Syrian Coalition: We Represent The Syrian People, Not The Regime-Made Terrorist Organizations
Munzer Akbik, President Jarba spokesman, denied that the Free Syrian Army has been detaining civilians, stressing that the “Assad regime is the only side that has been detaining children, women and patients, who we consider as one of the most important priorities at the top of the agenda of the negotiations.” Akbik also said the Coalition delegation submitted a list of tens of thousands of…Read more
“Back To Homs” Wins 2014 Sundance Film Festiva “Back to Homs,” directed by Syrian director Talal Derki, won the Grand Jury prize for best world documentary film which is one of the most prestigious awards in international cinema. The film features Abdel Basset Sarut as the main character of the film. Shot over two years in the city dubbed “the capital of the revolution”, Talal Derki’s harsh, jolting documentary traces the protesters’ journey from pacifism to violence and finally towards martyrdom, the only ending they can envisage once the conflict turns against them. As Homs comes under siege, the liberated pockets become virtual prisons. The streets are unsafe, so the soldiers navigate the city like rodents, crawling through the sewers or scampering through deserted homes where the pictures still adorn the walls and television sets remain plugged in to the living-room sockets. “Return to Homs,” which was filmed by Qahtan Hassoun, Osama al-Homsi, Talal Derki and Orwah Al Naiyrabiya, depicts the lives of its characters in detail and how they were transformed by the Syrian revolution. The film focuses on life in Syria during the revolution, and Homs in particular, and reminds the viewers that the experiences of the Syrian people in the face of the Assad regime is not different from the experiences of any other people who are faced with murder and hatred. The director dedicated the award to the trapped people in Homs who have been deprived of food and medicine but remain steadfast in spite of all the odds against them and the 600-day-long siege. The international cinema group siding with people’s demands for freedom and dignity makes one believe there is still hope in this world. “We crossed half the earth to get here. We expected to find an audience surprised by our film and our young people and their stories, but the surprise instead was our discovery that the world is one and humanity is one,” Talal said. He also said that the “cinema can repair what the media has broken in the way of communication and understanding between peoples.” “Return to Homs” was shown for the first time globally on the opening night of the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam in November of last year and was met with an extensive presence and an exceptional welcome from international critics. It should be noted that the festival has never honored nor viewed any Syrian film in its numerous competitions before. The film’s producer announced that the film will be shown in a large number of countries around the world, including the Festival of Goteborg in Sweden, Festival of Thessaloniki in Greece, the One World Festival in the Czech Republic, Festival of Human Rights Watch in London, Human Rights festivals in Geneva and Paris, Istanbul International Festival, Krakow Festival in Poland, and many others. It is noteworthy that the film is Syrian-German produced and received the support of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, the Aadva Bertha Fund, and French-German ARTE TV in addition to grants from other networks. “Return to Homs” was also produced by Orwah Al Nerabiyah along with German veteran Hans Robert Eisenhower. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
Discovery of Mass Graves After The Withdrawal Of ISIS Abu Abdullah al-Hamwi of the Islamic Front said that they discovered mass graves in areas abandoned by ISIS. He added that “the resistance in Syria is continuing on all fronts as long as the Assad regime continues dropping barrel bombs on the Syrian people.” He pointed to “the death of children due to hunger and cold. ISIS has been waging a war against the revolutionaries who are fighting Iran’s and Hezbollah’s militia. ISIS is not willing to work with other groups in Syria. The existence of this group in the region will impede the resistance of the Syrian people and hinder the delivery of aid to the Syrian people.” (Source: Coalition + Anadolu)
Death Toll: 36 People Killed Today, 66 Yesterday The Local Coordination Committees documented 66 people killed yesterday, while 36 people were killed as of 6:00 pm of today. Deaths were cited as: 19 in Aleppo, nine in Damascus, 7 in Dara’a and one in Quneitra. (Source: LCC)
Clashes around Alnairab Air Base As Aerial Shelling Kills 19 In Al Salihin The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces near Aleppo International Airport, Alnairab air base and in Maysalon. Assad’swarplanes launched air strikes on Al Salihin neighborhood of Aleppo for the second day, killing 19 people, including 13 children and a woman. Four people, including a child, were killed in Tariq al Bab as a result of shelling by regime forces. Clashes broke out between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces on several fronts in rural Aleppo, including Maarath Alertik where the FSA captured a number regime positions. The Free Syrian Army also repelled the advance of regime forces in Sheikh Maksoud. (Source: Coalition + LCC)
Regime Forces Intensify Shelling On Central Homs Regime forces shelled Al Wa’r and Maydan districts in Homs, causing civilian casualties and material damage. what led to the fall of the number of injuries and material damage is great. The regime’s air force launched barrel bomb attacks on Bab Tudmur and Al Qarabis, as violent clashes broke out between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces in Al Ghannto, Talbisah and Addar Al Kabira in rural Homs. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
Islamic Front Battalions Captures a Major Regime Checkpoint in Southern Damascus The Islamic Front battalions captured parts Al Ghandour checkpoint in Al Qadam in southern Damascus, which is responsible for killing dozens of civilians in the area. Activists said that around 100 regime soldiers were killed during the clashes, and that the opposition fighters captured a T-72 tank and light and medium weapons. A car bomb exploded in the neighborhood of Al Qadam, killing of 30 members of regime forces and wounded dozens. Meanwhile, five people died today in Yarmouk Camp as a result of hunger caused by the suffocating siege imposed by regime forces on the neighborhood. Regime’s warplanes dropped explosive barrels on Daryya west of Damascus. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
Children Die in Al Hiraq Due To Shortage Of Medicine Battoul Qaddah, a girl from Al Hiraqin in Dara’a province, died today due to lack of medical supplies and food in the town. A car bomb exploded today near the town of Tal Shihab, as another car bomb exploded near a field hospital in the town of Mazirab and was followed by artillery shelling by regime forces. Regime forces pounded Tel Shehab with missiles and heavy artillery, causing civilian casualties and material damage. (Source: Syrian Coalition + LCC)
Kurdish administration declared in Syria does not even live up to the level of the Municipal Council.
Nabil al Arab: We fully support the formation of a transitional governing body in Syria.
