Today’s Death Toll: 155

The Breakdown: Toll included 5 children and 3 women: 50 in Damascus and suburbs, 38 in Aleppo, 35 in Hassakeh, 9 in Deir Ezzor, 7 in Raqqah, 6 in Homs, 5 in Idlib, 4 in Daraa, and 1 in Banyas.

Other Developments: LCC also documented 124 points of random shelling by regime forces: 53 by artillery, 47 by mortars and 24 by missiles. The fiercest shelling was reported in Damascus and Suburbs with 63 points, followed by Aleppo with 46, and Idlib with 32. Rebels clashed with loyalist militias in 75 points destroying several military vehicles in Raqqah and shooting down a plane in Alboukamal (LCC).

 

News

Gulf states recognise Syria opposition

New Mayhem on 2 Borders as Syrian Opposition Unifies

Israel fires into Syria for second day, scores ‘direct hits’

Syrian jets, helicopters hit rebel town near Turkey

Parents of American Journalist Missing in Syria Appeal for Help

Man arrested at Heathrow airport on suspicion of Syria terrorism links Police investigating alleged terrorism linked to Syria arrest 24-year-old man arriving on flight from Bahrain

David Cameron starts to force the pace on Syria conflict The PM’s risk calculus appears to have changed – and European officials do not know what to make of his new stance

 

Special Reports

The Survivor

Barack Obama called for Syrian’s Bashar al-Assad to step aside more than a year ago. Here’s why he’s still in power.

Inside Syria, rebels offer cautious support for unified council

Fighters on the front lines of the Syrian war expressed optimism about the new council formed out of Syrian opposition groups.

Mistrust of Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood lingers

* Brotherhood says will not monopolise new coalition

* Group said to control SNC, channel funds to supporters

* Qatar, Turkey have backed Brotherhood in Syria opposition

Syrian opposition says west has promised military aid

New National Coalition claims its ‘accountability and unity’ has assuaged concerns about arming rebels

After the election, a new push on Syria

With the U.S. election out of the way and growing concerns about the rise of jihadist groups within Syria, Western powers are now engaging groups fighting inside Syria, rather than the exiled and ineffectual Syrian National Council. The ultimate goal may be to create a safe zone — a slice of liberated Syria — where the opposition can form an interim government.

Look At How Syria Neighbors Are Drawn Into Its War

Syria’s neighbors are increasingly being drawn into the country’s civil war in a variety of ways, whether militarily or due to an exodus of Syrians fleeing the fighting at home. The spillover has raised concerns that the nearly 20-month-long conflict between Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime and rebels trying to topple him could endanger the entire Middle East.

What is The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces?

Khatib will be supported by three vice-presidents: Riad Seif, a prominent dissident who had once been tapped to lead the new body; Suhair al-Atassi, a leading female opposition figure; and a yet-to-be-named Kurd. The new group is also backed by the SNC’s new leader, George Sabra, a Christian.

Meet Syria’s new opposition leader

Sheikh Ahmad Mouaz al-Khatib is seen as moderate and charismatic, but some worry about his political inexperience.

Preacher takes opposition lead

Those sceptical about his chances of reinvigorating and bringing together Syria’s opposition are doubtful less about the man himself than the possibility of anyone pulling off the task he has taken on. “[He is] a figure who has long managed to bridge . . .  communications between secular and Islamist groups on the ground,” wrote Ammar Abdulhamid, a US-based anti-regime activist, on his blog. “As such, he is a potentially unifying figure, and his touch will be needed in the days and months, if not years ahead.”

Ammar Abdulhamid & Khawla Yusuf: The Shredded Tapestry: The State of Syria Today

The United States congratulates the representatives of the Syrian people on the formation of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. We look forward to supporting the National Coalition as it charts a course toward the end of Assad’s bloody rule and the start of the peaceful, just, democratic future that all the people of Syria deserve. We will work with the National Coalition to ensure that our humanitarian and non-lethal assistance serves the needs of the Syrian people. We also commend the Government of Qatar for its steadfast leadership and support of this conference.