Syrian Coalition: Assad Regime Converts Churches to Military Barracks
The Syrian Coalition called on the world’s influential Christian figures to stop the regime’s systematic destruction of Syria’s religious and cultural heritage and to take a firm stand condemning the silencing of the Orthodox Church in Al Kalamoon about the systematic destruction and murder being committed in the area by the regime. The Syrian Coalition’s call comes after the Assad regime converted “Der Cherubim, a historic Christian site in Sidnaya, to a military headquarters from which it targets civilians.” The Syrian Coalition expressed “fear that the regime may use the people as human shields in Sidnaya, after it has used religious sanctuaries as military bastions.” Furthermore, the Syrian Coalition called on the international community to put an…Read more
Syrian Coalition: Liberation of Deir Attiya Debunks Assad’s Propaganda The Syrian Coalition praised the “Free Syrian Army’s defense of civilians and its commitment to the principles of the Syrian revolution,” after fierce battles that…Read more
Syrian Coalition Condemns Latest Massacre in Karam al–Shami. The Syrian Coalition calls on the international community to bring charges against “the Assad regime for breach of international charters and conventions…Read more
FSA ambush a regime military convoy in Qalamoun Free Syrian army attacked a military convoy of regime forces on its way to Deir Attiya, with reports of dozens of deaths and of injuries inflicted on the regime forces. In addition, FSA destroyed a tank in Nabek on Deir Salman front. Meanwhile, forces have escalated their military operations in Qalamun for the third consecutive day using various types of weapons in an attempt to retake it, causing civilian casualties who were taken to nearby field hospitals. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
FSA make gains in Eastern Ghouta Today, the FSA captured the towns of Otaibih and Qaysa in Eastern Ghouta, amid reports of taking control of neighboring towns after violent clashes with the regime forces, with reports of regime losses, including army officers. Otaiba is considered one of the most important strategic locations that the FSA uses to secure military supplies and open humanitarian corridors for civilians trapped in Eastern Ghouta. In the meantime, the FSA shelled the headquarters of regime forces in the neighborhood of Al Berqdar in Sayeda Zeinab with mortar rounds, with reports of regime losses. In addition, civilians were killed and others injured due to violent clashes that took place between the FSA and pro-Assad forces in Babila in Rural Damascus, alongside mortar shelling by Assad forces on the area. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
FSA advances on Regime Forces in Hama The FSA repelled a regime’s military convoy that was trying to regain control of the checkpoints of Samman, Kafr and al Madajen west of Taybet al Imam in rural Hama. Reports speak about killing 11 pro-Assad troops and wounding 30 others in addition to destroying a regime ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” vehicle and a cannon as well as a truck loaded with DsHK machine gun. This has made warplanes to the forces of order explosive barrels on Kffersita Hama countryside , which led to the killing of many civilians and destroyed several civilian homes of civilians. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Women killed by airstrikes on rural Idlib Assad warplanes launched three airstrikes on the town of Sarmin in Rural Idlib, killing two women. The field hospital in Sarmin is suffering a severe shortage of medicines and medical equipment needed to treat the injured, and lacks the equipment necessary for orthopedic surgery, though the hospital has all required medical staff from all specialties. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Barrel bombs kill 14 civilians, including children, in rural Aleppo Regime forces have committed a new massacre in the village of Soran in rural Aleppo where 14 civilians, including four children, were killed by barrel bombs that were dropped on the town, besides dozens of injuries. In addition, four civilians were killed in Al Jazmati by mortar shells fired by regime forces stationed in Nairab airbase. In the meantime, two civilians were killed and dozens injured by barrel bombs that were dropped on the city of Al Bab in rural Aleppo. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)
Six Fighting Factions Unite on Friday Named “Blood of the Martyrs Unites Us” Six fighting factions in different parts of Syria announced the formation of a bloc that was named “The Islamic Front.” The merger is intended to be a show of allegiance to the blood of the mujahid, Abdelkader Saleh, who was considered to be the core of this revolutionary bloc. Protesters took to the streets across Syria after Friday prayers under the rallying cry “The blood of the martyr unites us,” a reference to Abdelkader Saleh. Saleh was the forerunner in the peaceful protests in Aleppo, and called for the protests to remain peaceful up until the time when the massacres being committed by the regime forced Syrians to take up arms to defend themselves. Today protesters confirmed their commitment to keep moving towards the ouster of Bashar Assad in order to achieve the aspirations that the Syrians came out for, as well as their loyalty to the principles of the revolution and the blood of Syria’s martyrs for freedom. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Putin: “Our Partners Must Convince the Opposition to Attend Geneva” Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Western countries, “to convince the opposition to attend the peace conference in Geneva,” and expressed his hope that the conference be held “as soon as possible.” Putin said at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that “Russia took the responsibility to convince the Assad regime, and we have done our role, and the role of our partners is to persuade the opposition.” Erdogan accused the Assad regime of responsibility for the killing of civilians in Syria. The Syrian Coalition announced its readiness to participate in Geneva II provided that Assad steps down and that the government is handed over to a transitional ruling body with full powers in a way that excludes the Assad regime from playing any further role in addition to allowing access to relief convoys to all besieged areas and the immediate release of all detainees. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Despite activists’ confirmation, Jordanian government denies preventing Syrians entry into Jordan A senior Jordanian government source denied reports of his government’s blocking of Syrian refugees entry into the Kingdom: “78 people from various Arab nationalities were not allowed to enter from Amman airport for violating the legal requirements,” the source said. He pointed out that Syrians among those 78 people do not qualify for political asylum to the Kingdom. The source added that the authorities intend to deport offenders under the provisions of the civil Aviation Authority Act, and denied that days have passed while those people are at the airport, saying that they have been at the airport for hours only. The officials’ remarks came in response to what a Syrian activist, Mohammed Onad, said that there is a group of refugees that have been stranded at the Amman airport for days, adding that the Jordanian authorities returned the Syrians to Lebanon yesterday afternoon, and the authorities intend to return about 10 families Syria to Egypt. A Syrian stranded at the airport confirmed that the Jordanian authorities told them they are prevented entry into Jordan. (Source: Al Arabiya)
Mikati: Shelters needed for displaced inside Syria British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed “United Kingdom’s support for Lebanon to meet the challenges faced in hosting a large number of people affected by the war in Syria. Cameron’s statement came in a letter addressed yesterday to Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on the anniversary of Lebanon’s independence. Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon’s Caretaker Government, expressed hope that “Arab and foreign countries must realize the gravity of the situation as a result of the continued influx of displaced Syrians to Lebanon and the need to deal with this file through finding a quick political solution to stop bloodshed in Syria.” Mikati’s remarks were made during a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara yesterday. Mikati also expressed hope that “there will be work in the foreseeable future to create temporary shelters for displaced people inside the Syrian border, because this humanitarian issue has become a significant burden that Lebanon cannot deal with. (Source: Al Arabiya)
OPCW to hire private companies to destroy Assad’s chemical weapons The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons yesterday published a note on its website saying it wanted to identify companies for disposing of chemicals and other materials “associated with the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons.” The OPCW’s Executive Council on November 15 approved a final road map for ridding Syria of its arsenal by mid-2014 to be approved by December 17. It requested companies “interested in participating in a potential tendering process” approach the OPCW. But despite consensus on destroying the chemicals outside war-wracked Syria, no country has volunteered to have them destroyed on its soil. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
