Daily Newsletter – 18/10/2013

Syrian Coalition: Assad Must Leave, Geneva Still On

In response to the latest statements made by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Fayez Sarah, Political Committee member of the Syrian Coalition states that “while the US remains hesitant on Syria, it has still not ruled out calling for the ouster of Bashar Assad.” Furthermore Sarah states that “The Syrian Coalition will not back down from forcing Assad out of power as a fundamental principle for going to Geneva.” Certain political revolutionary blocs within the Syrian Coalition state they will not attend Geneva in response to the international community’s disregard for the inhumane massacres committed by Assad Forces but the remaining blocks will attend as long as removing Assad is a precondition.

Sarah also responded to earlier US statements made by Kerry praising Assad’s cooperation with the OPCW stating, “these politics cannot be generalized because this area is very detailed and many points must be considered.”  He notes that “the chemical weapons file is not solely a Syrian issue, but one part of it. Moreover, America’s conciliatory tone towards the regime is for its cooperation in dismantling the chemical weapons but does not mean it erases the more than 100,000 people he has murdered over the past three years.” Kerry pointed out that “the Syrian chemical weapons inventory will be destroyed with or without Bashar Assad.”

Kerry also stated that he hoped” most of the Syrian chemical weapons inventory would be transferred as soon as possible to a single location, and then shipped on board of the ships out of Syria so that it can be destroyed safely.” The Syrian Coalition intimated “that the surrender of chemical weapons does not dismiss Assad from being held accountable.” Also, that giving up the instruments used to commit the crime is not holding to account the criminal who deployed them.

George Sabra also responded “that the UN resolution to arrest the chemical weapons is a lost cause, if the international community is trying to hold Assad and his men accountable.” He further asked, “how much blood needs to be paid for the international community need” for what he calls a Russian, Iranian and American deal.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Fourteen Dead in in Syria,  81 dead yesterday

Local Coordination Committees document that 81 people were killed in Syria yesterday and the death toll for tpday is 14 people as of  6 PM this evening.  Among the dead are a woman and two children. Also, three people died in each of al Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, and Homs, two in Idlib, and one in each of Damascus proper and rural Damascus, Aleppo, and Hama.  (Source: Local Coordination Committees)

Clashes Around Barzah and Mountain #86 in al Mezzah

The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces around Barzah al Balad in al Qaboun District during a regime attempt to raid the area. Also, many mortar shells fell on Mountain #86 in Damascus. Regime forces also shelled the town of al Darkhabiya in rural Damascus with a rocket killing five people, among them a child and injuring a large number of other people in the area. Clashes occurred on the outskirts of al Assali, at the same time different heavy weapons and regime fighter jets shelled the area killing many people and injuring others. The Free Syrian Army also targeted the 4th Brigade housing quarters on al Muadhamiyah Mountain.  (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committee)

The Regime Targets Protest, Fighter Jets Strike Al Sukhna

Assad Forces fired on a protest in Old Homs on the Friday called “Save The People of al Muadhamiya and Southern Damascus Who are Dying from Starvation”, injuring many people and leaving them in critical condition. Regime Forces shelled al Waer with a surface to surface missile killing one person and injuring many others. Regime fighter jets struck the town of al Sukhna in response to the Free Syrian Army’s control of two regime checkpoints yesterday. The FSA also targeted two military convoys on the road between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor – troops were on their way to al Sukhna and lost a number of soldiers to death and injury.  (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committee)

Regime Forces Target Civilian Homes in al Raqqa

Regime forces shelled al Raqqa with mortars and heavy artillery killing four people and injuring 14 others. Two children were killed near Nadi al Shabaab in al Raqqa due to the shelling. Regime fighter jets conducted air strikes targeting the Registrar Authority Building and the al Farousia area without causing any injuries among the civilians. A regime sniper based in the 17th Battalion, north of the city, killed 50 year old Mohamad al Hussein as he was on his way to Friday prayer. Clashes occurred between the Free Syrian Army and Regime Forces all around the 17th Battalion as shelling from both sides remained consistent.  (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

The FSA Controls Faculty of Literature in Deir Ezzor

The Free Syrian Army has now taken control of the Faculty of Literature in al Rushdiye, Deir Elzour. The FSA targeted an important Assad regime ally Maj. Gen. Jamea Jamea. Syrian television announced the death of the general who was the head of the Military Intelligence Branch in Deir Ezzor due to a bullet wound to the head. Activists in Deir Ezzor said residents were elated when they heard the news regarding his death because of the heinous crimes he committed against the peaceful protesters. Furthermore, the general was involved in the assassination of the late Lebanese President Rafiq al Hariri. The now dead general was also Maj. Gen. Gazi Kanaan’s right hand man during Syria’s occupation of Lebanon, where Jamea Jamea headed the Security and Reconnaissance Branch in Beirut. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

The FSA Raids Regime Strongholds

The Free Syrian Army raided regime strongholds in al Hajeera and Abeedah villages, as well as the Air Defense brigade near Khanaser in Aleppo. During the raids clashes occurred between the FSA and regime forces where the FSA was able to kill 20 regime soldiers and destroy two tanks. A military source for the Local Coordination Committees reported that “the goal of the operation was to weaken the convoy and strike from many positions to kill the maximum number of regime soldiers possible.” The FSA also targeted regime strongholds in al Waha with mortar shells securing direct hits among the regime’s ranks. The FSA also clashed with regime forces in al Itha’a and Jabal Muarat al Arteeq.  (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

Protests in Syrian Cities on a Friday Dubbed “Save the Besieged People of al Muadhamiya and Southern Damascus Who are Dying from Starvation”

Syrian people protests in various provinces today dubbed “Save the Besieged People of al Muadhamiya and Southern Damascus Who are Dying from Starvation”.  Protesters in al Mleiha, Douma, and rural Damascus called for the toppling of Bashar al Assad’s regime. In Homs, besieged al Waer residents, as well as in Old Homs districts, also went out in protest.  Similar protests took place in Hama and in the Aleppo Road District. Also, the towns of Murat al Numan and Sirmeen in Idlib also witnessed protests. In Aleppo, residents of al Bab Road, Bustan al Qasr, and Salh al Din protested while chanting for the Syrian unity, land and people, in the face of the revolution’s murderer Bashar al Assad.  (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committee)

Saudi Refuses Its Membership in the Security Council

Boldly, Saudi Arabia refuses to accept membership in the Security Council, for several reasons, the most important of which is “Allowing the ruling regime in Syria to kill and burn its people by the chemical weapons, while the world stands idly, without applying deterrent sanctions against the Damascus regime, is also irrefutable evidence and proof of the inability of the Security Council to carry out its duties and responsibilities,” the statement said.  Furthermore, the Saudi Foreign Ministry states, “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that the manner, the mechanisms of action and double standards existing in the Security Council prevent it from performing its duties and assuming its responsibilities towards preserving international peace and security as required, leading to the continued disruption of peace and security, the expansion of the injustices against the peoples, the violation of rights and the spread of conflicts and wars around the world.”

It is unfortunate that all international efforts exerted in recent years, in which Saudi Arabia participated very effectively, did not result in reforms required to enable the Security Council to regain its desired role in the issues of peace and security for the world. (Source: al Hayat + Council on Foreign Relations)

Geneva 2 Date Still Not Set America, Russia, and Brahimi State

Russia, the United States and the Office of the United Nations envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, denied yesterday any agreement on a date for the Geneva Conference. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Ukashević  explained that: “Choosing a date for the conference is not the responsibility of the Syrian officials, but the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.” He added that Ban Ki-moon “should set a date agreed upon by all parties.” In the same context, a State Department Official said: “A date for the conference will be chosen only if it is selected and proclaimed by the United Nations.” For its part, Khawla Mattar, Lakhdar Brahimi’s spokeswoman, said that she did not expect a date for the conference before early next month. Deputy Prime Minister of the Assad regime, Qadri Jamil, said from Moscow that the conference will be held on the 23rd and 24th of November, he added that the Secretary-General of the United Nations confirmed that the conference was on the date to which he referred. (Source: al Jazeera + Agencies)

EU Sends 70 Million Euros to Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

The European Union will send 70 Million Euros to Lebanon to help Syrian refugees during the upcoming winter. This decision was announced by the European Union Ambassador in Lebanon, Angelina Eichhorst, during a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and representatives of permanent member nations of the Security Council. Eichhorst added that discussions with Suleiman “we discussed a plan to take Lebanon out of the looming crisis”, regarding the increasing number of Syrian refugees entering Lebanon which has impacted the Lebanese economy.  (Source: al Hayat + UBI)

Three Way Meeting with America, Russia, and the UN Possible Prelude to Geneva 2

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov predicted “a trilateral meeting between Russia, the United States and the United Nations regarding the situation in Syria at the beginning of next month.” Gatilov hinted that “there were efforts through diplomatic channels about coordinating the tripartite meeting that is likely a prelude to the Geneva 2 Conference 2.” He stressed that “the primary task is not setting a certain date certain to meet, but to reach an understanding on how to hold Geneva 2 and representation of the two parties at the conference. (Source: al Nahar)

UNHCR confirms Egypt arrests of more than 800 Syrians, including children

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed today that more than 800 Syrians, including children, have been arrested in Egypt since last August, while they were trying to leave the country illegally. UNHCR spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming, said since August Egypt deported 144 Syrians, among them 44 children, to other countries in the region. As for Syrians detained the spokeswoman said, “589 of them, including women and 84 children are still in administrative detention, even though there are no pending charges against them.” This comes a day after Egyptian authorities denied mistreating Syrian refugees after a statement issued by Amnesty International accused Cairo of arresting and deporting hundreds of Syrian refugees fleeing their country illegally. (Source : al Hayat + AFP )