Daily Newsletter – 21/12/2013

Syrian Coalition: Identification of Real Terrorist in Syria is Crucial to Successful International Solution

Haitham al-Maleh, head of the Legal Committee of the Syrian Coalition, said that everyone wants to fight terrorism, which is one of the priorities of the Syrian Coalition. He also said that “the problem of the international community that it is unable to accurately define the terrorist side. It must have designated the Assad regime as terrorist before placing Al Nusra Front on the terrorist list, since the Assad regime is the arch terrorist in the whole region.” Maleh’s remarks came in response to statements by Russian Foreign Ministry after a consultative meeting held between Russia and the United States…Read more

Syrian Coalition: Kurdish delegation to Geneva II Will be Part of the Syrian Coalition
Ahmad Jarba, head of the Syrian Coalition, denied reports that the Kurds would have an independent delegation in Geneva II. “The Kurds will be part of…Read more

Legal Committee: We Will Continue To Pursue Al-Assad To Bring Him To Trial
The Legal Committee of the Syrian Coalition stressed in a statement to the Media Office of the Syrian Coalition that it will “continue to pursue Bashar al-Assad till he is…Read more

Saleh: Assad Regime Is Blood-Thirsty And Of Limitless Brutality
Khaled al Saleh, the head of the Media Office of the Syrian Coalition, condemned the regime’s criminal attack on Al Omari mosque in the Wa’er neighborhood of Homs…Read more

Syrian Coalition: Assad’s Crimes Debunk his Claims of Protecting Minorities
The Syrian Coalition condemned in a press statement the arrest of head of the political bureau of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, Mr. Gabriel Moshe Korean…Read more

Death Toll: 52 People Killed Today, 106 Yesterday
Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 106 people killed yesterday, while 52 people were killed as of 6:00 pm of today, including 4 women, and 10 children. Deaths were cited as: 21 in Aleppo, 25 in Quneitra, 6 in Daraa, 4 in each of Idlib and Deir Ezzor, and a 1 in each of Homs and Hama. (Source: Local Coordination Committees)

Ongoing Shelling on Damascus Suburbs
A number of civilians were injured when regime forces pounded Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus with heavy artillery. Violent clashes were reported on the outskirts of the neighborhood of Qaboun, alongside intense shelling by tanks. Meanwhile, regime forces shelled Maloula, Adra, Beit Sahm, Khan Al Sheih, Douma and Zabadani in rural Damascus. The Free Syrian Army ambushed regime forces in Yabrood, killing and injuring a number of pro-Assad forces. The FSA also destroyed a number of army vehicles in eastern Ghouta. (Source: Smart News Agency + Syrian Coalition)

6 People Killed By Aerial Shelling On Dara’a
Six people were killed and dozens wounded by barrel bombs shelling on the Palestinian refugee camp in the city of Dara’a. Regime forces also shelled the towns of Tal Shihab, Naemeh in rural Dara’a. A civilian was killed by regime shelling on Manshia neighborhood. Many civilians were also killed in Dara’a Al Mahatta as a result of random mortar shelling. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Syrian Coalition)

Aerial Shelling Kills Dozens of Civilians in Aleppo
Assad’s air force continued for the sixth day the bombardment of Aleppo using barrel bombs.  Eight people, including a woman and six children, were killed by barrel bombs in Bani Zeid. In addition, five people were killed and dozens wounded in the district of Marjah. A family of seven members were killed in the neighborhood of Ashrafieh as a result of aerial shelling. Three civilians were killed and dozens injured by barrel bombs that were dropped on Kadi Askar. Also, six people were killed and dozens wounded by aerial shelling on the town of Bayanoun.  Meanwhile, violent clashes took place between regime forces and the Free Syrian Army in Anakarin, alongside heavy shelling by regiem forces.  Islamist battalions targeted the towns of Nubbul and Zahra in Aleppo with homemade rockets, what caused the outbreak of fires in the positions of regime forces. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Syrian Coalition)

Barrel Bombs Kill 15 People In Quneitra
15 civilians were killed and dozens wounded when Assad’s warplanes dropped barrel bombs on the town of Nab Al Sakher in Quneitra province. Three people were also killed in Kafranbel by barrel bombs. In addition, air raids were reported on the outskirts of the town of Sergeh and on the village of Dana in rural Idleb. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Syrian Coalition)

Ongoing Shelling On Villages In Homs And Hama
Regime forces pounded the town of Talbissa and Krak des Chevaliers in rural Homs. Intense shelling was also reported on the towns of Akrab and Kafrnbouda in rural Hama. Two air raids were also reported on Shaer east of Hama province, causing material damage. (Source: Local Coordination Committees + Syrian Coalition)

Meeting to be Held in Cordoba in Preparation for Geneva II
Jose Manuel, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that Cordoba would host in the next month meetings of “factions of the Syrian opposition in preparation for Geneva in an attempt to achieve a common understanding that helps in finding a way out of this situation.” In responding to a question about any next steps to tighten the arms embargo imposed on Syria, Manuel said: ”We must keep evaluatings things think carefully before making any decision regarding the Syrian affairs, and we said consistently that a political solution is the best and no place for a military solution.” For her part, Catherine Ashton said that the EU is working to push for convening of Geneva II and that it would continue its efforts to provide support and humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. Ashton also said that “we say from the outset there is a need to work out a political solution and put a road map for the future, and to reach it we must stop the violence and allow humanitarian access, especially with the onset of winter.” Ashton went on: “I am proud of the contribution made by the European Union so far from aid and humanitarian and aid support.  We expressed our support for the Lakhdar Brahimi’s mission, who took on a very difficult task, and it is very important that we continue to help the Syrian people in order to reach an agreement for a cease- fire and to ensure the delivery of relief aid to the affected people and find a way to rebuild the country.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Kerry Says US Meeting With Syria’s Islamic Front Possible
The United States has not met representatives of Syria’s Islamic Front but a meeting is possible to broaden the representation of moderate opposition groups in talks to end the Syrian war, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday. “The United States has not met to date with the Islamic Front but it’s possible it could take place,” Kerry told a news conference in Manila where he is visiting. “There is an effort afoot among all of the supporting nations of the Syrian opposition to want to broaden the base of the moderate opposition and broaden the base of representation of the Syrian people in the Geneva two negotiation,” he added. State Department officials have said talks with the Islamic Front could include lower-level officials from the United States, Britain and France. In Washington, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said earlier that if a meeting with the Front did take place, the United States would announce it, and would feel happy about it.” The statement followed reports about a possible meeting between the Islamic Front and American ambassador to Syria Robert Ford. It should be noted that in November 22 seven Islamic organizations not linked to al Qaeda the formation The Islamic Front, which is the largest alliance since Syrian Revolution broke out in March 2011. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

UNHCR: Situation In Syria Is The Worst Crisis Since Seven Decades
Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said the Syrian civil war has helped push the number of people worldwide who fled conflict in their homelands to more than 2 million this year alone — the highest since 1994, when people fled genocide in Rwanda and bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia. He described the nearly three-year conflict in Syria as a “mega-crisis” with regional dimensions, one that is “probably the most dangerous for global peace and security since World War II.” The exodus of millions of people from Syria in one of the largest refugee flights in decades prompted a record appeal by the United Nations on Monday for $6.5 billion to help displaced Syrians and their host countries, with hundreds of thousands more refugees expected as the civil war rages. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Five Rockets Fall On Hermel in Lebanon Coming From Syria
5 rockets fell on the city of Hermel in east Lebanon coming from Syrian territory, one of which landed in a Lebanese army barracks, while the other in residential areas. According to the National News Agency, the rocket that hit the army barracks caused a number of minor injuries, who were taken to hospitals in Hermel. The Agency added that another citizen was lightly wounded after the rocket landed in center of the town, causing material damage to the shops on the town.