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ACU Receives Letter of Thanks from Local Council of Rural Damascus
The General Coordination Office of Rural Damascus’s Local Council sent thanks for Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) for supporting the services projects that cost $72,762 USD and delivering the first batch of $43,732 USD. The Office highlighted some of the projects carried out, including a project to generate electricity in Hammourieh town and bio-gas project in the city of Duma, water project in the town of Madiyara, hygiene project in some areas of East Ghouta, and transportation project in the city of Harasta. The Office also took on the supervision and control of new projects in Eastern Ghouta, which include wheat project worth $175,000 USD, in addition to wheat project in Western Ghouta worth of $78,862 USD. The Office said that this step reflects the transparency and credibility in the institutional work, and stressed that the organization of work takes into account the objective of pure high-oriented service to our steadfast people at home and alleviating their suffering. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
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“Warmth” A Campaign Launched by Activists in Al Bab near Aleppo
Activists in the city of Al Bab near Aleppo launched a fundraiser campaign dubbed “Warmth” to distribute clothing and blankets to the needy and displaced people in the city. The campaign comes in response to the ongoing aerial shelling for the fourth day on the villages of Tal Na’am, Tal Istabel, and Radwaniyah in rueal Aleppo using barrel bombs, which killed 27 civilians including children, women and injured dozens of people. In addition, three people were killed when Assad’s warplanes dropped barrel bombs on Masaqen Hanano district in Aleppo. In the meantime, the regime forces opened fire on the wing of the political prisoners at dawn today in the central prison of Aleppo. The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces backed by militants of Abu al Fadl al Abbas Brigade in Amiriya and Alleramoun districts. The FSA attacked regime positions in the towns of Nobbul and Zahra with mortar shells and homemade rockets. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Rocket Attack on Southern Damascus and Barada Valley
A number of civilians were killed and injured by regime shelling on the neighborhoods of Hajar Aswad, Yarmouk and Jobar in Damascus, alongside violent clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the regime forces. Violent clashes took place around Moadamiyah district, alongside shelling by regime forces on the residential areas. A number of civilians were injured by regime shelling on Barada Valley, Zabadani and Maloula with various types of weapons. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Regime Forces Kill 30 Civilians In Beit Sahm Soiuth Of Damascus
Thirty civilians were killed and dozens injured when regime forces opened fire on civilians who were trying to get out of the town. Regime forces stationed at a security checkpoint prevented paramedics from approaching and recovering the wounded. Informed sources said that the town came under heavy shelling by regime forces after mediators entered the town to open humanitarian crossings in the besieged town. Hundreds of residents of Damascus’s southern suburbs flocked to the town of Beit Sahem to get to the crossings. Hundreds of civilians get out the town with the mediators, but when they passed by the regime checkpoint they came under heavy fire by regime forces. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + General Commission of the Syrian Revolution)
FSA Make Gains in Deir Ezzor, A Regime Warplane Shot down
The Free Syrian Army advanced on regime forces inside Brigade No. 137 and captured Mahash gas station and three buildings inside the Brigade after violent clashes with regime forces. The FSA took control over the Saiqa military camps and Ayyash regime checkpoint. In addition, the Free Syrian Army shot down a warplane that was bombing the towns of Ayyash and Kharitta. Islamic battalions captured Bemo bank and Syriatel tower which were turned into military bastions by regime forces. They also made gains advanced on many points in Hawiqa neighborhood. Meanwhile, violent clashes took place on all fronts in the city between the Free Syrian Army and the regime forces in the city. It targeted the Free Syrian Arm. The FSA attacked Brigade No.93 near Ain Issa north of Raqqa with homemade rockets, with reports of regime losses. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
FSA Captures Tal Jabiya In Quneitra
The FSA captured Tal Jabiya and parts of the village of Soash in rural Quneitra after violent clashes with regime forces. Three people were killed, including a child, and dozens wounded in the town of Jassem in Dara’a province by air raids. Violent clashes were reported between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces on the perimeter of the National Hospital in Dara’a. The town of Inkhil came under shelling by rocket launchers, with reports of civilian casualties and material damage. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Clashes in Rural Homs
The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces in the town of Al Dar al Qabira in rural Homs, with reports of regime losses. Dozens of civilans were inhured in al Waer district in and in the Old City of Homs after they came under shelling by regime’s heavy machine guns and artillery. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Regime Forces Seize UN Relief Aid In Al Hasakah
Regime forces seized food aid sent by the United Nations by airlift for the people in eastern Syria, especially Al-Hasakah. Regime forces distributed the food aid on the areas under their control and to Kurdish militants who are allied with regime forcers in Qamishli and northern Al Hassakah. People in the city of Al-Hasakah suffer from a lack of food. Activists in the province launched a fundraiser dibber “Bread and Tea” to get the raw materials needed for the civilians and children. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
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Ban Ki-Moon Calls On Iran To Participate In Geneva 2
Fars News Agency reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed “that the presence of Iran in the Geneva Conference 2 is essential for the future of Syria.” The Secretary-General remarks came during a telephone conversation with the Iranian minister. The Syrian Coalition stressed that “the Iranians and the Russians are interested in only their own interests and are indifferent to the bloodshed in Syria; rather, they constantly seek to fueling conflict to secure their interests in the region at the expense of the blood of the Syrians.” (Source: Syrian Coalition + Regime’s SANA)
Ford: Geneva 2 Will be Decisive
U.S. ambassador to Syria Damascus Robert Ford reasserted his country’s position towards Assad’s fate after the Geneva Conference 2. “Our position is constant since the beginning of the revolution, Assad lost all legitimacy, Ford said. He said also that “the news about the formula of a transitional ruling body in Syria are inaccurate. How can we talk about the details of this ruling body in Syria prior to the Geneva 2? Where there will representatives of the regime and the opposition.” Ford stressed that “there are no details that have been agreed upon prior to the conference.” He denied that the United States held any meetings with the Assad regime in the presence of Russia. “There are a series of meetings with Russia to prepare for the Geneva Conference 2 and will be attended by the five major members of the Security Council, and the neighboring countries of Syria, as well as Saudi Arabia and Iran, Germany, Italy and others.” He said also that “crucial decisions will be taken in Geneva 2.” (Source: Al Arabiya + Syrian Coalition)
HRW Calls For Involvement Of ICC In Syria’s Peace Formula
Human Rights Watch has urged the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC as a crucial first step toward justice for victims of atrocities by all sides. Sixty-four countries, including six Security Council members, have expressed support for an ICC referral. The organization said in a report released today that “over the last two-and-a-half years, Human Rights Watch has extensively documented abuses by government and pro-government forces and concluded that they have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. The government continues to conduct indiscriminate air and artillery strikes on residential areas and to arbitrarily detain, torture, and extra-judicially execute civilians and combatants. The international community should understand that accountability for the horrendous crimes in Syria will be essential for a durable peace,” said Balkees Jarrah, international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch. “The world will need both a variety of judicial tools for justice in Syria and a long-term vision that avoids pitting one measure against another.” Human Rights Watch outlined a series of recommendations on accountability, including on the involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC), criminal prosecutions by Syrian courts, and national prosecutions in foreign courts outside of Syria under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The paper also discusses the potential benefits of a specialized court or chamber within the national justice system that would have both international and Syrian staff and would work with the ICC and other Syrian courts on mass atrocity cases. Human Rights Watch noted that criminal prosecutions are only one element of a larger justice and accountability process. Broader truth-telling mechanisms, reparations, vetting, economic development, and reconstruction will also be needed as part of the process of moving Syrian society forward in a sustainable way. (Source: HRW + Syrian Coalition)
Saudi Arabia Will Act “With Or Without The West” About Syria And Iran
Saudi ambassador to Britain said his country will “act alone” and will continue financial and military support to the Syrian revolution in light of the West’s “inaction.” Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud said in in an article in The New York Times, addressed to “Western friends” that the the Kingdom’s relations with its Western allies “have been tested — principally because of differences over Iran and Syria.” He said also that “the foreign policy choices being made in some Western capitals risk the stability of the region and, potentially, the security of the whole Arab world…. And yet rather than challenging the Syrian and Iranian governments, some of our Western partners have refused to take much-needed action against them. The West has allowed one regime to survive and the other to continue its program for uranium enrichment, with all the consequent dangers of weaponization.” He pointed out that the Kingdom “we will act to fulfill these responsibilities, with or without the support of our Western partners. (Source: AFP + Syrian Coalition)
Turkish newspaper announces the loss of photographer in Syria
A Turkish newspaper said one of its photographers has been kidnapped in Syria. Milliyet newspaper said Tuesday that 43-year-old photographer Bunyamin Aygun was abducted in Syria 21 days ago. It says Aygun crossed into Syria on Nov. 26 and that he called the paper sometime later to say that he planned to meet with the commander of an opposition group. That was the last anyone heard from him. According to the Reporters without Borders, 27 journalists and 91 citizen journalists have been killed in Syria so far. (Source: Elaf + Syrian Coalition)
UK Minister Accuses Syrian Government Of Murdering British Doctor
A Foreign Office minister accused the government of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday of effectively murdering a UK doctor held in Syrian custody, saying there is no excuse for the treatment of Abbas Khan. Dr Khan, a 32-year-old orthopedic surgeon from London, was seized by government troops in Aleppo, Syria, in November 2012 after he entered the country on a humanitarian mission. Hugh Robertson, the head of the Foreign Office’s Mideast remit, lashed out at Syrian authorities, saying “there is no excuse whatsoever for the treatment that he has suffered by the Syrian authorities who have in effect murdered a British national who was in their country to help people,” Mr Robertson said in televised remarks. (Source: Al Hayat + Syrian Coalition)
Syrian Kurdish Parties Meet In Erbil Ahead Of Geneva 2
Under the supervision of Massoud Barzani, Syrian Kurdish parties held meetings in Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan in order to discuss uniting their position of Geneva 2.” Mustafa Osso, secretary general of Azadi party said that Barzani “held two separate meetings with representatives of the Kurdish National Council in the framework of a mediation led by Leyla Zana, a Kurdish MP in the Turkish Parliament, and Osman Baydemir mayor of Diyarbakir. The meetings aim to find settle the problems that hinder “Howler” agreement signed between the two sides and to find a mechanism to be applied, as well as finding a common format for the representation of the Kurdish component in the Syrian Coalition ahead of Geneva Conference 2.” Bahgat Bashir, a member of the Kurdish National Council told AFP that “these meetings aim to unite the Kurdish position, and to prepare for the Geneva conference so that the Kurds have a strong presence in this conference.” Bashir also noted that meetings are also to address the outstanding differences between the two Kurdish councils. (Source: Al Hayat + Syrian Coalition)
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