meantime, the Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces in Inkhil amid artillery shelling that targeted civilian neighborhoods in the town. Also in Dara’a, the Free Syrian Army overtook a regime sniper in Al Ziraa’a building that overlooks Dara’a camp after the sniper killed and wounded many civilians. Clashes also took place between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces in the town of Ghadir Al Bustan in rural Quneitra. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Warplanes Drop Barrel Bombs on Rural Hama
Assad’s warplanes dropped barrel bombs on the town of Kaoukab in eastern rural Hama, which caused civilian casualties and destroyed a number of civilian homes. In addition, regime forces shelled the villages of Aweina, Althelol al Humer and Aeidon, injuring a number of civilians; some of them are in serious condition. In the meantime, a number of regime soldiers were killed and others were injured after a roadside bomb targeted a military convoy that was heading towards western Hama on Shayzar-Suqalbiya Road. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Jabhat Nusra Front Captures 11 Members of Iran and Hezbollah’s Terrorist Militias
Al-Nusra Front captured yesterday 11 regime soldiers, Hezbollah militia members, and a number of Iranian soldiers near Mwasalat building in the area of Anakarin, Aleppo, after an ambush near a building that shelters dozens of regime forces. Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army downed one of Assad’s warplanes in the region between the villages of Wedidhi and Tal Daman today while it was pounding rural villages in southern Aleppo. The Free Syrian Army also advanced on four villages in Aleppo today. Regime warplanes launched air raids on Anakarin which set fire to the factories located within the neighborhood. In the meantime, tens of activists and civilians in the city of Aleppo were demanding the release of journalist activists kidnapped by the “Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham,” an extremist group which analysts consider to be one of the militant groups created by Assad.

Missiles Hit a Hezbollah Stronghold in Lebanon

Eight rockets fired from Syria this morning fell on an unpopulated area in Sahl al Nabi Sheit in Lebanon, which is considered a stronghold of the terrorist militia group Hezbollah. There were no reports of injuries. In response, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called for the protection of Lebanese towns that are exposed to stray rockets coming from Syria. A presidential statement issued this afternoon said that “Suleiman continues to discuss the details of developments in the hostilities which affected the areas of Arsal and Hermel and Nabi Sheit with the Armed Forces Chief” without revealing any information about the sides that stand behind these attacks. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Hezbollah Official Says Assad Would Have ‘Collapsed in Two Hours’
A Hezbollah official told UK’s The Times magazine on Thursday that if it were not for the party’s interference in the Syrian war, the Assad regime would have “certainly collapsed in two hours.” The official also revealed that Assad’s army is “following the war plans set by Hezbollah fighters.” However, when it comes to bombings and air raids, the party is only helping the regime whenever required. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah reiterated on Thursday that his party’s fighters will not withdraw from Syria. “So long as that reason exists, our presence there is justified,” Nasrallah said. He added that his party is defending Syria against “international, regional and Takfiri attacks” Analysts view Hezbollah’s continued involvement in the war in Syria as a threat to the region as a whole, and that a political solution is impossible as longs as Hezbollah, backed by the Abu al Fadl al Abbas Brigade, continues with its assistance of the Assad regime. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

United Nations Does Not Rule Out Sending Peacekeepers to Syria in the Future
Hervé Ladsous, the Under-Secretary- General for peacekeeping operations at the United Nations did not rule out send peacekeeping units to Syria in the future, adding that “the talk about it is still in the preliminary stages.” Ladsous said at a press conference today that the United Nations “is facing new tasks in the framework of its current peacekeeping operations in the countries of South Africa, Somalia and Syria.” In February of 2012, the Arab League had called for the Security Council to adopt a resolution to send Arab and UN peacekeepers to Syria to follow up on the commitment of the regime to stop the violence against peaceful demonstrators; unfortunately the resolution was not adopted. (Source: Syrian Coalition)