Syria Watch

Syrian Revolution Digest – Thursday 28 June 2012

THE COMMENTARY IN THIS PIECE DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF IMPUNITY WATCH.  

*WARNING VIDEOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES*

The Relics!

When regime propagandists begin describing the majority population in their country as Relics, especially after their president declared war against said majority, chances for the success of a new plan that lacks enforcement mechanisms drop to null, while those for ethnic cleansing on an even larger scale than witnessed so far increase to 100%. But if world leaders expect the relics to go gently into that good night, they are as delusional as Assad and his militias.  

Thursday June 28, 2012

Today’s Death toll: 139. The Breakdown: 59 in Damascus Suburbs (mostly in Douma), 26 in Homs, 17 in Daraa, 15 in Deir Ezzor, 9 in Hama, 9 in Idlib, and 2 in Aleppo.

Lebanese police is reportedly increasing its crackdown against Syrian anti-regime activists living in Lebanon, with new arrests reported. Previously Lebanese authorities surrendered Syrian activists to the Assad regime despite their refugee status. International community should act now to pressure Lebanese authorities into complying with all norms and regulations pertaining to treatment of refugees.

News

Op-Eds & Special Reports

The Massacre of Douma (Damascus Suburbs)

Victims: 38 dead, and 150 wounded. Most died in the continuous shelling of the town, but 14 people were executed when pro-Assad militias stormed their neighborhoods, they belonged to one family: Al-Tomei. The dead included 7 children and a 90-year old grandmother

http://youtu.be/3LQpsWk-qzE The victims http://youtu.be/OH2l_6ma1qE ,http://youtu.be/KyEySQA_0Zc The fridge http://youtu.be/86_YL2gdnDI The pounding sets buildings on fire http://youtu.be/k_tN8xJ_pn8 The invading tanks pound their way into the neighborhood http://youtu.be/P50ZWFyQoTg , http://youtu.be/e0zxDte4WcYHelicopter gunships took part in the pounding http://youtu.be/M9c_2nWuzSk Tank in action http://youtu.be/TLVANdGP9pc Nearby Kafarbatna is also poundedhttp://youtu.be/8X83i9CofDo In Arbeen, helicopter gunships take part in the poundinghttp://youtu.be/Ij2b3tUZ_hA

Unfortunately, what could have been a good point to make on the need for providing structural and constitutional protections to the country’s minorities in the future reads like an exercise in pro-regime propaganda. The authors, self-proclaimed intelligence analysts focusing on Syrian-Lebanese issues, adopted regime line on the expulsion of Christians from Old Homs and the nearby town of Qusayr.

Rather than attributing the exodus of 80,000 Christians to the same reasons that paved the way for the simultaneous exodus from adjacent neighborhoods of over 500,000 Sunni inhabitants, that is:  indiscriminate and well-documented shelling of neighborhoods by pro-regime troops, our “intelligence” analysts claim that Sunni fighters took the time to risk their lives to go on a suicidal house-to-house mission to order Christian families out. The presence of Christians in the middle of areas targeted by pro-regime militias was a major complicating factor for the regime, their departure facilitate the intensification of the bombing campaign. Yet, our intelligence analysts want us to believe that local Sunni fighters made this major miscalculation not once but twice: in Old Homs and Al-Qusayr.

A better take on the threat to Christians in Qusayr can be found here.

To date, experts simply refuse to see the real patterns emerging on the ground, patterns which denote active planning for the creation of a future enclave in the coastal and central parts of Syria where the overwhelming majority population is made up of Alawites and Christians. The only beneficiaries of massive population shifts in the country are Assad and his loyalist militias. In fact, most Christians who left Old Homs went to live in Alawite-majority neighborhoods in Homs City and most those who left the town of Qusayr went to live in towns and villages close to majority Alawite towns and villages, although some escaped to Lebanon, and from there to western countries.

Syria’s Turkish Relics

But the most telling development of late is the declaration of war enunciated by Bashar Al-Assad against his enemies, i.e., the majority of the Syrian people, even as world leaders keep speaking of political solutions and peaceful transfer of power. Assad is not interested in taking part in power-sharing arrangements even if they keep him in power for a while or afford him a face-saving exit to U.K. Whether as President of the country, or a warlord with his own major turf, Assad wants to stay in Syria, and no amount of coaxing, plans or talks can change his mind. His bombs speak louder than all words, and his propagandist are already trying to draw a scenario that can justify further ethnic cleansing in the country, on a more mass scale.

The recent dismissal by pro-Assad ideologue on Addounia TV, the network owned by Assad’s cousin, Rami Makhlouf, of the Sunni inhabitants of Homs as “Turkish Relics” from Ottoman times comes as the latest attempt at justifying the ethnic cleansing that took place there. The Assad regime has moved from blatant denial into defiant admission and justification of the crimes its militias are perpetrating all over the country. This is both a sign of weakness and strength. Assad and his advisers know that they are losing the country, they also know, however that their plans for the creation of a loyalist enclave on most ethnic lines are progressing nicely. Putin is buying them the time they need for that.

Power Sharing

In this light, plans for unity government proposed by Kofi Annan seem completely unrealistic, especially considering the absence of any enforcement mechanisms. What would make an Assad who just declared war against 80% of his people and whose militias are busy ethnically cleansing huge swathes of lands from native Sunnis, now deemed as Turkish Relics, stop and decide to allow for such unity government to take place and to pave the way for his replacement, absent any serious threats to is very existence?

The War in Videos

In Khan Al-Sibil, Idlib province, where fighters managed to take control of an anti-aircraft battery, they now target the helicopter gunships targeting their communityhttp://youtu.be/UDkLOYVs52o

Basra Al-Harir, Daraa, comes under fire at night http://youtu.be/u7nPZWd84jo Al-Hraak gets pounded at night http://youtu.be/fTNyaS3ZI-w Daraa City (Sadd) comes under fire at night http://youtu.be/DRVjuOLHODQ , http://youtu.be/lWRuLgJdBqQ ,http://youtu.be/8MD1Rhk3DNM

Zamalka, Damascus Suburbs, comes under fire at night http://youtu.be/WLNtD3L6Bg8 ,http://youtu.be/ctFdQtnCwI8

The sounds of war in Deir Ezzor City http://youtu.be/os9DlVXzw68where ,http://youtu.be/TIHCt2PcldI local fighters destroyed three attacking tanks, and mass defections continue to take place on a regular basis. Pro-Assad militias in these parts often draw on members from Sunni Arab tribes in Hassakah and Raqqah which is why defections are quite common. The aftermath of pounding http://youtu.be/dk–JjUQVz8 Helicopter gunships take part in the pounding http://youtu.be/ZHQ_u5wdIrk The tanks taking part in laying siege to the city http://youtu.be/sW8ibkRtu4o

In Homs Province, the pounding of Talbisseh continues http://youtu.be/i7COl3Q4S_c ,http://youtu.be/cii6BMh_Ocs and the pounding of Houla http://youtu.be/XLdeOc_TKngand the pounding of Rastan http://youtu.be/aX0GbRIwLuQ The pounding of Old Homscontinues (Jouret Al-Shayah) http://youtu.be/l08ueytnkOg , http://youtu.be/p_Q-wkZH0qI , http://youtu.be/qHNEdwlaM68

The pounding of Jabal Shahshabo, Hama Province, continueshttp://youtu.be/sJFxdC_TjRI

Lattakia, Jabal Al-Akrad, the pounding continues http://youtu.be/mtQuri00GX4

Still, whenever people have the chance to demonstrate peacefully, they do in droves:

In Damascus: Daraya http://youtu.be/aQ9HzUhifCQ Dafalshawkhttp://youtu.be/g4Kgi4KxGgY Barzeh http://youtu.be/O0_64MvOssQ Qabounhttp://youtu.be/qrgdaT-nhhQ Halbouni http://youtu.be/iucP9OOxZcQ

In Hama: Bab Qibli http://youtu.be/ZWOvTM6vIPQ

In Homs City, Wa’er http://youtu.be/jYLaCSAnVho

In Idlib: Marrat Al-Nouman (funeral) http://youtu.be/SO88LjB-OjY Kafar Ouaidhttp://youtu.be/gYZvRa7QRR8

Syrian Revolution Digest – Wednesday 27 June 2012

THE COMMENTARY IN THIS PIECE DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF IMPUNITY WATCH.  

*WARNING VIDEOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES*

All-Out War All Across Syria!

As long as the All-Out War waged by Assad continues to meet with an all-out grappling by international leaders to the illusion of political solution, Syrians will continue to die and Syria will continue to disintegrate.

Wednesday June 27, 2012

Today’s Death toll: 104. The Breakdown: 42 in Idilb, 15 in Damascus Suburbs, 14 in Deir Ezzor, 10 in Daraa, 10 in Homs, 8 in Qamislo, 3 in Hama, 1 in Hassakah and 1 in Aleppo. The toll includes 20 children.

Major battles took place throughout Syria today, but the main story remains the indiscriminate shelling by pro-Assad militias of communities where local resistance groups have managed to wrest control of their communities. As these words are being written, Damascus City and Suburbs are witnessing major clashes with explosions heard throughout many key neighborhoods.

Live-streaming the pounding of Douma Suburb, Damascushttp://bambuser.com/v/2786416

News

The headquarters of a privately-owned, pro-government TV station were attacked and employees were kidnapped and killed. The government blames ‘terrorists’. Rebel forces deny that they target the media.

Islamist group says it is launching investigation to discover who is behind ‘despicable crime.’ Al-Mayadeen: Kamal Ranaja served as aide to top Hamas man killed in Dubai in 2010

Hamas leader believes Mossad behind killing, says Kamel Ranaja was former deputy of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was assassinated in Dubai over two years ago.

Expert says Turkish was not aware Syrian forces capable of intercepting enemy planes flying under radar. US officials: Damascus beefed up missile defense after Israel bombed reactor

Op-Eds & Special Reports

HOW DOCTORS OPERATE IN WARTIME In Syria and beyond, doctors risk their lives to save others. Here’s what it takes to do this dangerous work.

“There has been a definite pushback from Obama’s administration,” said Ammar Abdulhamid, a Syrian activist and author who coordinated the delegation’s trip. Mr. Abdulhamid described the current White House administration as a “black box” of secrecy. Mr. Abdulhamid said he sent an email to the White House to request a meeting but never heard back. He blamed that on a technical glitch rather than purposeful negligence, but also noted the administration’s policy of noninterference in Syria.

Video Highlights

Two of twenty children who died today: they died when the town of Hayyan, Aleppo Province, came under heavy shelling http://youtu.be/VJxBiF2L87g The poundinghttp://youtu.be/ZBIuZQRmGF8 , http://youtu.be/s1tteWeVXMI

Two more children fell in the town of Habeet, Idlib Province http://youtu.be/dn6APXIZ174, http://youtu.be/IKJwSTNu-54

More scenes from the massacre of Al-Hameh, Damascus Suburbs (June 26)http://youtu.be/yMz1N5Cl9wM Pro-Assad militias invaded the town and executed locals en masse http://youtu.be/NovthUOfE08

Nighttime protesters in Ruknaddine Neighborhood, Damascus City, come under firehttp://youtu.be/lU-NoOGHkCo

The pounding of Houla, Homs Province, continues http://youtu.be/mZJCzG1nUAo ,http://youtu.be/8ig4-W5x1Qo The nearby town of Talbisseh is also poundedhttp://youtu.be/p85h6dJwJ7c , http://youtu.be/bzWo2EkGs-o Helicopter gunships take part http://youtu.be/fJAghXn5VBk The town of Rastan gets pounded as wellhttp://youtu.be/MTKNCM_ayag Meanwhile, the indiscriminate pounding of old neighborhoods in Homs City continues (Jouret Al-Shayah)http://youtu.be/x5CzS3KoDWk (Qoussour) http://youtu.be/_Zye6tsZ5DU

The pounding of the town of Da’el, Daraa, left many dead http://youtu.be/Y2mm_kUCSho

The pounding of Sanamein, Daraa http://youtu.be/H2DMfMvePmY

The town of Maarabah, Daraa, gets pounded by Helicopters http://youtu.be/raeEjYPFR2g

The pounding of Karnaz, Hama Province http://youtu.be/9q64sZ_cZck

The pounding of Ma’arrat Al-Nouman, Idlib http://youtu.be/d_Q47FT_IOU ,http://youtu.be/Y1f-PbnE-Yo

The pounding of Khan Al-Sibil, Idlib http://youtu.be/LgvYtyLX_cM A house catches firehttp://youtu.be/EmLqhk-toLM

Local in the town of Albou Kamal along the borders with Iraq come under firehttp://youtu.be/MR3IiQUkDeo

Syrian Revolution Digest – Tuesday 26 June 2012

THE COMMENTARY IN THIS PIECE DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF IMPUNITY WATCH.  

*WARNING VIDEOS MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES*

Culprits!

As local resistance groups manage to overwhelm pro-Assad troops and militias throughout Syria driving them out of their town and communities, Assad’s subsequent strategy calls for indiscriminate shelling of these communities using heavy artillery, tanks and helicopter gunships. The tragic nature of this development aside, the situation does give an opportunity for interested international parties to direct air strikes against positions held by pro-Assad militias with minimal risk of collateral damage to civilian populations. But international dithering continues to prolong the life of the Assad regime. Iran and Russia are no longer the sole external culprits in the massacres currently perpetrated by pro-Assad militias.

Tuesday June 26, 2012

Today’s Death toll: 113. The Breakdown: 33 in Damascus Suburbs (Hameh and Qudsayah, West of Damascus, and Douma, East of Damascus) 16 in Daraa, 24 in Idlib, 14 in Homs, 10 in Deir Ezzor, 9 in Aleppo, 5 in Hama and 2 in Damascus City.

Assad officially admits he is waging war against the Syrian people Assad says Syria in a “real state of war” Indeed, a war is an apt description of what is taking place in so many towns and cities across the countries, even in Damascus suburbs: Fierce fighting erupts near Damascus. Even UN monitors are feeling the heat: Syria deemed too dangerous for U.N. monitors to resume mission. But the mood inside the regime’s upper ranks seems to be increasingly cloudy, as more high level defections are reported: Latest Syrian Defectors Are From Higher Ranks.

Turkish PM’s border warning to Assad could pave the way for formalizing and protecting the de facto safe haven carved out in Idlib Province by local resistance: Turkey PM Erdogan issues Syria border warning. In this light, NATO’s lack of retaliation might of little consequence for now: Turkey, NATO assail Syria, but no retaliation for shoot-down seen. So does French dithering: French support waning for any action in Syria: poll.

Meanwhile, more U.S. officials are calling for serious action on Syria: Rice: Syria will never be stable with Assad in place.

News

Op-Eds & Special Reports

The Resistance

Video Highlights

Rebel control over the areas adjacent to the Syrian-Turkish borders in the Idlib province was firm enough to encourage a visit by former SNC President, Bourhane Ghalioun. So, even as Assad was giving his defiant speech, Mr. Ghalioun was paying a visit to the liberated communities near the Turkish borders: Arriving in disguisehttp://youtu.be/pFNXoejZ0VU Meeting members of the local resistancehttp://youtu.be/bPshRSd_J24 The trip back http://youtu.be/2WWSvWknnAg A day earlier, members of the local resistance managed to take control of an anti-aircraft gunhttp://youtu.be/c_9HCiOtFok

Maar Dibseh, Idlib Province: a helicopter gunship makes an emergency landinghttp://youtu.be/zHz43DWmI9s and gets destroyed by members of the local resistancehttp://youtu.be/Veot_Bq7h7Q In nearby Khan Al-Subul, local resistance destroy a BMPhttp://youtu.be/Btn5kuLrUnU Wounded and martyrs http://youtu.be/lBrxQKZJkGo ,http://youtu.be/6gKYU9LAprY , http://youtu.be/zigFBCMdvN0

The pounding of Khan Shaikhoon, Idlib Province http://youtu.be/NLsDkfyCulU ,http://youtu.be/Mlbis-CNaXk

Elsewhere, in Homs Province, members of the local resistance capture a brigadier General working for the Syrian air force http://youtu.be/wSbS0367aX8

Al-Hameh, Damascus: mass grave for today’s victims of mass shellinghttp://youtu.be/rN2MvqnqYgA The martyrs http://youtu.be/hRUzOgVj9Ls The pounding of Al-Hameh was caught on camera http://youtu.be/_PgYeQjLXQA Nearby Qudsaya offers several martyrs as well http://youtu.be/jzCKtsMv_O8 , http://youtu.be/GqaRyQiKP3I ,http://youtu.be/WJcHJW_5TAA The pounding of Qudsaya was caught on camerahttp://youtu.be/U3LYl6smPxI

Talbisseh, Homs Province, the shelling continues: http://youtu.be/RiDvhzhHqDo ,http://youtu.be/Vve1RQDwLgk , http://youtu.be/0Bv3imyEwM4 ,http://youtu.be/fHikwabnD0w The view from street level http://youtu.be/a_5DMMGB0SA

The pounding of old neighborhoods in Homs City continues http://youtu.be/5vy2uvGzf7s

The pounding of Deir Ezzor City continues http://youtu.be/2YZTh–d63Q Shops catch firehttp://youtu.be/uQH8OUzXaTo A home catch fire http://youtu.be/WoDmjv1Qcok Martyrshttp://youtu.be/bunCMEY2mMI A little child among the martyrs http://youtu.be/g-0ab41wLpo

Mleihah Al-Gharbiyeh, Daraa is pounded by choppers http://youtu.be/OzECh1PC3G0

The Palestinian Refugee Camp near Daraa City offers more martyrshttp://youtu.be/d9fkgwgQsHU as the continuing pounding displaces more peoplehttp://youtu.be/9FFSWXix41Q The funeral http://youtu.be/O_8yFRmg4t8 Mourners come under fire from snipers http://youtu.be/i_BeSuLqU7Q

Syrian Network for Human Rights: Salah Addein, Inkhel, and Douma Massacres

Salah Addein Massacre | 22 June 2012

Following prayer on Friday, the Salah Addein neighbourhood residents took to the streets in protests.  The largest of the march groups walked from the mosques of Bilal and Al-Nasir Salah Addein.

The protesters marched  while chanting slogans condemning the homicides perpetrated against the Syrian people.  They demanded the toppling of the Syrian regime and made calls for freedom and dignity for the Syrian people.

Suddenly, four armoured vehicles, affiliated with the regime’s army, arrived and opened machinegun fire at the protesters.  They killed eight within the first few minutes, and proceeded to target anyone who tried to aid them.  Paramedics and locals confirmed that most of the gunshots were to the head and the chest.

**WARNING: VIDEO BELOW CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES**

Bodies of a father and son who were victims of the massacre.  The son is 15 years old, his father was killed as he tried to treat his dying son.

Inkhel Massacre | 21 June 2012

The Syrian regime 15th brigade shelled the city of Inkhel, in the Daraa governorate to the south of Syria, around 5:00 a.m. for three continual hours.  The shelling killed six citizens and injured many others.  Those critically injured are now in danger as there is a severe medical supplies shortage.

The events of Inkhel followed the pattern of all the earlier massacres.  First came random shelling in order to terrorize the residents, then the regime’s army began a land incursion with tanks surrounding the city and armoured vehicles raiding the area using large numbers of infantry, security forces, and snipers.

Next came the house raids during which extra judicial executions were carried out against three citizens.  Four others were slaughtered with knives, in a manner similar to the massacres in Idleb and Homs which were duly documented earlier. In addition, snipers stationed in the city killed two and injured at least thirteen others.

Around 10:00 a.m., once the shelling and raids were over, the residents prepared the victims for burial.  As the funeral procession was heading to the cemetery, the army and security forces killed three of the mourners.  This additional monstrous act was done because the mourning families chanted anti-regime slogans due to the rage they felt over the deaths of their family members.  These final killings make the death toll of the massacre stand at 18 victims, including one woman.

Houses are destroyed from the shelling attacks that began the Inkhel massacre.

Douma Massacre | 21 June 2012

In its constant attempts to crush the revolution and its strongholds, the Syrian regime sent dozens of tanks and an estimated 7,000 troops of military reinforcements to the city of Douma, just east of Damascus.  The shelling started around 9:00 am and lated until late at night.  The city came under shelling from all directions due to the circular position of tanks.  Near Mesraba Bridge, in the southern area the city, no less than 25 tanks were stationed.  In addition, heavy artillery, positioned a ways from the city, also participated in the shelling.  The heavy artillery was positioned inside the vehicles administration department, affiliated with the Syrian army, and near Dahiyet al-Assad bridge, to the west of Douma.

Various types of weaponry and ammunition were used ranging from mortar shells to 1.5 meter-long rockets which helps to explain the large number of casualties and wounded.  Thirty-four people were killed in this horrific massacre including three bodies that were completely burned due to artillery shelling.  Moreover, no less than 135 were wounded, including nine who were in very critical conditions.  Further, a very large exodus was observed in the area, with an estimated 150,000 people fleeing the city.  Those residents who remained sought refuge in basements and shelters.

Shelling was concentrated on the neighbourhoods of Al-Masaken, Al-Humeira, the perimeter of the Great Mosque, and even reached the Al-Hijariya neighbourhood.

A state of panic and terror prevailed, particularly among the children, as helicopters hovered over the city.  In the meantime, the Syrian government also cut off the water and power supplies as well as  all communications.  Medical services and supplies were extremely scarce due to the regime’s forces surrounding the city and preventing wounded people from leaving; as well as doctors from entering the city.

We have been able to document 34 victims by collecting their names and filming a video for each victim.  The victims include Mohammad Al-Nabulsi, a paramedic of Douma, who was killed while trying to rescue some of the wounded people.  Also among the casualties were a young woman and a Palestinian young man.

 Muhammad Ahmad al-Nabulsi, a paramedic volunteer.  He was killed by a mortar while treating the wounded.

 

All information and videos contained in this report provided by:

Syrian Network for Human Rights

33 Syrian Officers, Including General and 2 Colonels, Defect to Turkey

By Ali Al-Bassam
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East 

ANKARA, Turkey — Thirty-three members of Syria’s military defected into Turkey on Sunday night.  They were part of some two hundred people who crossed between the Syrian-Turkish border into the Hatay Province.  Turkey’s state-run Andalou news agency said the group included a general and two colonels, but a government official claimed that there was no general among the group, only three colonels.  Despite this, the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not know the overall number of those who crossed into Turkey.  Andalou also reported that the group of defectors was placed in a refugee camp in Hatay.  Turkey now hosts 33,000 Syrian refugees who have crossed into the country since the revolt against Al-Assad began 16 months ago.

Syrian Refugees
Syrian arrivals have taken refuge in the Hatay Province of Turkey. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

The recent defections have increased the number of generals within Turkey since the revolution began to thirteen.  The generals now give logistical support to the Free Syrian Army, even though Turkey denies that they are arming the rebels.  Thousands of soldiers have also abandoned the Syrian regime, but most of them are low-level conscripts.  So far, there is no evidence that their defections have negatively affected the Syrian military’s ability to fight.

Two days prior to the defections, a Turkish aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces who claim that it had violated their airspace.  Bulent Arinc, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, said that “all options are on the table”  for Turkey’s response.  Earlier on Monday, Jihad Makdissi, Syria’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said that “[t]he Turkish warplane violated Syrian airspace, and in turn Syrian air defences fired back and the plane crashed inside Syrian territorial waters.”  Turkey claims that the plane was in international airspace, and that the plane was on a training flight to test Turkey’s radar capabilities. Turkey also insists that it was not spying on Syria.

Turkey has summoned a meeting with NATO for Tuesday to agree on a response to the downing of its aircraft.  European Union members in Luxembourg requested a calm response from Turkey, saying that they would increase pressure on Assad.  On Monday, EU spokesman Maja Kocijanci said that the EU decided to add another Syrian official and six firms and government institutions to its sanctions list, which already includes 120 individuals and nearly 50 entities.

Analysts believe it is unlikely that Turkey will take immediate military action against Syria.  Cagri Erhan, a professor of political science at Ankara University, said “I don’t think Turkey’s response will be a military one.  War is not one of the options.  Turkey will act in line with measures taken within NATO.”

“I’m not of the opinion that Turkey will immediately respond militarily,” agreed Beril Dedeoglu of Galatasaray University. “But if there is another action, then there will certainly be a military response, there is no doubt.”

For further information, please see:

Anadolu Agency — Thirty-three Syrian Army Defectors Fled to Turkey — 25 June 2012

Al Jazeera — Turkish Cabinet Meets to Discuss Syria Crisis — 25 June 2012

BBC News — Syria General and two Colonels ‘Defect to Turkey’ — 25 June 2012

Gulf News — 33 Syria Military Members Defect to Turkey — 25 June 2012

Reuters — Syrian Officers Defect, Turkey Looks to NATO — 25 June 2012