Daily Newsletter – 04/01/2014

Syrian Coalition: Insistence on Iran’s Participation Will Foil Geneva II

Hisham Marwa, Legal Committee member, lashed out at the insistence of Russia and the Assad regime on Iran’s participation in Geneva II, stressing that “it is an illusion that Iran’s participation may help resolve the crisis.” Marwa states that “inviting Iran to the conference will foil the international efforts aimed at making Geneva II a success, as its militias are still wreaking havoc, murder and destruction in Syria.” Marwa went on: “The introduction of any new file on the negotiating table at Geneva II not included in Geneva…Read more

Mekdad: ISIS’s Adoption of Beirut Bombing is their Last Mission in Serving the Assad Regime
Louay Mokdad, FSA’s media and political coordinator, said that ISIS’s claiming responsibility for Beirut bombing “is the last mission of the gangs of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi…Read more

Syrian Coalition: Inviting Iran mines Geneva II
The Syrian Coalition condemns the kidnapping of five workers from Doctors Without Borders in northern Syria yesterday. “According to press reports, it is believed that…Read more

Hajj: World’s Inaction behind Our Refusing to Go to Geneva II
The Syrian National Council, which represents the largest bloc in the Syrian Coalition, justified the Council’s refusal to participate in Geneva II “due to the international community’s inaction Assad’s massacres against the Syrian people.” An informed source said that the decision was made in response to the absence of the serious efforts by the international community to create the appropriate atmosphere that guarantees the success of the conference as well as wriggling out of its commitments to lifting the siege on cities and towns, the opening of humanitarian corridors and stopping the indiscriminate shelling of civilians.” Abdul Rahman Al Hajj, member of the General Secretariat said that “the Council made the decision after a thorough reassessment of the current circumstances ahead of Geneva II.” Al Hajj wondered “how can we trust this conference and participate in while the international community is still unwilling to pressure the Assad regime to implement Geneva I Communique, and the formation of a transitional ruling body with full powers?” Hajj also states that “the Syrian National Council has not yet felt any seriousness on the part of the international community in supporting the Syrian people in achieving a political solution that meets their aspirations and the transition to a democratic state.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Death Toll: 14 people killed today, 87 yesterday
The Local Coordination Committees documented 87 people killed in Syria yesterday, while 14 people were killed as of 6:00 pm of today, including a woman and one person killed under torture. Deaths were cited as: 5 in Damascus, 4 in Aleppo, 3 in Dara’a 2 and one in each of Idlib and Homs. (Source: LCC)

FSA Advance On Regime Forces In Zamalka
The FSA captured a number of buildings on the perimeter of Tomeh checkpoint in the district of Zamalka near Damascus and killed 15 pro-Assad fighters. Regime forces shelled the town of Yalda and the outskirts of Adra northeast of Damascus, as well as Kaboun, Tadamon and Khan al Sheih, with reports of civilian casualties. Three civilians were killed and dozens wounded by artillery bombarded on the towns of Madaya and Zabadani. The FSA clashed with regime forces in Darya and Al Asasali in Damascus. (Source: Smart News Agency + Syrian Coalition)

FSA Expel ISIS Fighters from Towns West Of Aleppo
The Free Syrian Army and the Mujahideen Army retook the villages of Salloum and Jeenah west of Aleppo and captured dozens of ISIS fighters. ISIS fighters opened fire on a demonstration in the town of Azaz north of Aleppo, wounding a number of civilians. Three FSA fighters were killed during clashes with ISIS fighters in the town of Tel Rifaat. Activists said that ISIS sent reinforcements from Al Bab and Azaz to the town of Mareh north of Aleppo. (Source: LCC + Syrian Coalition)

ISIS Commander in Salqin Killed As the FSA Retakes More ISIS Positions
The ISIS commander in Salqin near Idlib is reportedly killed, while ISIS retaliated by killing 35 detainees. Syrian Revolutionaries Front (SRF) seized ISIS headquarters in Tal Minnis in rural Idleb. ISIS fighters surrendered themselves to the Islamic Front and FSA in Maart al Nouman and Kafr Takharim in idleb. Meanwhile, ISIS fighters kidnaped three wounded people and a paramedic from a hospital in Sraqeb. The Free Syrian Army freed five Alawite women who were detained by ISIS in Salqin. Violent clashes broke out between the FSA and regime forces on outskirts of Ma’arrat Misrin. Activists spoke about the death of Al Tawhid and Jihad Brigade’s commander in the town of Tal Hamis in al Hasakah province duringt clashes with ISIS fighter. (Source: Smart News Agency + Syrian Coalition)

• Abbas calls for facilitating the entry of relief aid to the Yarmouk refugee camp
• Chinese frigate will take part in the transfer of Syria’s chemical weapons