Today’s Death toll: 121. The Breakdown: 53 in Aleppo, 44 in Damascus and suburbs (including 18 in aerial bombardment of Zamalka), 11 in Homs, 5 in Hama, 4 in Idlib, 3 in Daraa and 1 in Deir Ezzor. Other Developments: LCC counted 131 points of random shelling and bombardments by regime forces, including 17 points of aerial shelling, 35 points of mortar shelling, 11 rockets, 2 explosive drums (LCC).

Clinton warns Syria rebels to resist extremism The rebels should “strongly resist the efforts by the extremists to hijack the Syrian revolution”, she warned.

China announces new proposal on Syria Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Wednesday elaborated China’s new four-point proposal on a political resolution to the Syrian conflict.

Russia warns West on Syria RUSSIA has warned that the “bloodbath” in Syria will continue if the West sticks to its demand for President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.

Iran and Syria swap fuels as both aim to dodge sanctions Iran and Syria have arranged a gasoline-for-diesel swap, helping each other overcome international sanctions.

Syria civil war ‘kills 36,000’ More than 36,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of Syria’s anti-regime revolt in March 2011, with an average of 165 people killed a day since August 1.

Death of extremist second Syria link A MUSLIM extremist known to Australian police and intelligence agencies has reportedly been killed while manufacturing weapons for Syrian rebels.

The powerful, anti-American alliance of Iran, Syria and militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas, once dubbed the “Axis of Resistance,” is fraying. Iran’s economy is showing signs of distress from nuclear sanctions, Syria’s president is fighting for his survival and Hezbollah in Lebanon is under fire by opponents who blame it for the assassination of an anti-Syrian intelligence official. Hamas — the Palestinian arm — has bolted.

There is a proxy war going on in Syria, one measured in megabytes rather than in arms. On one side, Iran is providing Bashar al-Assad’s regime with the tools of digital dictatorship to locate and bait the Syrian opposition. On the other side, the United States is trying to help the opposition protect itself from such attacks and set up alternate channels of communication. The outcome of this proxy war will affect the lives of many Syrians and the credibility of the State Department’s efforts to promote digital freedom internationally.

Many people in Iraq’s Sunni heartland, once al Qaeda’s stronghold in the country, are most concerned with helping their kin. Tribal ties span the border, and Sunni chieftains and community leaders say Iraqi tribes regularly send Syrian relatives food and supplies. Some openly support Free Syrian Army rebels with arms when border controls allowed… In a sign Syria’s crisis is dragging its neighbours into a proxy war, Iraqi Shi’ite militants are also fighting there, often alongside Assad’s troops, claiming fidelity to Iran’s supreme religious leader. Iraqi officials and arms dealers acknowledge the intensifying conflict has already spurred demand in weapons markets in Iraq.

Everywhere you turn in Aleppo, the scars of a brutal war pitting rebel fighters against government soldiers are evident. Entire streets are littered with concrete blocks and rubble caused by mortar or rocket attacks. Walls are pockmarked, often from indiscriminate sniper fire.

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