Syria Watch

Syrian Revolution Digest – Sunday 25 November 2012

Age of the Warlords!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 25, 2012 

As rebels continue to outpace politicians in Syria, the two sides will soon have little to talk about when it comes to governing the liberated territories. By the time politicians have formed a transitional government it will have become irrelevant. The liberated territories belong to the rebels and they are unlikely to cede control to a bunch of squabbling politicians with no vision or leadership potential.

Today’s Death Toll: 117 (including 2 women and 14 children)
55 in Damascus and suburbs (12 bodies from Daraya found in Mowasa Hospital and 10 martyrs from aerial shelling in Dar Al-Asafeer)
16 in Aleppo
17 in Daraa
7 in Homs
6 in Deir Ezzor
8 in Hama
5 in Idlib
3 in Quneitra

Points of Random Shelling: 251
79 by mortar
129 by artillery
43 by missiles
14 by air bombardments (including 2 instances of use of cluster bombs)

Clashes: 136
Rebels also liberated Al-Rihanieh Military Camp and the Tishreen Dam (main supplier of electricity to Aleppo). In Damascus, Rebels repelled loyalist attempts to enter the suburb of Daraya and the towns of Eastern Ghoutah (LCC).

 

News

Syrian government air strike near Damascus kills 10 children: activists

Syrian rebels capture helicopter air base near the capital Damascus after fierce fighting

 

Special Reports

Kurd teachers debate Syria war under Assad gaze
The teachers have removed Assad’s portraits from classrooms so as not to be seen as regime collaborators, but have left up the ones in headmaster Adnan’s office, where they sit on couches at break time and chat. They allow journalists in on their discussions on the anti-regime revolt but ask to be identified only by first name and refuse to have their pictures taken.

Palestinians in Syria forced to pick sides
At least 700 Palestinians across the country have been killed since the uprising began, according to opposition groups. As the violence ramps up, the Palestinian community is being forced to choose sides, adding another unpredictable element to a murky conflict. “Some Palestinians have been part of the revolution from the beginning, and some groups have sided with the regime,” said Nadim Houry, the deputy Middle East director for Human Rights Watch. “But sometimes even when they’re not part of it, the fight comes to them.”

Rebel Oil in Syria
Syrian rebels are taking a few things into their own hands. They have captured several major oilfields, two in the country’s southeastern province of Deir al-Zour recently, and are extracting oil that is helping to support the people.

Stalemate in Syria? Army short on loyalists, rebels short on guns
The regime of Bashar al-Assad appears to be favoring long-range weapons out of fear that soldiers close to the front lines will defect.

War’s Silent Scourge: Sexual Violence Against Women
It’s one of the most disturbing horrors of the conflict in Syria: the use of sexual assault as a weapon: Ambassadors Melanne Verveer and Peter Westmacott on how to put an end to the epidemic.

Follow this link to register for FDD’s Washington Forum 2012 “Dictators & Dissidents”

 

Video Highlights

Aerial bombardment on the town of Deir Al-Assafeir, Damascus, kills a number of women and childrenhttp://youtu.be/V0YL5oUrJ1A , http://youtu.be/rKuW1pPTRsg , http://youtu.be/9AYpDox4Eg4

Rebels in Marj Al-Sultan Airbase, Damascus, moving the supplies hey gained from their recent raidhttp://youtu.be/80w64FDPFrI , http://youtu.be/4CfeajT4Huo A recap of the liberation processhttp://youtu.be/2XBjylR8mk0  , http://youtu.be/-NjbJlRb9Jc Taking over a helicopter http://youtu.be/R84oxRCskFk ,http://youtu.be/xXjD9guXe0g Taking over tanks http://youtu.be/mKdDfSzKZ08 A destroyed helicopterhttp://youtu.be/EKfyBjeZzgM Rebels managed to as well to secure the release of the few prisoners detained at the Airbase http://youtu.be/HDHwGV4PV7w

Rebels in Damascus manage to take control of a Shilka unit as well http://youtu.be/L8nEBHipsOg (Shilka is a “lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system.”) It’s confiscated Shilkas that has so far been used by rebels to bring down helicopters.

Rebels in Aleppo showcase their gains from their recent successful takeover of the headquarters of the 46thRegiment http://youtu.be/5Zor0RoVZ6Q , http://youtu.be/7YKkeT6gefY , http://youtu.be/m6l9RSIHMVw

Rebels and loyalists clash in Deir Ezzor City http://youtu.be/JIYFErUsPyo , http://youtu.be/Mt4Gf5Ozw8A Much of the city has been turned into rubble http://youtu.be/bQn76dAbjxo , http://youtu.be/STE-Y6LQ5TI

Syrian Revolution Digest – Wednesday 21 November 2012

The No-State Solution!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 21, 2012 

At this stage, and considering the absence of any serious dialogue on the future of Syria, it seems that the Syrian opposition and their regional and international backers have embraced the no-state solution regarding the current conflict. We can blame international conspiracies all we want, but the fault is essentially ours: the push and pull of different groups, the clash of ideologies, personalities and individual ambitions, the inability to be pragmatic and accept the obvious, all these things are our faults. If Syria is not the first item on our separate agendas, if its integrity is not put above our ideological preferences, then it cannot survive, or prosper. If no common vision is put forward and agreed, there will be no peace, and no Syria.

Today’s Death Toll:108 (including 2 women and 3 children)
40 in Aleppo (most result of shelling in Al-Shaar)
30 in Damascus and suburbs
11 in Homs
8 in Idlib
7 in Lattakia
5 in Deir Ezzor
4 in Daraa
1 in Raqqah

Points of Random Shelling: 196
58 by mortar
108 by artillery
29 by missile
14 by war jets, and by barrel bombs

Clashes:  82

Developments: Rebels blocked several regime attempts to storm cities and towns in Eastern Ghoutah, Damascus, and blew a number of personnel carriers in different areas across Syria (LCC).

 

News

Turkey has requested deployment of NATO air defense missiles over Syria civil war concernsNATO doesn’t want to be drawn into the Syrian conflict and said it would consider deploying the missiles purely to protect Turkey, a member country. Any deployment of NATO forces needs the approval of the alliance’s governing body, the North Atlantic Council.

Syrian planes bomb Damascus suburbs, northern town; regime blasts EU for endorsing opposition

Rebels say Syria hospital strike kills 40

 

Special Reports

Syria now running a war economy as conflict spreads
“This is a war budget in which the bulk is spent on the army and state employees to keep the government machinery going so that it continues to function, especially in the areas that are still under its control, and to show that the state is still on its feet,” said Samir Seifan, a prominent Syrian economist. He was involved in policymaking before the crisis but has since fled the country.

Rebels question continued protests in ‘Free Syria’
Protests gave birth to the anti-Assad uprising, but now some in Syria say they simply make for an easy target for regime planes. Others say they’re important to keep new leaders accountable.

Syria loses influence among Palestinians
Mr Assad is no longer the patron of Hamas, a Sunni Islamist organisation which moved its headquarters out of Damascus after the Syrian uprising. Khaled Meshaal, the Hamas leader, has openly backed his Sunni brethren in their battle to oust Mr Assad’s minority Alawite regime… On Wednesday, in an apparent attempt by Damascus to remain relevant, Syrian media said a Palestinian militant group based in the country, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, had claimed responsibility for an explosion on a bus in Tel Aviv.

With Syria’s eastern oilfields in rebel hands, a brisk business in pirated crude grows
The capture of the fields is another blow to the Syrian government’s attempt to offset inflation and shortages of various goods in the areas it still controls. It also has set off a booming oil trade in this impoverished area. Dozens of trucks wait in line 24 hours a day to fill up at rebel-held wells, which produce a light crude that can be burned without refining, though the result is dense smoke. Some farmers insist the unrefined crude can be used to power farm equipment, though it seems primarily to be used for heat.

Syria opposition appeals for massive aid
Leading opposition figure says $60b needed to prevent economy from collapsing within six months if Assad’s regime falls.

China’s Role in Syria: How Beijing Can Help End the Violence
China continues to leave off the table the possibility of sanctions or other punitive measures as a way to convince the regime to stop the violence. Without them, the Syrian government has no reason to end the bloodshed: it has the upper hand both militarily and politically, and it has more sophisticated equipment and control of government institutions. So what can China do to signal it is serious about a political settlement in Syria? Given Beijing’s reluctance to impose sanctions, a small but significant action would be to recognize the recently formed National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as representative of the opposition movement.

Great Debate: Intervention in Syria
The Syrian opposition has elected its new leaders. Will this make outside intervention more likely? Marina Ottaway, Tony Badran, Mordechai Kedar, and others weigh in.

Gunning for Damascus
The insurgents on the ground in Syria appear to be winning more and more territory and confiscating more and more high-grade materiel from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Just as Operation Pillar of Defense was kicking off over Gaza on Nov. 14, the Free Syrian Army took the entire city of al-Bukamal along the Iraqi border, where they also sacked two major airbases, giving the opposition a strong military foothold in Syria’s easternmost province, a vital smuggling route for weapons.

Mountaintop Town Is a Diverse Haven From Syria’s Horrors
MALOULA, Syria — In a country clouded by conflict, where neighbors and families are now divided by sectarian hatred, this mountaintop town renowned for its spiritual healing qualities and restorative air is an oasis of tolerance. Residents of the ancient and mainly Christian town — one of the last places where Western Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, is still spoken — vowed at the beginning of the Syrian conflict 20 months ago not to succumb to sectarianism and be dragged into the chaos.

Christians in Syria: separating Fact From Fiction (PDF)
The evidence surveyed here does not, as of yet, suggest the existence of an organized campaign of militant Islamic persecution of Christians throughout Syria, especially along the lines of what has happened in Iraq since 2003. Indeed, one should not overlook the fact that Christians have been playing active roles in the opposition. At the same time, disinformation exists about this phenomenon too.

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Foreign Truck Bombers in Syria Highlight Risk of New al-Qaeda
Foreign fighters began trickling into Syria a few months after the uprising against Assad began in March 2011, according to Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian dissident who is a fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Most of the opposition is made up of Sunni Muslims while Assad belongs to the minority Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam. Not all the foreign fighters are extremist or al-Qaeda affiliates. Some are moderate Muslims or liberals, driven by romantic notions and a sense of Arab solidarity, Abdulhamid said. …

The overwhelming majority are considered “dead weight,” said Abdulhamid. Tensions between rebels and foreign fighters mean that “oftentimes, foreign fighters stay in separate camps with a few like-minded Syrian recruits who help them secure their basic needs from nearby villages.”

 

Video Highlights

Rebels in Gassam, Daraa, trying to take down a MiG http://youtu.be/vY7Ussmdu4g On the other end of Syria, in Alboukamal, Deir Ezzor Province, rebels succeed in bringing down their targethttp://youtu.be/Wr8wvNeu7wI

Locals pull bodies from under the rubble in Aleppo City after a field hospital and a nearby building were bombed in Al-Shaar Neighborhoodhttp://youtu.be/K55QZa3AaD0 , http://youtu.be/58fInKBbyBU ,http://youtu.be/wKuasppHz28 , http://youtu.be/i5cNoNQjc_s , http://youtu.be/YieyrEapr6Q

Nearby towns were pounded by MiGs: Dar Azzahhttp://youtu.be/7POvoUypLEs

The pounding of the town of Zabadani along the Lebanese border in Damascus Suburbs continueshttp://youtu.be/OMI1mh1iwhc closer to Damascus City, missile launchers targeted the suburb ofDarayahttp://youtu.be/PoWJhAxP10Q

Rebels pushed back another attack on Eastern Ghoutah, Damascus: blowing up a tank in Ain Termahttp://youtu.be/9sMI9DSD59E The pounding by jets continued in Jisreenhttp://youtu.be/_q8iXT9v30EKafar Batnahttp://youtu.be/brYq79GZv1oSaqbahttp://youtu.be/szYcY4hSHgQ The people of Harastaleave the suburb en masse http://youtu.be/VV_3q8NeY18

In Homs, the pounding of Deir Baalbah Suburb intensifies http://youtu.be/cru-zpLdBmY  The pounding of the nearby town of Rastan continues http://youtu.be/P-VK6vVPpCc

Regime jets pound the town of Ma’rrat Al-Nouman in Idlib Province http://youtu.be/tmb2s7ZDgjU ,http://youtu.be/ju9hT81nHGsEltaman’ah also pounded http://youtu.be/vMSIca1OjtE And Mahambilhttp://youtu.be/kWYicrLYVt4 And Kafroumahhttp://youtu.be/3MZE0csBhuM

Rebels and loyalists clashed in Deir Ezzor City http://youtu.be/s9Br4kFK3kQ a rockets a rebel neighborhood http://youtu.be/xf-CyR5WJLI The pounding of the town of Mayadeen continueshttp://youtu.be/3feu0r-9D1Q

Syrian Revolution Digest – Tuesday 20 November 2012

Stop Holding Your Peace!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 20, 2012 

As Islamists try to assert their vision or Syria, be it as an Islamic State or a state where Sharia is King, the battle of ideas needs to be joined by the secular opposition. Even if we continue to speak past each other in the early phases, it is important that we begin exploring visions for the future of Syria in order to find some common ground at some point: without this common ground, there could be no Syria. The revolution and the violent crackdown it elicited from the Assad regime present an existential challenge not only to different groups in the country, but to the country itself. This kind of challenge cannot be overcome by guns alone. We need to negotiate new terms for a new state. After 20 months of bloodshed, it’s unforgiveable that opposition groups continue to shy away from this.

Today’s Death Toll: 122 (including 2 women and 2 children)
52 in Damascus and suburbs (including 10 martyrs from Daraya)
28 in Aleppo
10 in Idlib
9 in Raqqah
8 in Lattakia
5 in Homs
3 in Deir Ezzor
1 in Hasakeh
1 in Daraa

Points of Random Shelling: 204
69 by mortar shelling
109 by artillery
26 by rockets
10 by jets
7 by barrel bombs

Clashes:  114

Developments: Rebels raided the Police Academy in Khan Al-Assal in Aleppo, liberated checkpoints in Salah Eldin sports complex as well as the checkpoints along the Daraa highway across from Mahje City, and blocked the regime army’s attempts to storm Eastern Ghouta (LCC).

 

News

Syria conflict: UK recognises opposition, says William Hague

Mortars hit Syria information ministry, clashes erupt in capital

Turkey agrees Syria missile defense with NATO members

IDF jeep hit by stray bullets from Syria; no injuries

Kurdish militiamen, rebels maintain truce in northern Syria

Udall: get over Benghazi, focus on Syria

Syria Kurdish leader rejects new opposition coalition

Syria rebels set up own intelligence service Free Syrian army form its the creation of an intelligence unit that serve the rebel forces against the Basahr al-Assad security agencies

Aleppo rebels retract rejection of coalition Commanders in Aleppo voice their support to Syrian National Coalition but call for greater representation in it.

 

Special Reports

Lt. Col. Eddie Boxx, USAF: Responding to Assad’s Use of Airpower in Syria
One recently discussed option — a creative, ground-based approach using Patriot missile batteries — could work if integrated with three key U.S. aircraft: the E-3 AWACS, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and E-8 JSTARS. These airborne “eyes and ears,” which were pivotal to the success of no-fly missions in Libya, Bosnia, and Iraq, would operate outside of Syrian air defense coverage. Patriot missile units placed in Turkey and Jordan could reach into Syria and give the FSA a protected arc some 40-50 miles from the borders. The FSA already controls most of the areas within this hypothetical arc, and the no-fly zone would be formed along currently defended boundaries where the opposition is most active

Syria’s Spray-Can Revolution
Seeing Syria’s children as passive victims of a tyrannical regime… underestimates their role in the revolt. If they’ve been victims, they’ve also been protagonists. Think back to how all this began… This isn’t been a samizdat revolution, sparked by epistles from dissident intellectuals. It was started by the spray cans of schoolchildren, and by other young people who then turned to Facebook and YouTube to get the message out.

In Syria, An Act Of Reconciliation Stirs Fierce Debate
The man at the center is Ahmad Munir Muhammed, the governor of Homs, who has long been known as a loyalist of embattled President Bashar Assad. However, Muhammed made an official visit to Tel Kalakh, where the majority of neighborhoods are controlled by the rebels… The governor was quoted as saying he was “putting an end to Syrian bloodshed” and would take similar steps in all the towns under his authority… The governor “shook hands with murderers,” screamed the pro-government media, accusing him of nothing less than embracing al-Qaida in Syria. He “surrendered” Tel Kalakh, according to those who consider any recognition of the Sunni rebels an existential danger to Assad’s rule and to the surrounding Alawite villages. The reaction shows the difficulty of any negotiated settlement to end the crisis.

Syria’s growing refugee crisis
With no end in sight to the crisis in Syria, refugees are crossing the border into neighbouring countries in increasing numbers. More than 100,000 Syrians have taken refuge in Turkey – some leaving all their possessions behind. But the threat from the violence in Syria remains close.

Syrian rebels put choke hold on government supply lines
The Free Syrian Army has captured several critical areas from the government this week, curtailing delivery of supplies to those they are battling for control of Aleppo.

Unveiled Syrian Facebook post stirs women’s rights debate
Among the dozens of Facebook groups spawned by the Syrian uprising, a page supporting women’s rights has suddenly received a wave of attention, because of an image posted there by one of its followers. The picture was of 21-year-old Dana Bakdounis, without the veil she had grown up wearing – and it polarised opinion.

The Spillover Effect

In Syria, a rare Chinese foray into foreign policy
This is what happens in a G-Zero world – a world without any specific country or bloc of countries in charge… Americans feel that the issue doesn’t affect them enough to intervene. Europeans, as a Union, don’t seem to be particularly interested, even if some smaller countries are. And with those powers on the sidelines, suddenly the Chinese have a much bigger problem – a civil war that could metastasize into regional instability. The Chinese have far too much at stake in Iraq and Iran for that to happen: 11 percent of China’s oil imports come from Iran, and it is on track to be the chief importer of Iraqi oil by 2030… That China is wading into diplomacy here does not mean it will replace the United States in negotiations. But it does mean that the world is in transition – what was once America’s domain is now no one’s.

Lebanon banks can absorb Syria damage: Blom
Syria’s civil war has shrunk the operations of Lebanese bank affiliates operating there, but the parent banks are coping with the damage thanks to careful provisioning, a senior Lebanese banker said.

The EU Must Proscribe and Sanction Hezbollah Over Syria
An open letter signed by Syrian and European activists and sponsored by the Henry Jackson Society.

Coverage: Syrian dissidents call for Europe to cut off Hezbollah

Signatories: Akil Hashem, Brig Gen (Ret.), Syrian Army; Ammar Abdulhamid, dissident, writer; Khawla Yusuf, dissident, writer; Nada Kiwan, medical doctor, activist Farha Barzai, activist; Amer al-­‐Sadeq, Representative, Syrian Revolution Coordinators Union; Helen Abduldayem, activist for the Syrian Opposition and nursery school in Homs; Nadia Nashawi, Syrian opposition activist; Mouna Akil Hashem, Syrian opposition activist; Hamza al-­‐Fahker, journalist, Syrian opposition activist; Mahmoud Elzour, Syrian rebel; Ahmad Rahban, Communications Manager, Strategic Research & Communications Centre; Khaled El‐Ekhteyar, journalist; Mr. Mohanad Mahdi, Professional Engineer; Mr. Tom Fala Activist; Ms. Noura Almasri Syrian American activist; Mr. Osama Nahas, M.D.; Ms. Hanne Groenligen Grass Roots Activist and humanist; Mr. Bradford E. Helms, semi-­‐retired; Human Rights activist for Syria; Mr. Bashar Alawad, M.D.”

Follow this link to register for FDD’s Washington Forum 2012 “Dictators & Dissidents”

Clarifications:

The leader of the Kurdish group, PYD, the Syrian branch of the PKK, rejected today the recently created National Coalition. This is to be expected, of course. The PYD was not invited to take part in the Coalition, despite being the Kurdish political group with the largest popular support in the country. Its nationalist agenda and connections to the PKK were too problematic for inclusion at this stage. Any engagement between the Coalition and the PYD will likely take place through the Kurdish national Council, which has three seats in the Coalition, including one the position of Vice-President.

For its part, Al-Tawheed Brigade in Aleppo withdrew on Monday its rejection of the Coalitionhttp://youtu.be/-akrPtGngvA , and its call for the establishment of an Islamic State in Syria. But they insist on greater representation in the Coalition and on having Islam be the main source for legislation in any future state. In decades gone by, having such a constitutional clause amounted to nothing more than a token gesture to the Islamists and was never upheld. But with Islamist feeling so empowered today, having such a clause could be quite problematic this time around, especially with an emphasis on the “the” part in sentence “the main source for legislation.” Moreover, the retraction by Al-Tawheed still leaves Jabhatl Al-Nusra, Ahrar AlSham and Ahrar Souria and a smaller assortment of groups from around the country on board of a call for an Islamic State. The issue will be a difficult one for Syrian rebels, activists and opposition groups to handle down the road.

 

Video Highlights

Rebels take control of the Air Defense Unit near Bouaida, Damascus http://youtu.be/WEmy8GZ773s

Random shelling leaves buildings on fire in Moadamia, Damascus http://youtu.be/3LZeICPaNHwBabbilahttp://youtu.be/nwO3ymQsjXMDaraya was pounded as well http://youtu.be/BFYB7GCjmvwMass Burials http://youtu.be/Ct-V_A3OJdM Jets pounded Douma as well http://youtu.be/M7rAAhl6mjo

The town of Mayadeen, Deir Ezzor Province is bombarded by MiGs http://youtu.be/TlriwbCKU0IHelicopter gunships are involved as well http://youtu.be/CMmvyq48aTs Local in state of panichttp://youtu.be/YFifFNwKpOA , http://youtu.be/jKksBwrwNT4 Meanwhile, rebels and loyalists clash inDeir Ezzor Cityhttp://youtu.be/Gz-s5xCmIss

Loyalist troops pound rebel strongholds in Aleppo city: Salaheddinehttp://youtu.be/woLdZ5nH0XsRebels in action http://youtu.be/kpi1qi42nic , http://youtu.be/ImO9GuDrNnc

Aerial bombardment of Manbij, Aleppo Province http://youtu.be/-HoBqF98mbM paves the way for clashes with rebels on the ground http://youtu.be/9MTUPRqw5d0 , http://youtu.be/ZtWo7njhcwM

Rebels and loyalists clash in the mountains of Lattakia http://youtu.be/oM0Kdylrf_A ,http://youtu.be/fRgXw5zbqyM

Syrian Revolution Digest – Monday 19 November 2012

Release the Kraken!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 19, 2012 

They’re baaaack! All those missing pundits who had little to say about the tragic developments in Syria over the last few months are now back and at it again, tackling their favorite topic in the whole wide world and making their usual sweeping assertions about its centrality to the regional woes: who cares about authoritarianism and corruption, it’s the Arab-Israeli Conflict baby. What they have missed in the midst of their ideological orgy is the simple fact the Conflict has long morphed into an Israeli-Iranian affair with Turkey trying to work herself in, and Arabs, rich and poor alike, being nothing more than glorified proxies. Meanwhile, Russia and China play the spoilers when it suits them, as America stands disinterested, and perhaps a little puzzled, if not clueless. Meanwhile, in Syria, the Islamists pursue their hijacking of the revolution.

News

Islamists Reject New Syria Rebel Group; EU Embraces It

Islamist Groups Reject New Syrian Opposition Coalition

U.S. stops short of recognizing Syrian opposition body

Turkey to ask NATO for air defense missiles aimed at Syria

Israel fires on Syria for a third time

Syria Says Foreign Support For Rebels Aids Terrorism

Iran hosts Syrian peace conference

Syrian Revolution Seeks Commanding Position The rebels may not yet have a national political structure… but “The new organization has a chance to shape how the war is going be fought now.”

Syrian rebels eye Assad’s economic lifeline in east Speaking from the rebel-held town of Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey, Sheikh Nawaf al-Bashir said rebels are planning to advance into two lightly defended frontier towns further east in the resource-rich province of Hasaka, 600 km (375 miles) from Damascus.

Syria rebels seize part of key army base: watchdog Syrian rebel fighters today took control of part of a strategic army base they have been laying siege to for weeks in the northern province of Aleppo, a watchdog and residents said.

Syrian rebels say they seize base on Damascus outskirts Syrian rebels said they had seized the headquarters of an army battalion near the southern gate of Damascus on Monday, the nearest military base to the capital reported to have fallen to opposition fighters in a 20-month revolt.

Syria rebels clash with armed Kurds Fighting near Turkey between Free Syrian Army and Kurds affiliated with Democratic Union Party leaves several injured.

 

Special Reports

Syrians want to know: ‘Are you okay after Superstorm Sandy?’
With the sound of mortars in the background, Syrians in Aleppo express concern for our American correspondent and his storm-battered homeland.

Bernard-Henri Lévy: Hollande, the Syrian — Bravo!
The head of the French State took a decisive step with regard to Syria during his press conference of November 13th. Thus, in his words, France has recognized the Syrian Coalition… In virtue of the logic that follows this recognition, François Hollande has adequate grounds to demand that the United Nations see to it that liberated zones, controlled by the new power, be declared sanctuary without delay.

Aleppo, Syria under siege
Government forces resumed their attack on rebel-held areas in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. U.S. officials say they fear a possible civilian massacre there. Clarissa Ward met with some rebel fighters.

Refugee children ‘face winter risks’
International charity Save the Children has warned 200,000 Syrian refugee children are at serious risk from freezing temperatures, as winter sets in the Middle East.

Syria Faces Long Bloody Civil War
The Syrian government has all the heavy weapons, but it does not have enough troops to establish permanent military control over every rural area in a country of 24 million people. However, it does have the strength to smash any attempts to create a rival authority with the powers of a real government in those rural areas, and it still holds most of the cities: the front line in Aleppo has scarcely moved since last summer.

SYRIA WITNESS: Radio Launches Hope From Far Away
A small number of exiled Syrians in Paris, Cairo and other cities launched a radio station called SouriaLi (My Syria / Surrealist) in October for the people of war-torn Syria. The programming is uncensored and available from a Cairo studio as a web-based series of podcasts on www.souriali.com.

Unwanted: a failed crossing from Damascus to Gaza
No sooner had the UN team called it a night at the border post and left the refugees, but the Jordanian border force performed a volte-face, ordering the families to go back to wherever they came from.

The Spillover Effect

France eyes Middle East influence, image with Syria gamble
President Francois Hollande’s decision to recognize Syria’s new opposition bloc aims to secure long-term French interests in the region and boost his foreign policy image but, with few allies following suit, Paris may risk isolation… As the former colonial master in Syria, it makes sense for France to be a leader in solving the crisis and its economic ties with Assad’s government have been modest in recent years. By positioning itself now for the long term, Paris hopes to reap the business rewards from Syria’s reconstruction.

Syria unrest cuts Lebanon exports 12 percent: minister
Civil war in Syria is taking its toll on several sectors of the economy of neighboring Lebanon, where exports have tumbled 12 percent, Lebanon’s economy minister said on Monday. In addition to tumbling exports, Lebanon’s tourist industry has declined by as much as 15 percent.

Iran building gas pipeline to Syria
The 750-mile project was first announced in July 2011 as Syrian rebels began stepping up the fight to topple Assad. Many analysts predicted the pipeline would remain in the planning stages because of the countless risks involved, but Iran’s decision to start work — even just the beginning sections — is seen a public show of confidence in Assad’s ability to ride out the uprising.

Hezbollah leader vows support for Hamas despite Syria rift
“Some are saying that Israel is punishing Hamas for they think it abandoned Iran, Syria and Hezbollah,” Nasrallah said in a speech beamed to supporters on a big screen in the Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. “Iran, Syria and Hezbollah will not give up on the people of Gaza and its resistance, and this is our religious and moral and humanitarian obligation,” he said.

Syria: Would Putin Pull a ‘Pristina’?
Might Putin, if Bashar’s regime became more threatened, be tempted to pull another Pristina? — the moment in 1999 when Russian troops, in support of their Serbian allies, sent a column in to occupy Pristina airport, in Kosovo… one must not underestimate the contrarian force represented by the Russia of Vladimir Putin. He may or may not be concerned by being on the wrong side of the Sunni-dominated Arab Spring, but he certainly hasn’t shown it thus far.

 

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A group of Islamist Rebels convened in Aleppo City earlier on Sunday and issued a statement rejecting the recently formed National Coalition as a conspiratorial body established by external powers, and said that consensus has been reached on establishing an Islamic State. Unsurprisingly the main groups represented in this meeting were Jabhat Al-Nusra, Ahrar Al-Sham and Ahrar Syria, long believed to be al-Qaeda affiliates. But the other main group taking part was Liwa Al-Tawhid, which is somewhat surprising considering the more moderate tone and stature that its leaders tried to project earlier. Other major Islamic groups like Al-Farouq and Suqur Al-Sham (Al-Sham Falcons) were noted for their absence, but it will be interesting to see what their reactions will be now that the genie is out of the bottlehttp://youtu.be/XOazhu3LB1Y

The timing of the statement itself is quite telling. European countries are already discussing the possibility of lifting the arms embargo on Syria, which, if it happens, can help empower moderate rebel groups by giving them more advanced weapons allowing them to stand up both to pro-Assad militias as well as the Islamist groups. Jabhat Al-Nusra and affiliates are right then: the Coalition is a conspiracy against them. The Coalition was established specifically to save this revolution from an ongoing extremist takeover.

By Monday, the improvised announcement drew fierce denouncements from moderate and secular rebel groups, forcing a retraction by Al-Tawhid, and more vocal support to the Coalition by major rebel groups and activists throughout the country. As such, rather than weakening the Coalition, the rejection by Islamists served to shore up its popular appeal, at least for the time being.

But a showdown between moderate and Islamist forces is looming, and the best that can be done at this stage is to defer it until a vision for an endgame in Syria emerges in opposition circles. With the clashes taking place between Islamist rebels and Kurdish militias in Seri Kanye on the Turkish border, there is enough side drama in rebel camps going on at this stage. Cool heads will probably prevail for few more weeks, but a conflict pitting moderates against extremists seems unavoidable, especially as extremists control more territory and more border crossings with neighboring countries. Indeed, Jabhat Al-Nusra either directly, or through smaller affiliates, some of which pretend to be moderates control all border crossings with Turkey. Recently, Jabhat Al-Nusra moved to take control of the town of Alboukamal along the borders with Iraq. The Jabhat and its extremist partners and affiliates were allowed too much leeway in the last few months, thanks to international dithering and opposition incompetence, and they cannot be reined in eventually without some measure of force. The die is cast, Alea Jacta Est, the Kraken is released, and all that sort of things. Putting Syria back together is fast becoming a herculean undertaking.  And now we have to deal with Gaza.

 

Video Highlights

After weeks-long siege, rebels manage to capture a key army-based in Al-Atareb, Aleppo Province. The base is the headquarters of the 46th Battalion of the regular army still loyal to Assad. http://youtu.be/9kny-Ur-KxM Showcasing the supplies that they have gained http://youtu.be/Rlu_KqLO_2s

Syrian Revolution Digest – Saturday 17 November 2012

Free the Air!

Syrian Revolution Digest – November 17, 2012 

Liberating the land but not the air does not a victory make. Unless rebels are able to neutralize Assad’s airpower the mere possibility of organizing local governments is rendered meaningless, and all hopes for transitioning beyond the current mayhem are dashed. This is not something that the rebels can accomplish without external support. The international community needs to move beyond symbolic gestures in its dealings with the Syrian opposition. The Russians, by their own admission, are definitely providing much more than symbolic support to Assad. The rebels deserve no less from their international sympathizers.

Today’s Death Toll:  136 (including 3 women and 6 children)
63 in Damascus and suburbs (including 7 in Harasta)
30 in Aleppo
21 in Deir Ezzor
11 in Idlib
4 in Homs
2 in Daraa
2 in Hama

Points of Random Shelling: 153
91 by artillery
44 by mortar
20 by missiles
Regime warplanes conducted aerial raids in 13 regions and released barrel bombs in Mayadeen (Deir Ezzor) and Daret Azzah (Aleppo) They also used vacuum bombs in 5 areas, and poison gas bombs in Harasta in Damascus Suburbs

Clashes:  82

Developments: Rebels attacked a convoy of tanks on its way to Eastern Bowaida in Damacus Suburbs. They also attacked the checkpoint in Hirak, Daraa, and in the Shaghour and Sina’a checkpoints in Damascus. In Aleppo, rebels stormed the agricultural school that had been transformed into a barracks by regime forces; they also stormed the 46th regiment that had been bombing areas in Aleppo countryside (LCC).

 

News

Turkish Cameraman Set Free by Captors in Syria

In Bold Move, France Welcomes Syria Ambassador

Syria rebels say seize airport near Iraqi border

Turkey to ask NATO for missiles on Syria border: German daily

Obama urged to consider no-fly zone in Syria Key U.S. Senators, including an influential Democrat are calling on President Barack Obama to consider establishing a no-fly zone in Syria.

 

Special Reports

Syria: Spillover into Iraq? By Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi
Given Syria’s trade ties with Iraq, a post-Assad regime would be more likely to take on a role as mediator, advisor in Iraqi politics.

Inside Syria, a Grandma Faces Down War
Syrian doctors routinely treat the war injured, knowing that if they are caught doing this they may be tortured to death by the Assad regime’s security services.

Mapping Syria’s armed opposition: A sketch of rebel units, leaders and organizations.

 

Video Highlights

Rebels take control of Al-Hamdan Airport in Alboukamal, Deir Ezzor Province http://youtu.be/XXzpJ2Oud8Y ,http://youtu.be/7uGlq_GPSqM , http://youtu.be/dijsOT-UXDk , http://youtu.be/kaY3GErC2VA ,http://youtu.be/MlB02lt4Yqs Spoils of war http://youtu.be/gwXAUBab-dY

Summary executions in Bahdaliyeh, Damascus Suburbs http://youtu.be/6ChUFEX_6DY A child among the dead inJisreen http://youtu.be/cPiUSekZe68 Aerial bombardments claim more victims in Harastahttp://youtu.be/gsUU7dYF3jI More aerial bombardment of Eastern Ghoutah Region: Jisreenhttp://youtu.be/0kdYeWcn5ug Hamouriyeh http://youtu.be/6EZ3IU3h3lY

Transporting the victims of the pounding in Haydariyeh, Aleppo City http://youtu.be/MJljPpueiLo , http://youtu.be/4-8_oalLe1s , http://youtu.be/Mkik2sIohfY , http://youtu.be/giKBfuDAa38

Clashes in Hirak, Deraa Province http://youtu.be/Sg8ec7bTNgQ , http://youtu.be/x8QCBG-av7Q