Daily Newsletter – 23/11/2013

FSA and Islamic Front Advance on Regime Forces in Eastern Ghouta

The Free Syrian Army and the Islamic Front captured the towns of Buharriya, Qasimia, Abbada and Deir Salman in Eastern Ghouta after fierce clashes with Assad Forces with reports of regime losses. Clashes are still going on in the town of Otaiba, a main supply line that the anti-Assad battalions depend on for the delivery of humanitarian aid and medicines to the besieged areas. In addition, informed sources said that the Free Syrian Army and the Islamic Front are tightening the noose on the town after inflicting heavy losses on the regime forces. Anti-Assad battalions announced they fully liberated the town of Deir Attiya in Al Kalamoon area and the Samiya village near Damascus International Airport. The Syrian Coalition said that gains...Read more

Syrian Coalition to Meet With International Officials in Geneva
A delegation from the Syrian Coalition, headed by the Secretary General Badr Aldin Jamous, traveled to Geneva to hold a series of meetings with UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi…Read more

General Commission for Education Oversees the Development of Curricula
The Supreme Commission for Education of the Syrian National Coalition announced that the Committee assigned with re-examining the curriculum had concluded its work. The Committee stated that it will raise the suggestions of the Supreme Commission for Education in the coming days to decide on procedures and changes for all subjects in line with modern methods of teaching. Minister of Education candidate Abdul Rahman Al –Hajj said that the Ministry of Education in the interim government will “try make use of all the efforts and resources of the Supreme Commission for Education and Higher Education to build the structures and staff of the Ministry of Education as well as the projects they intend to work on during the first six months.” Hajj added that “great efforts have been made recently such as conducting examinations for high school students, printing textbooks and supervising Syrian schools in the refugee camps as well as supporting schools in the liberated areas through local councils.” However, the National Commission for Education and Higher Education said in a statement that they have not granted any licenses to any outside organizations to conduct exams for students who have dropped out of school. The Commission also denied granting licenses for opening new universities inside or outside Syria. Accordingly, the Supreme National Commission for Education requires all Syrian students not to adopt any educational institution or party to speak for the Syrian National Coalition. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

French Medical Delegation to Conduct Neurosurgery on Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Jawad Abu Hatab, the head of the Health Commission of the Syrian National Coalition said that a French medical delegation is currently visiting Jordan for conducting a number of neurological operations for Syrians. Abu Hatab also said that the Health Commission will send surgical anesthetic drugs to southern Syria and specifically to Dara’a Province in cooperation with the Assistance Coordinating Unit. The Commission also intends to establish a headquarters as a prelude to creating a center for the manufacture of artificial limbs. The Commission is also preparing a comprehensive report on polio cases detected in addition to taking samples from children suspected of having the disease in northeastern Syria and sending them to laboratories for analysis. Furthermore, the Commission is going to create medical clinics in Gaziantep and train cadres of specialists in first aid and nursing in northern and southern Syria. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Death Toll: 50 people killed in Syria today
Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 50 people killed before 6:00 PM, including seven children, four women, and one person killed under torture. Deaths were cited as: 30 in Aleppo, 14 in Damascus, 2 in each of Idlib and Daraa, and 1 in each of Homs and Hama. (Source: Local Coordination Committees)

Shelling and Fierce Clashes in Central Damascus
Pro-Assad forces shelled Barzeh neighborhood in Damascus, with reports of civilian casualties and destruction of civilian homes. Meanwhile, the Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces near the orchards overlooking Tishreen military hospital, with reports of regime losses. In addition, violent clashes took place between the two sides in Al Assali neighborhood in Damascus alongside shelling by regime tanks on the area. In the meantime, four people were killed and dozens injured by regime’s bombing of the cities of Nabek and Deir Attiya in Al Kalamoon near Damascus. Local activists reported that the Anti-Assad battalions shot down a MiG fighter plane south of the city of Dumeir in Rural Damascus. (Source: Smart News Agency + Local Coordination Committees)

FSA Capture Three Towns in Homs and Hama
The FSA captured the village of Asmid in rural Homs and seized a T-52 tank and DShK gun, while regime forces shelled with artillery and rockets the neighborhoods of the Old City of Homs and the town of Ghanto and Ameria in Rural Homs. Meanwhile, the FSA captured the towns of Asafrand  Albarghotah in eastern Hama, besides destroying an armored vehicle near the village of Marshor north of Hama and killing its crew. Meanwhile, Assad warplanes dropped barrel bombs on many towns of Hama, including KafrZeita, Akirbat, Howayes, with reports of civilian casualties. (Source: Smart News Agency + Local Coordination Committees)

FSA Downs a Regime Warplane in Idlib, Make Gains in Aleppo
The Free Syrian Army shot down a helicopter belonging to regime forces in northern Idlib, as well as destroyed Haboush checkpoint at Wadi Daif in Maart al No’man. Regime forces retaliated by dropping barrel bombs on the town of Habbit in rural Idlib. The Free Syrian Army destroyed a tank of the regime forces in the neighborhood of Salah al-Din in Aleppo, and killed seven members of the regime forces in the neighborhood. In the meantime, Abu Ammara platoon announced it conducted a daring attack against regime forces stationed in Saadallah al-Jabri Square, where a large number of troops and shabiha are stationed. Meanwhile, regime forces shelled the district of Sheikh Najjar and the towns of Al Bab and Tadef in Aleppo with warplanes and artillery. There are reports of many civilian casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 40 deaths in Aleppo today as well as dozens of injuries. (Source: Smart News Agency + Local Coordination Committees)

FSA Seize Largest Oil Field in Syria
The FSA took control of ‘Omar’ oil field in rural Deir Ezzor and captured seven tanks and a number of vehicles after battles with regime forces. Regime forces retaliated by launching airstrikes on the area. In addition, regime forces shelled with artillery the Siasiya Bridge in Deir Ezzor, which is a vital conduit for the city. The FSA has recently captured the Political Security Branch building, which is the only way that the regime uses to supply their troops in the city.

Dozens of Palestinians and Syrians Begin Hunger Strike in Egyptian Prisons
An official in the UN High Commission for Refugees announced today that dozens of people who fled Syria but later were detained in Egypt have begun a hunger strike to protest the conditions of their detention. The UN official said that the number of people on strike “is 50 Palestinians and Syrians who are being held in Alexandria because of attempts to illegally migrate to Europe.” Detainees seek to “send a message of the need to improve conditions of detention,” through the hunger strike.  Approximately 320 thousand Syrians have taken refuge in Egypt since the start of the revolution in March 2011. (Source: Sky News + Syrian Coalition)