Daily Newsletter – 15/01/2014

Syrian Coalition: Assad Regime’s Statements Are A Failed Attempt to Cover up His Relationship with ISIS

Louay Safi, spokesman for the Syrian Coalition, said that the Assad regime is trying to mislead the world public opinion after its ties with ISIS were exposed. Safi’s statement came in response to claims made by the regime’s foreign Minister that Western intelligence officials met with regime officials to discuss the possibility of security cooperation to face up the thread of terrorism. Safi went on: “Assad is trying to shuffle the cards in order to solicit the world’s sympathy…Read more

Syrian Coalition Condemns Gas Attacks on Daraya and Calls for a Probe.
The Syrian Coalition condemns “the Assad regime’s gas attacks on the city of Daraya, rural Damascus, on Monday, January 13, and calls on the Organization for…Read more

Turkey Recognizes Secondary School Certificate Issued By The Syrian Coalition And Allow Students To Register In Turkish Universities.
The Turkish government said it would recognize the high school certificates issued by the Supreme National Commission for Education and Higher Education. These certificates will be recognized in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Mersi, Erzurum, Van and Gaziantep. It is important to note that the Turkish government has been working on helping students to pass Tomer test in the Turkish language. The Commission said that the students who obtained the high school certificate and want to apply for Turkish universities must present his certificate to the Turkish Directorate of Education. More than 6,000 Syrian students passed the high school exams out of 10,000. Dr. Abdul Rahman Hajj, an education adviser for the interim government for, said that “the Syrian government temporary works to expand the recognition of the certificate to include most of the Arab countries as well as countries of Friends of Syria Group. Hajj also said that the exams were held according to international standards, and were monitored by UNESCO as well as several international organizations. He added that “the government granted five scholarships to the top five students. In addition, the French government is taking measures to recognize this certificate. The National Commission for Education announced that the registration for the 2014 exams would start on January 15 to February 21, 2014. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Syrian Coalition Launches “Below Zero” Campaign
The Syrian Coalition is going to launch “Below Zero” campaign on Friday, which aims to help the Syrians to face up the humanitarian tragedy they have been going through, in addition to encouraging supporters to increase their contributions to help the Syrians and alleviate their suffering. The campaign coordinator said: “The campaign consists of a set of activities such as developing mechanisms to help the Syrians face up the extreme weather conditions  and meeting the needs of the Syrian people. He also said that the campaign aims to establish partnerships with organizations and agencies that serve those affected by the war. The campaign will cover all areas that can be reached by the committees of the Syrian Coalition on Syrian territory in addition to refugee camps in neighboring countries. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Press Conference about “End Polio in Syria” Campaign
ACU’s team tasked with combating polio is going to hold a press conference tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Gaziantep to announce the results of the first round “End Polio in Syria” campaign. Participants in the conference include ACU’s head Suheir Atassi and Director of ACU Osama Qadi and governor of the Syrians in Turkey Faisal Delmaz, in addition to members of the Technical Committee in the team tasked with combating polio, Dr. Mohamed Noor Abdul Rahman and Dr Bashir Taj al-Din, and a representative of the Qatari Red Crescent Mohammad Qasim. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Assad Regime Propaganda Contradicts His Claims of Protection of Minorities
Sharif Shehadeh said during a television interview on Al-Jazeera on Tuesday that “Christians represent 4.5 % of the population of Syria, i.e., one million people.” This is an evidence on the decrease in the number of Christians in Syria since the advent of the rule of Assad in Syria, compared to 16.5 %, according to official statistics published by the Ministry of Information in 1982. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Death Toll: 14 Syrians Killed Today, 55 Yesterday.
The Local Coordination Committees documented 55 people killed yesterday, while 14 people were killed as of 6:00 of today, including a woman and a child. Deaths were cited as: 5 in Aleppo, 3 in Damascus, 2 in Idlib, and one in each of Dara’a, Hama and Deir Ezzor. (Source: LCC)

Clashes in the Yarmouk refugee Camp
The Free Syrian Army clashed with the regime forces in Yarmouk refugee following neighborhood demonstrations calling for lifting the siege on the district. Assad’s warplanes dropped barrel bombs on Dariya, Zabadani and several areas of eastern Ghouta. Regime forces also shelled Rankous, Douma, Alnchabah, Qasimia and Hizrima with heavy artillery. Violent clashes broke out between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces in Tel al Shih in Rural Damascus. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Intense Aerial Shelling On Dara’a
Assad’s warplanes bombed the towns of Inkhil and Dael in rural Dara’a. Regime forces also shelled the towns of Sahm al Jolan and Sheikh Misqin with heavy artillery, killing a woman and injuring dozens. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

FSA makes progress against ISIS in Aleppo
The FSA took on the villages Hardntin and Jibreen Azaz in rural Aleppo after clashes with ISIS fighters. Regime’s warplanes targeted the town of Retiaan, alongside violent clashes between between the Free Syrian Army and ISIS. The FSA clashed with regime forces near the thermal station near Sasffira. Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded near one of the FSA headquarters in Aleppo. Regime forces launched an offensive to advance on Sheikh Najjar northeast of Aleppo. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Clashes near Deir Ezzor Air Base
The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces on the perimeter Deir Ezzor air base. The Army of Islam targeted regime positions in the neighborhood of Rusafa. Regime forces pounded the village of Hatlah in Deir Ezzor with heavy artillery. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Air raids on Raqqa, ISIS attacks Division No.17
Assad’s warplanes launched air raids on central Raqqa, killing a number of civilians and injuring dozens. ISIS fighters attacked Divisions No.17 north of the city, with reports of regime losses. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Islamic Front Capture a Main Bridge in Saraqeb
The Islamic Front captured a main bridge in the city of Saraqeb in Idlib province after violent clashes with ISIS fighters. ISIS fighters refused to release the detainees from other opposition factions. ISIS also adopted many car bomb explosions that targeted opposition fighters. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Al Nusra Front overruns a regime checkpoint in Morek north of Hama
The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces near the town of Morek. Al Nusra Front fighters captured a regime checkpoint near the town and inflicted losses on regime forces. Regime forces shelled the town of Um Nir west of Hama. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

Artillery Shelling On Rural Homs
Regime forces shelled Talbisah north of Homs, killing one person and injuring dozens. Regime forces also shelled Hula and Addar al Kabira west of Homs, causing material damage. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)

• Western, Arab states pledge $2.4 USD billion in Syria aid.
• Kerry: The humanitarian situation in Syria is appalling.
• Norway pledges to provide $77.5 million to Syrian refugees.
• Human Rights Watch calls for pressuring on Assad to allow entry of aid to besieged civilians.
• Hollande holds high expectations on the papal role in resolving the Syrian crisis.