Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare

Syrian Civil War
Сирийские гражданской войны
الحرب األھلية السوري ة
according to Wikipedia
as at July 31st, 2012
Part One: Narration

Syrian Civil War
according to Wikipedia
as at July 31st, 2012
Part One: Narration
Contents of the Part One:
Maps
List of the Wikipedia Articles
1. General Article about Syrian Civil War
2. Timeline 2011-2012
3. Major Operations in July 2012

green Cities controlled by pro-Assad forces-. Maroon Cities controlled by anti-Assad forces Blue Ongoing conflict/unclear situation

Situation in Syria as of June 2012 [95] (Note: this map does not contain the situation in Syria's eastern parts, due to lack of verified
information. However, it has been reported that 90% of Deir ez-Zor Governorate and its main city are in rebel control as of 24 July
2012) [96]

Wikipedia Articles on Syrian Civil War
as at July 31st, 2012
• Part of the Arab Spring
• Timeline January–April 2011, May–August 2011, September–December 2011, January-April 2012, May 2012 – present
Events
Groups
People
• Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb
• Siege of Daraa
• Siege of Baniyas
• Siege of Deir ez-Zor
• Siege of Talkalakh
• Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh
• Siege of Jisr ash-Shugur
• Siege of Hama
• Siege of Homs
• Siege of Latakia
• Siege of Rif Dimashq
• 2011–2012 Damascus clashes
• 2011–2012 Daraa Governorate clashes
• Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush
• January 2012 al-Midan bombing
• February 2012 Idlib Operation
• Lebanese clashes
• Houla massacre
• Al-Qubeir massacre
• F4 aircraft
• Battle of Tremseh
• Battle of Damascus (2012)
• 2012 Damascus bombing
• 2012 Syrian Kurdistan campaign
• Battle of Aleppo (2012)
• Battle of Anadan
• Free Syrian Army
• Syrian Liberation Army
• Syrian National Council
• Syrian Revolution General Commission
• Local Coordination Committees of Syria
• Doctors Coordinate of Damascus
• Kurds
• Al-Assad family
o Bashar al-Assad
o Maher al-Assad
o Rifaat al-Assad
o Rami Makhlouf
o Hafez Makhlouf
• Riad Seif
• Burhan Ghalioun
• Abdulbaset Sieda
• Riad al-Asaad
• Michel Kilo
• Ali Habib Mahmud
• Dawoud Rajiha
• Fahd Jassem al-Freij
• Haitham al-Maleh
• Yassin al-Haj Saleh
• Riyad al-Turk
• Kamal al-Labwani
• Aref Dalila
• Ali al-Abdallah
• Anwar al-Bunni
• Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni

Background
Impact
Peace proposals
Other
• Farid Ghadry
• Anas al-Abdah
• Ammar Abdulhamid
• Abdul Halim Khaddam
• Ammar al-Qurabi
• Hamza Al-Khateeb
• Tal al-Mallohi
• Bouthaina Shaaban
• Adnan Al-Aroor
• Ibrahim Qashoush
• Yaser Tabbara
• Fida al-Sayed
• Razan Zaitouneh
• Adib Shishakly
• Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid
• 1999 Latakia protests
• 2004 Al-Qamishli riots
• Corrective Revolution
• Damascus Declaration
• Damascus Spring
• Human rights in Syria
• Islamic uprising in Syria
• Casualties
• International reactions
• International demonstrations and protests
• Refugees
• Russia's role
• Sectarianism
• Syrian reactions
• Human rights violations
• Arab League Monitors
• Friends of Syria Group
• Russian proposal
• Kofi Annan peace plan
• United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria
• Syrian media coverage
• International recognition of the Syrian National Council

1. Syrian Civil War
Date
Location
Result
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
15 March 2011 – ongoing
(1 year, 4 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Syria
Ongoing
Assad government
• Syrian Armed Forces
o Syrian Army
o Syrian Navy
o Syrian Air Force
o Republican Guard
• General Security Directorate
• Political Security Directorate
• Shabiha
Hezbollah [1][2][3]
Military support from:
Iran [4][5][6]
Belligerents
Commanders and leaders
Syrian National Council
• Free Syrian Army [7]
• Syrian Liberation Army [8]
Military support from:
Turkey [9]
Saudi Arabia [9][10][11]
Qatar [9][10][11]
Arab volunteers [12]
Mujahideen including [13][14][15][16]
• Al-Nusra Front to Protect the Levant
• al-Qaeda in Iraq [15][17][18]
• Fatah al-Islam [19]
• Ahrar al-Sham [20]
Kurdish Supreme Committee
• Popular Protection Units [21]
Military support from:
Peshmerga [22]
Bashar al-Assad President of Syria
Riyad Farid Hijab Prime Minister of Syria
Fahd Jassem al-Freij Minister of Defense (from 18 July
2012) and Chief of Staff (8 August 2011 – 18 July 2012)
Dawoud Rajiha † Minister of Defense (8 August 2011 –
18 July 2012)
Ali Abdullah Ayyoub Chief of Army Staff
Maher al-Assad Republican Guard Commander
Mohammad al-Shaar Interior Minister
Assef Shawkat † Deputy Defense Minister
Hisham Bekhityar † Intelligence head
Walid Muallem Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister
Hassan Turkmani † Deputy Vice President
Mohammad Ali Jafari IRGC Commander In Chief
Qasem Soleimani IRGC Quds Force Commander
Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Secretary General [23]
Syrian Armed Forces: 304,000 (at peak) [25]
General Security Directorate: 8,000
Shabiha militiamen: 20,000 fighters
Syrian security forces
5,049 soldiers and policemen killed, [30] 70 militiamen
killed [31]
Strength
Casualties and losses
Abdulbaset Sieda
Chairman Syrian National Council (SNC)
Burhan Ghalioun Chairman SNC (August 2011 –
June 2012)
Riad al-Asaad Free Syrian Army Commander
Mustafa al-SheikhHigher Military Council Head
Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni Muslim Brotherhood
Leader
Haitham al-Maleh National Action Group Head
Abdul Razzaq Tlass Farouk battalion commander
Manaf Tlass Former Syrian bridger general
Abdul Halim Khaddam Vice President of Syria
(1984–2005)
Salih Muslim Head of Kurdish Democratic Union
Party
Ismail Hama Head of Kurdish National Concil [24]
Mahdi al-Harati Libyan rebel commander [12]
40,000 [26] –60,000 [27] fighters
• 18,000–30,000 defectors [28]
• 6,000 Liwaa Al-Umma fighters (including
Libyan volunteers.) [29]
• 500–900 foreign Mujahideen [13]
Syrian rebels and protesters
4,752 fighters* (see here) and 979–1,763 protesters
killed, [32][33]
26,776 protesters and fighters captured [34]

Hezbollah 147 killed [2][3]
Foreign Mujahideen 57killed [14]
Iranian Basij 85 killed [2][3]
19,867 [30] –20,198 [34] Syrians killed overall (opposition claims)**
212 foreign civilians (see here) and 2 Turkish F4 Phantom pilots killed
1.5 million displaced and refugees [35]
*Number possibly higher due to the opposition counting rebels that were not defectors as civilians. [36]
**Numbers do not include foreign combatants from both sides or Shabiha militiamen who have been killed.
The Syrian civil war, [37][38][39][40] also referred to as the Syrian uprising, [41][42] is an ongoing internal armed conflict in Syria. The
conflict began on 15 March 2011 with public demonstrations as part of the wider Arab Spring and developed into a nationwide
uprising, and a civil war in 2012. Protesters have demanded the end to nearly five decades of Ba’ath Party rule, as well as the
resignation of Bashar al-Assad. In the spring of 2011, the Syrian government deployed the Syrian Army to quell the uprising. Several
cities have been besieged, [43][44] and soldiers were reportedly ordered to open fire on civilians. [45] According to witnesses, soldiers who
refused to open fire on civilians were summarily executed by the Syrian Army. [46] Civilians and army defectors began forming
fighting units, and unified under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, fighting in an increasingly organized fashion; however, the
civilian component of the armed opposition lacks an organized leadership. The Syrian government characterizes the insurgency as
"armed terrorist groups". [47] According to various sources, including the United Nations, up to 19,865–27,285 people have been killed,
of which about half were civilians, but also including 10,140 armed combatants from both the Syrian army and rebel forces [30][48][49][50]
and up to 1,765 opposition protesters. [32][33] According to the UN, between 500,000 and 1 million Syrians have been displaced within
the country. [citation needed] To escape the violence, tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled the country to neighboring Iraqi
Kurdistan, [51] Jordan, [52] Lebanon and Turkey. [53][54] Iraq has closed its border to Syrian refugees, while no Syrian refugees have yet
arrived at the Israeli border. [55] In addition, tens of thousands of protesters have been imprisoned, and there have been reports of
widespread torture in the government's prisons. [56][57] International organizations have also accused the government and Shabiha of
using civilians as human shields, [58][59] and of intentionally targeting civilians. [60] The Arab League, United States, European Union,
GCC states, and other countries have condemned the use of violence against the protesters. China and Russia have thwarted attempts
to agree to a UN resolution condemning Assad's actions, [61] and advised against sanctions, saying that such methods could escalate
into foreign intervention. [62] The Arab League suspended Syria's membership over the government's response to the crisis, [63] but sent
an observer mission in December 2011, as part of its proposal for peaceful resolution of the crisis. A further attempt to resolve the
crisis has been made through the appointment of Kofi Annan as a special envoy. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had repeatedly
stated that the Syrian conflict could emerge into an "all-out civil war". [64] On 15 July 2012 the International Committee of the Red
Cross assessed the Syrian conflict as a "non-international armed conflict" (the ICRC's legal term for civil war), thus applying the
international humanitarian law under the Geneva Conventions in Syria. [65][66]
Contents
• 1 Background
o 1.1 History
o 1.2 Socio-economics
o 1.3 Human rights
• 2 Uprising and civil war
o 2.1 Summary
o 2.2 Protests
o 2.3 Domestic response
2.3.1 Concessions
2.3.2 Censorship
2.3.3 Violence and human rights violations
2.3.4 Other
o 2.4 Protests and military sieges
o 2.5 Formation of the Free Syrian Army
o 2.6 Protests and armed clashes
o 2.7 Ceasefire attempt
o 2.8 Renewed fighting
o 2.9 Battles of Damascus and Aleppo
• 3 Parties in the conflict
o 3.1 Syrian National Council
o 3.2 Local coordination committees
o 3.3 Free Syrian Army and other armed opposition groups
o 3.4 Kurdish stance
o 3.5 Shabiha
o 3.6 Sectarianism
o 3.7 Foreign involvement
3.7.1 Support for the opposition
3.7.2 Support for the Syrian government
3.7.2.1 Russia
3.7.2.2 Iran
3.7.2.3 China
3.7.2.4 Other countries
• 4 Syrian refugees

• 5 Deaths
• 6 International reaction
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 Further reading
• 10 External links
Background
History Main article: Modern history of Syria Syria became an independent republic in 1946. In March 1949, democratic rule was
overturned by an American-supported coup. [67] Two more military coups took place that same year. A popular uprising against
military rule in 1954 catalyzed a mutiny that saw the army transfer power to civilians. Free elections resulted in Shukri al-Quwatli,
who had been the President at the time of the March 1949 coup, to be elected to that post in 1955. A brief union with Egypt in 1958
resulted in Syria's parliamentary system being replaced by a highly centralized presidential system. The union ended in 1961 with
Syria's secession. A 1963 military coup d'état brought the Ba'ath Party to power, and was followed by another coup in 1966. [68] In
1970, then Defense Minister Hafez al-Assad seized power and declared himself President, a position he would hold until his death in
2000. Since then, the Ba'ath Party has remained the sole authority in Syria, and Syrian citizens may only approve the President by
referendum and do not hold multi-party elections for the legislature. [69] In 1982, at the height of a six-year Islamist insurgency
throughout the country, Assad conducted a scorched earth policy against the town of Hama to quell an uprising by the Sunni Islamist
community, including the Muslim Brotherhood and others. [70] This became known as the Hama massacre, which left tens of thousands
dead. [71]
The issue of Hafez al-Assad's succession prompted the 1999 Latakia protests, [72] when violent protests and armed clashes erupted
following 1998 People's Assembly's Elections. The violent events were an explosion of a long-running feud between Hafez al-Assad
and his younger brother Rifaat. [72] Two people were killed in fire exchanges between Syrian police and Rifaat's supporters during a
police crack-down on Rifaat's port compound in Latakia. According to opposition sources, denied by the government, the protests
resulted in hundreds of dead and injured. [73] Hafez al-Assad died one year later, from pulmonary fibrosis. He was succeeded by his
son Bashar al-Assad, who was appointed after a constitutional amendment lowered the age requirement for President from 40 to his
age of 34. [69]
Bashar al-Assad, who speaks fluent English and whose wife is British-born, initially inspired hopes for reform; a "Damascus Spring"
of intense political and social debate took place from July 2000 to August 2001. [74] The period was characterized by the emergence of
numerous political forums or salons where groups of like minded people met in private houses to debate political and social issues.
Political activists such as Riad Seif, Haitham al-Maleh, Kamal al-Labwani, Riyad al-Turk and Aref Dalila were important in
mobilizing the movement. [75] The most famous of the forums were the Riad Seif Forum and the Jamal al-Atassi Forum. The
Damascus Spring ended in August 2001 with the arrest and imprisonment of ten leading activists who had called for democratic
elections and a campaign of civil disobedience. [72] Renewed opposition activity occurred in October 2005 when activist Michel Kilo
collaborated with other leading opposition figures to launch the Damascus Declaration, which criticized the Syrian government as
"authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish" and called for democratic reform. [76]
Several riots prompted increased tension in Syria's Kurdish areas since 2004. That year, riots broke out against the government in the
northeastern city of Qamishli. During a chaotic soccer match, some people raised Kurdish flags, and the match turned into a political
conflict. In a brutal reaction by Syrian police and clashes between Kurdish and Arab groups, at least 30 people were killed, [77] with
some claims indicating a casualty count of about 100 people. [78] Occasional clashes between Kurdish protesters and security forces
have since continued.
The al-Assad family comes from the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam that comprises an estimated 12 percent of the
Syrian population. [79] It has maintained tight control on Syria's security services, generating resentment among some Sunni
Muslims, [80] a sect that makes up about three quarters of Syria's population. [81] Minority Kurds have also protested and complained. [82]
Bashar al-Assad initially asserted that his state was immune from the kinds of mass protests that took place in Egypt. [83] Bouthaina
Shaaban, a presidential adviser, blamed Sunni clerics and preachers for inciting Sunnis to revolt, such as Qatar-based Yusuf al-
Qaradawi in a sermon in Doha on 25 March. [84] According to The New York Times, the Syrian government has relied "almost
exclusively" on Alawite-dominated units of the security services to fight the uprising. His younger brother Maher al-Assad commands
the army's Fourth Armored Division, and his brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat, was the deputy minister of defense.
Socio-economics Socio-economic complaints have been reported, such as a deterioration in the country's standard of living, a
reduction of state support for the poor resulting from the gradual transition towards a free market economy, the erosion of subsidies
for basic goods and agriculture, free trade without suitable support to the local industry, and particularly high youth unemployment
rates. [85][86]
Human rights The state of human rights in Syria has long been the subject of harsh criticism from global organizations. [87] The
country was under emergency rule from 1963 until 2011, effectively granting security forces sweeping powers of arrest and
detention. [88] The Syrian government has justified this by pointing to the fact that the country has been in a continuous state of war
with Israel. After taking power in 1970, Hafez al-Assad quickly purged the government of any political adversaries and asserted his
control over all aspects of Syrian society. He developed an elaborate cult of personality and violently repressed any opposition, most
notoriously in the 1982 Hama Massacre. After his death in 2000 and the succession of his son Bashar al-Assad to the Presidency, it
was hoped that the Syrian government would make concessions toward the development of a more liberal society; this period became
known as the Damascus Spring. However, al-Assad is widely regarded to have been unsuccessful in implementing democratic
change, with a 2010 report from Human Rights Watch stating that he had failed to improve the state of human rights since taking
power ten years prior. [89] All other political parties have remained banned, thereby making Syria a one-party state without free
elections. [88]
Rights of expression, association and assembly are strictly controlled in Syria. [90] The authorities harass and imprison human rights
activists and other critics of the government, who are oftentimes indefinitely detained and tortured in poor prison conditions. [90] While
al-Assad permitted radio stations to play Western pop music, websites such as Amazon, Facebook, Wikipedia and YouTube were
blocked until 1 January 2011, when all citizens were permitted to sign up for high speed Internet, and those sites were allowed. [91]
However, a 2007 law requires Internet cafes to record all comments that users post on online chat forums. [92]

In an interview published 31 January 2011, al-Assad declared it was time to reform, that the protests in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen
indicated a "new era" was coming to the Middle East, and that Arab rulers needed to do more to accommodate their peoples' rising
political and economic aspirations. [93]
Women and ethnic minorities have faced discrimination in the public sector. [90] Thousands of Syrian Kurds were denied citizenship in
1962, and their descendants continued to be labeled as "foreigners" until 2011, when 120,000 out of roughly 200,000 stateless Kurds
were granted citizenship on 6 April. [94] Because the government is dominated by the Alawite sect, it has had to make some gestures
toward the majority Sunni sects and other minority populations in order to retain power.
Uprising and civil war Main article: Timeline of the Syrian civil war
Summary
When limited protests first began early in 2011, Assad instituted a policy of combining harsh repression with tardy political
concessions. [97]:8 For example, in early June 2011, several hundred political detainees were released following the issuance of an
amnesty on 31 May 2011, but at the same time Syrian security forces escalated their response to the demonstrations by deploying
military forces to areas where protest was most intense. [98]:4 This violence led to a dramatic expansion in both the numbers of people
protesting and to an extension of the issues they protested about. [98]:3 Violence began to increase dramatically after March 2012, as
Assad moved against opposition fighters who were becoming better armed and organised thanks to substantial external assistance. [99]
By June 2012, deaths of Syrian armed forces had increased appreciably; nevertheless, the conflict retained a protracted
outlook. [100][101]
Protests The protest movement in Syria was at first modest, and took a while to gain momentum. The events began on 26 January
2011, [103] when Hasan Ali Akleh from Al-Hasakah poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire, in the same way Tunisian
Mohamed Bouazizi had in Tunis on 17 December 2010. According to eyewitnesses, the action was "a protest against the Syrian
government". [104][105] Two days later, on 28 January 2011, an evening demonstration was held in Ar-Raqqah to protest the killing of
two soldiers of Kurdish descent. [106]
On 3 February, a "Day of Rage" was called for in Syria from 4 to 5 February on social media websites Facebook and Twitter;
however, protests failed to materialize within the country itself. [107] Hundreds marched in Al-Hasakah, but Syrian security forces
dispersed the protest and arrested dozens of demonstrators. [108] Al Jazeera labeled Syria a "kingdom of silence", concluding that
protests would not succeed due to the popularity of al-Assad and concerns over the prospects of insurgency like that seen in
neighboring Iraq. [109] A protest in late February at the Libyan Embassy in Damascus to demonstrate against the government of
Muammar Gaddafi, facing his own major protests in Libya, was met with brutal beatings from Syrian police moving to disperse the
demonstration against a friendly regime. [110]
On 6 March, Time magazine ran a story which analysed the state of the Syrian youth and why, despite some individuals being
extremely critical of the government, it would be unlikely for this anger to develop into a full-fledged uprising. [111] Ribal al-Assad said
that it was almost time for Syria to be the next domino in the burgeoning Arab Spring. [112] Indeed, on 15 March, the protest movement
began to escalate, as simultaneous demonstrations took place in major cities across Syria. [113] Increasingly, the city of Daraa became
the focal point for the growing uprising. This city has been straining under the influx of internal refugees who were forced to leave
their northeastern lands due to a drought which was exacerbated by the government's lack of provision. [114] Over 100,000 people
reportedly marched in Daraa on 25 March, but at least 20 protesters were reportedly killed. [115] Protests also spread to other Syrian
cities, including Homs, Hama, Baniyas, Jassem, Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia. Over 70 protesters in total were reported dead. [116]
Late in the month, the first signs were seen that the government was willing to make concessions to the protesters, when al-Assad
announced the release of as many as 200 political prisoners. [117] An Assad adviser said the emergency law would be lifted, [118] and
Assad accepted the official resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari. [119] Assad denied the
emergency law would be lifted at the end of March, however. [120]
In April, the uprising became more extensive, and more violent. Protesters were shot at on 1 April, leading to at least 10 deaths. [121]
Well over 30 people were killed in a crackdown on protests on 8 April, activists and human rights groups claimed. [122] Tens of
thousands of protesters were prevented from entering Damascus from Douma on 15 April, though this restriction did not prevent
widespread protests in many Syrian cities. [123] Other cities where protesting was particularly strong were in Daraa, Baniyas, Al-
Qamishli and Homs. [124][125] There were also protests in Douma and Harasta, suburbs of Damascus. Firing throughout the country
resulted 88 deaths among security forces and protesters, making it the bloodiest day so far. [124] Tanks and soldiers entered Daraa and
Douma and the border with Jordan was also closed. [126] According to an activist, 18 people were killed in Daraa. [127] Al Jazeera
reported that some soldiers appeared to have been shot by their own comrades-in-arms after refusing orders to fire on protesters. [128]
On 29 April, more than 60 protesters were killed in demonstrations across Syria. The United States responded with harsh sanctions
against the Syrian government. [129]
Domestic response Main article: Syrian reactions to the Syrian civil war
Concessions On 19 March 2011 by legislative decree 35, Assad shortened the length of mandatory army conscription from 21 months
to 18 months. [130] On 20 March, the Syrian government announced that it would release 15 children who had been arrested on 6 March
for writing pro-democracy graffiti. [131] On 23 March, by regional decree 120, Faisal Ahmad Kolthoum was removed as Governor of
Daraa. [132] On 24 March, Assad's media adviser, Buthaina Shaaban, said that the government will be "studying the possibility of lifting
the emergency law and licensing political parties". The Syrian government also announced a cut in personal taxation rates, an increase
in public sector salaries of 1,500 Syrian pounds ($32.60 US) a month and pledges to increase press freedom, create more employment
opportunities, and reduce corruption. [133] The government, dominated by the Alawite sect, also made some concessions to the majority
Sunni and some minority populations in April. On 6 April, it was reported that teachers would once again be allowed to wear the
niqab, and that the government had closed the country's only casino. [134] Of the 200,000 descendants of Syrian Kurds denied
citizenship in 1962, 120,000 who were labeled "foreigners" were granted citizenship. [94]
On 19 April, a bill was approved by the Syrian government to lift the emergency law. [135] Two days later, Assad signed legislative
decree 50 into law, together with decrees abolishing the Supreme State Security Court and regulating the right to peaceful
demonstration. [136] On 30 April, Prime Minister Adel Safar announced a comprehensive plan for reforms in the coming weeks in three
areas: political reform, security and judicial reform; economic reform and social policies; and the development of administration and
governmental work. [137]

On 15 February, Syrian state television announced that the government would hold a referendum on a new constitution on 26
February, in an attempt to end the conflict. [138] One of the amendments in the draft would replace the old article 8, which entrenches
the power of the Ba'ath party, with a new article reading: The state's political system is based on political pluralism and power is
practiced democratically through voting. [139] Syrians voted in favour of the new constitution on 26 February. [140] Parliamentary
elections were held in May after the ratification of the new constitution. [141] After the elections, Mohammad Jihad al-Laham was
elected as the new Syrian speaker of parliament. [142]
Censorship On 5 February 2011, there were reports that the government was limiting internet services, though Facebook and
YouTube were reported to have been restored three days later. [143] Suggestions were made that easing the ban could be a way to track
activists. [144] In August 2011, Syrian security forces attacked the country's best-known political cartoonist, Ali Farzat, a noted critic of
Syria's government and its crackdown. Relatives of the severely beaten humorist told Western media that the attackers threatened to
break Farzat's bones as a warning to stop drawing cartoons of government officials, particularly Assad. Farzat, who recently
celebrated his 60th birthday, was hospitalized with fractures in both hands and blunt force trauma to the head. Also, government
loyalists have been blamed for cutting the vocal cords of poets and other censorship crimes of this nature. [145]
Violence and human rights violations Main article: Human rights violations during the Syrian civil war The "vast majority" of
human rights violations, including the international crimes, documented have been committed by the Syrian armed and security forces
and their allied militia. [98]:4[99]:1[146]:10[147]:20 Some violations are so serious, deliberate and systematic as to constitute crimes against
humanity [97]:5[146]:7[147]:18–20[148] and war crimes. [146]:7 Human Rights Watch accused the Assad government of creating an "archipelago
of torture centers". [149]:1 The key role in the repression, and particularly torture, is played by the mukhabarat: the Department of
Military Intelligence, the Political Security Directorate, the General Intelligence Directorate, and the Air Force Intelligence
[97]:9[149]:1, 35
Directorate.
With regard to armed opposition groups, the UN accused them of: unlawful killing; torture and ill-treatment; kidnapping and hostage
taking; and the use of children in dangerous non-combat roles. [99]:4–5
Other On 15 January 2012, SANA, the official Syrian news agency, announced a "general amnesty for crimes committed" during the
uprising. The amnesty covered the period between 15 March 2011 and 15 January 2012. [150] Hours later, Syrian authorities released
80-year-old former judge Haitham al-Maleh, one of Assad's most outspoken critics, under an amnesty marking the anniversary of the
1963 coup which brought the Ba'ath Party to power. Twelve Syrian human rights organisations called on the government to scrap the
state of emergency which had been in effect for almost 50 years. [151] On 16 February, government critic and director of the
Organisation for Democracy and Freedom in Syria (ODFS) Ribal al-Assad, son of Rifaat al-Assad and cousin to Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad, held a press conference in London, in which he made it clear that he "does not want to see a Syrian revolution, but a
peaceful change of power". [152] In a 5 April interview, Ribal al-Assad warned of Syria's risk for a civil war. [153] A Syrian American
man, Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid, was charged by U.S. federal prosecutors on 5 October with tracking Syrian Americans
supporting the uprising in the United States and passing information to Syrian authorities, who then arrested family members of the
dissidents living in Syria. The U.S. government alleges that Soueid met with Assad during a two-week trip to Syria in summer
2011. [154] In October, Amnesty International published a report showing that at least 30 Syrian dissidents living in Canada, Chile,
France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, faced intimidation by Syrian embassy officials, and that
in some cases, their relatives in Syria were harassed, detained and tortured. Syrian embassy officials in London and Washington, D.C.
were alleged to have taken photographs and videos of local Syrian dissidents and sent them to Syrian authorities, who then retaliated
against their families. [155] On 4 June, Channel 4 News's chief correspondent Alex Thompson stated that Syrian rebels he was with had
purposely tried to lead him and his team into a death trap so that they would be killed by gunfire from government forces in an alleged
bid to discredit the Assad regime. Thomson stated that they were trying to return to government lines when their rebel escort led them
down what he described as a dead-end in the middle of a "free-fire zone". [156]
Protests and military sieges As protests continued, the Syrian government used tanks and snipers to force people off the streets.
Water and electricity were shut off in the city of Daraa, and security forces began confiscating flour and food. [157] A similar situation
was reported in Homs. [158] In May, the Syrian army entered the cities of Baniyas, Hama, Homs, Talkalakh, Latakia, the Al-Midan and
Douma districts of Damascus, and several other towns. [159][160]
Baniyas was besieged in early May, and divided into zones of de facto control, with protesters largely controlling the south and
security forces enforcing the laws of the government in the north. Major demonstrations saw nearly 20 deaths on 6 May, and the
government said 11 soldiers were shot by "armed groups" on the same day. [161] The violent suppression of protests in Homs, Daraa,
and other rebellious cities continued throughout the month. [162][163] A 17 May report of claims by refugees coming from Telkalakh on
the Lebanese border indicated that sectarian attacks may have been occurring. Sunni refugees said that uniformed Alawite Shabiha
militiamen were killing Sunnis in the town of Telkalakh. The reporter also stated that according to arms dealers, "sales of black
market weapons in Lebanon have skyrocketed in recent weeks driven almost entirely by demand in Syria." [164]
Early June, the Syrian government said more than 20 Syrian demonstrators were shot dead at the Golan Heights by Israeli forces,
when trying to cross the cease-fire line during Naksa Day demonstrations. This was perceived by Israelis as a way for the Syrian
government to divert attention from the Syrian unrest by allowing demonstrators to reach all the way to the Golan Heights. [165] The
army also besieged the northern cities of Jisr ash-Shugur [166] and Maarat al-Numaan near the Turkish border. [167] The Syrian Army
claimed the towns were the site of mass graves of Syrian security personnel killed during the uprising and justified the attacks as
operations to rid the region of "armed gangs", [168] though local residents claimed the dead Syrian troops and officers were executed for
refusing to fire on protesters. [169] The siege of Daraa continued in the meantime, with a French journalist reporting famine-like
conditions in the town. [170] On 20 June, in a speech lasting nearly an hour, in response to the demands of protesters and foreign
pressure, Assad promised a "national dialogue" involving movement toward reform, new parliamentary elections, and greater
freedoms. He also urged refugees to return home from Turkey, while assuring them amnesty and blaming all unrest on a small number
of "saboteurs". The speech received mixed reactions domestically and abroad and was largely dismissed by protesters. [171] On 30 June,
large protests erupted against the Assad government in Aleppo (Syria's second largest city) which were labeled the "Aleppo
volcano". [172]
In mid-July, pro-government protesters attacked the US and French embassies in Damascus, responding to those countries' support for
the opposition. [173] Attacks on protests continued throughout July, with government forces repeatedly firing at protesters and
employing tanks against demonstrations, as well as conducting arrests. On 31 July, a siege of Hama escalated during a so-called

"Ramadan Massacre", in which at least 136 people were killed and hundreds wounded when Syrian forces attacked demonstrators
across the country, employing tanks, artillery and snipers. Most of the deaths occurred in Hama. [174]
Formation of the Free Syrian Army On July 29, a group of defected officers announced the formation of the Free Syrian Army
(FSA), which would become the main opposition army. Composed of defected Syrian Armed Forces personnel and civilian
volunteers, the rebel army seeks to remove Bashar al-Assad and his government from power. This began a new phase in the conflict,
with more armed resistance against the government crackdown. The FSA would grow in size, to about 20,000 by December, and to an
[175] [176]
estimated 40,000 by June, 2012.
Syrian forces continued to bombard Hama in early August 2011, along with attacks in other cities and towns. [177] On the first full
weekend of Ramadan, the Arab League and several Gulf Cooperation Council member states led by Saudi Arabia broke their silence
on the events in Syria to condemn the government's response. [178] Throughout August, Syrian forces stormed major urban centers and
outlying regions, and continued to attack protests.
In August, The Jerusalem Post reported that protesters enraged at Hezbollah's support for Assad's government burned Hezbollah flags
and images of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in several places in Syria. [179] Pro-government protestors have carried posters of Hassan
Nasrallah. [180] Hezbollah states they support a process of reforms in Syria and that they also are against what they term US plots to
destabilize and interfere in Syria. [181]
On 14 August, the Syrian Navy became involved in the military crackdown. Gunboats fired heavy machine guns at waterfront
districts in Latakia as ground troops and security agents backed by armor stormed several neighborhoods. Up to 28 people were
killed. Eight more civilians were killed elsewhere in the country. [182]
Throughout the next few days, the Siege of Latakia dragged on, with government forces and shabiha militia continuing to fire on
civilians in the city, as well as throughout the country over the following days. On 30 August, during the first day of Eid ul-Fitr,
thousands of people demonstrated in Homs, Daraa, and suburbs of Damascus. Nine people were killed when security forces fired on
these demonstrations. Eid celebrations in the country were reportedly muted, with people trying to visit the graves of their loved ones
being killed. [183] Protests continued into the following months, with security forces and militia continuing to fire at demonstrators and
raid towns and neighborhoods across the country.
Six months into the uprising, the inhabitants of Syria's two largest cities, Damascus and Aleppo, remain largely uninvolved in the
anti-government protests. [184] The two cities central squares have seen rallies in the tens of thousands in support of Assad and his
government. [185] Analysts and even opposition activists themselves acknowledge that without mass participation in the protest
movement from these two cities, the government will survive and avoid the fate of its counterparts in Egypt and Tunisia. [185]
The first major confrontation between the FSA and the Syrian armed forces occurred in Rastan. From 27 September to 1 October,
Syrian government forces, backed by tanks and helicopters, led a major offensive on the city of Rastan in Homs province, which had
been under opposition control for a couple weeks. [186][187] There were reports of large numbers of defections in the city, and the Free
Syrian Army reported it had destroyed 17 armoured vehicles during clashes in Rastan, [188] using RPGs and booby traps. [189] The
Harmoush battalion also reported that it killed 80 loyalist soldiers in fighting. [190] A defected officer in the Syrian opposition claimed
that over a hundred officers had defected as well as thousands of conscripts, although many had gone into hiding or home to their
families, rather than fighting the loyalist forces. [189] The Battle of Rastan between the government forces and the Free Syrian Army
was the longest and most intense action up until that time. After a week of fighting, the FSA was forced to retreat from Rastan. [187] To
avoid government forces, the leader of the FSA, Col. Riad Asaad, retreated to the Turkish side of Syrian-Turkish border. [191]
On 7 October, prominent Kurdish rights activist Mishaal al-Tammo was assassinated when masked gunmen burst into his flat, with
the Syrian government blamed for his death. At least 20 other civilians were also killed during crackdowns on demonstrations across
the country. The next day, more than 50,000 mourners marched in Al-Qamishli to mark Tammo's funeral, and at least 14 were killed
when security forces fired on them. [192]
In October, the Free Syrian Army began to get involved in the Siege of Homs, leading to heavy street fighting in several
neighborhoods. [193]
Protests and armed clashes Throughout August, September, and October Syrian forces continued to suppress protests, with
hundreds of killings and arrests reportedly having taken place. The crackdown continued into the first three days of November. On 3
November, the government accepted an Arab League plan that aims to restore the peace in the country. According to members of the
opposition, however, government forces continued their suppression of protests. Throughout the month, there were numerous reports
of civilians taken from their homes turning up dead and mutilated, clashes between loyalist troops and defectors, and electric shocks
and hot iron rods being used to torture detainees.
Since November 14, fighting between armed rebels and security forces began to intensity in Daraa Governorate, in Syria's south. [194]
Rebels engaged in ambushes against Syrian soldiers, and security forces attempted raids on restless towns.
On 14 November, more than 70 people were killed across Syria as the army clashed with defectors and shot at civilians. Some 34
soldiers and 12 defectors were killed, along with 27 civilians. [195]
Activists said security forces killed up to 70 army defectors on 19 December as they were deserting their military posts near the
Turkish border. At least 30 other people died in other violence across the country, the activists said. If accurate, it would be one of the
heaviest daily tolls of the entire revolt up until December. [196]
On 23 December two suicide bombs hit two security facilities in Damascus, killing 30 civilians and soldiers. The government stated
the attack "carried the blueprint of al-Qaeda", whereas opposition members blamed the government, [197] and hinted that the
government itself may have been behind the attacks to make its case to Arab League observers who arrived in the country only the
day before. Government officials brought the advance team of Arab League observers to the scene to see the wreckage. Omar Idilbi, a
member of the Syrian National Council thought the explosions "very mysterious because they happened in heavily guarded areas that
are difficult to be penetrated by a car." [198] Two days earlier, Lebanese authorities had warned that al-Qaeda members were entering
Syria from North Lebanon. [199]
On 1 February, Riad al-Asaad, commander of the Free Syrian army, claimed that "Fifty percent of Syrian territory is no longer under
the control of the regime," and that half of the country was now effectively a no-go zone for the security forces. He said the morale of
government troops was extremely low. "That’s why they are bombing indiscriminately, killing men, women and children," he
said. [200] Protests have drifted abroad to the doorsteps of Syrian embassies. After the opposition had claimed that more than 200 people
perished in the massacre in Homs on 2 February 2012, both Syrian and non-Syrian protesters in Cairo, Kuwait City, and London

damaged their respective Syrian embassy. [201] In an attack on buildings used by Syrian military intelligence in Aleppo, at least 28
people died and 235 were injured on 10 February 2012. The Free Syrian Army, through colonel Arif Hamood, claimed responsibility
for the attacks in an interview with France 24, saying mortars and RPGs had been used instead of car bombs as was initially
reported. [202] However, shortly thereafter another FSA leader, Riad al-Asaad, denied FSA involvement and asserted a false-flag
conspiracy in which the Assad government is presented as the perpetrator of the attack on its own buildings. [203] A correspondent for
the Dutch public broadcaster NOS described the latter as an unlikely explanation for the attacks, pointing out that the FSA have
earlier indicated that one of their targets is military intelligence, which they hold responsible for a major part of the violence against
the opposition. [204]
Ceasefire attempt Main article: Kofi Annan peace plan for Syria Kofi Annan's peace plan provided for a ceasefire, but even as the
negotiations for it were being conducted, Syrian armed forces attacked a number of towns and villages, and summarily executed
scores of people. [146]:11 Incommunicado detention, including of children, also continued. [205] On 12 April, both sides, the Syrian
Government and rebels of the FSA entered a UN mediated ceasefire period. It was a failure, with infractions of the ceasefire by both
sides resulting in several dozen casualties. Acknowledging its failure, Annan called for Iran to be "part of the solution", though the
country has been excluded from the Friends of Syria initiative. [206]
Renewed fighting
Following the Houla massacre and the consequent FSA ultimatum to the Syrian government, the cease fire practically collapsed
towards the end of May 2012, as FSA began nation-wide offensives against the government troops. On 1 June, the Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad vowed to crush an anti-regime uprising, after the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) announced that it was resuming
"defensive operations." [207] On 2 June 57 soldiers were killed in Syria, the largest number of casualties the military has suffered in a
single day since the uprising broke out in mid-March 2011. [207] Since 5 June, the Syrian army has been battling rebels around the city
of Latakia, using tanks and helicopter gunships. [208] On 6 June 78 civilians were killed in the Al-Qubair massacre. According to
activist sources, government forces started by shelling the village before pro-government militia, the Shabiha, moved in. [209] The UN
observers rushed to the village in a hope to investigate the alleged massacre but were met with a road-block and small arms fire before
the village and were forced to retreat. [210][211] At the same time, the conflict has started moving into the two largest cities (Damascus
and Aleppo) that the government claimed were being dominated by the silent majority, which wanted stability, not government
change. In both places there has been a revival of the protest movement in its peaceful dimension. Shopkeepers across the capital
staged a general strike and in several Aleppo commercial districts mounted a similar but smaller protest. This has been interpreted by
some as indicating that the historical alliance between the government and the business establishment in the large cities has become
weak. [212] On 22 June, a Turkish F-4 fighter jet was shot down by Syrian government forces. [213] Both pilots were killed. [214] Syria
admitted shooting the fighter down, stating that the Turkish fighter was flying over Syrian territorial waters 1 kilometer away from
land when it was fired on by anti-aircraft artillery near the village of Om al-Tuyour. [215] Turkey's foreign minister stated the jet was
shot down in international airspace after accidentally entering Syrian airspace, while it was on a training flight to test Turkey's radar
capabilities. [216] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed retaliation, saying: "The rules of engagement of the Turkish
Armed Forces have changed ... Turkey will support Syrian people in every way until they get rid of the bloody dictator and his
gang." [217] Ankara acknowledged that the jet had flown over Syria for a short time, but said such temporary overflights were common,
had not led to an attack before, and alleged that Syrian helicopters had violated Turkish airspace five times without being attacked and
that a second, search-and-rescue jet had been fired at. [217][218] An anonymous Israeli air force source suggested Russian technicians
played a key role in the interception and shooting down of the jet, though no evidence was presented. [219] Assad later expressed regret
over the incident. [220]
Attempts by the international community to agree a transitional government of national unity failed at the beginning of July after
Russia insisted the agreement should not preclude Assad from being part of it. [221] Syrian opposition groups rejected the UN-brokered
peace plan, arguing that it was ambiguous, and vowing not to negotiate with President Bashar Assad or members of his regime. [222] In
early July, Manaf Tlass, a Brigadier General of the Republican Guard, defected from Syria, making him the highest-level military
defector yet since the uprising began. Western diplomats said his flight is a sign of Assad's weakening inner circle. [223] Nawaf al-
Fares, the Syrian ambassador to Iraq who has sympathized with the opposition movement since it began in March 2011, defected to
the opposition in mid-July 2012. [224]
Battles of Damascus and Aleppo By mid-July fighting had spread across the country. Acknowledging this, the International
Committee of the Red Cross declared the conflict a civil war. [65] Fighting in Damascus intensified, with a major rebel push to take the
city. [225] On 18 July, Syrian Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha, former defense minister Hasan Turkmani, and the president's brother-inlaw
General Assef Shawkat were killed by a bomb attack in the city. [226][227] The Syrian intelligence chief Hisham Bekhityar who was
injured in the same explosion later succumbed to his wounds. [228] Both the Free Syrian Army and Liwa al-Islam claimed responsibility
for the assassination. [229] The fate of the interior minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar was initially the subject of conflicting
reports, [226] variously reporting him as injured but alive, [230] and dead. [231] There were also rumors that President Assad may also have
been injured in the attack due to his lack of recent public appearance, but days after images of the President since the attack
surfaced. [232] The assassinations were the first of such high-ranking members of Assad's elite in the 17-month revolt. In an interview
later that month, General Mohammad Al-Zobi of the rebel forces stated that the explosion had been carried out using 15 kilos of
explosives smuggled into the building, then detonated remotely. [233] On 19 July, Russia and China vetoed a U.N. resolution that would
add sanctions against the Syrian government, showing again the divide in international opinion towards the conflict. [234] Russia and
China, who are major trade allies with Syria, want to see a more balanced resolution calling on both sides to equally halt violence. [235]
On the same day, Iraqi officials reported that the Free Syrian Army has gained control of all four border checkpoints between Syria
and Iraq, increasing concerns of the safety of Iraqis trying to escape the violence in Syria. [236] At one point during the day, almost all
Internet access from Syria was cut off for a period of 40 minutes. [237] The escalating conflict has reached a decisive stage in late July
2012, with the government forces and the armed opposition locked in a high intensity battle over control of the country’s largest city,
Aleppo. Fighting over Aleppo is acquiring a greater significance after government troops flushed out most of the fighters from
Damascus. [238] On 25 July, multiple sources reported that the Assad government was using fighter jets to attack rebel positions in the
cities of Aleppo and Damascus. [239] After driving out the opposition forces from Damascus, the government forces launched assault on
Aleppo by tanks and air gunships on 28 July 2012, amid growing world concern about the safety of the civilian population of the
country's second city. [240]

Parties in the conflict
Syrian National Council Main article: Syrian National Council The Syrian opposition met several times in conferences held mostly
in Turkey and formed a National Council. The Federation of Tenseekiet Syrian Revolution helped in the formation of a Transitional
National Assembly on 23 August in Istanbul "to serve as the political stage of the Revolution of the Syrian people". The creation of
the Syrian National Council was celebrated by the Syrian protestors since the Friday protest following its establishment was dubbed
"The Syrian National Council Represents Me". [241][242] The Syrian National Council gained the recognition of a few countries,
including "sole legitimate interlocutor" by the United States. [243] The SNC is said to have developed a debilitating democratic deficit,
and some opposition actors on the ground in Syria subsequently refuse to work with it. [244]:5–9
Local coordination committees Main article: Local coordination committees of Syria The networks of anti-government protest
organizers formed decentralized "Local Coordination Committees" which drew together the young, unorganized protesters. The
Committees are used to document protests and spread anti-government messages throughout Syria. Though they have only a few
hundred members, the Local Coordination Committees rose to prominence as the core of the protest movement on the ground,
separate from the organized political opposition. The Committees are also noted for trying to reach out to minority groups and
diversify the demonstrations. [245] The Committees receive support from initiatives such as "Adopt a Revolution".
Free Syrian Army and other armed opposition groups Main article: Free Syrian Army In late July 2011, a web video featuring a
group of uniformed men claiming to be defected Syrian Army officers proclaimed the formation of a Free Syrian Army (FSA). In the
video, the men called upon Syrian soldiers and officers to defect to their ranks, and said the purpose of the Free Syrian Army was to
defend protesters from violence by the state. [7] Many Syrian soldiers subsequently deserted to join the FSA. [246] The actual number of
soldiers who defected to the FSA is uncertain, with estimates ranging from 1,000 to over 25,000 as of December 2011. [247] Nir Rosen,
who spent time with the FSA in Syria, claims the majority of its members are civilians rather than defectors, who had taken up arms
long before the formation of the FSA was announced. He also stated they have no central leadership. [248] The FSA functions more as
an umbrella organization than a traditional military chain of command, and is "headquartered" in Turkey. As such, it cannot issue
direct orders to its various bands of fighters, but many of the most effective armed groups are fighting under the FSA's banner. [249] As
deserting soldiers abandoned their armored vehicles and brought only light weaponry and munitions, FSA adopted guerilla-style
tactics against security forces inside cities. Its primary target has been the shabiha militias. Most FSA attacks however are directed
against trucks and buses that are believed to bring security reinforcements. Sometimes the vehicle occupants are taken as hostages, in
other cases the vehicles are attacked either with roadside bombs or through hit-and-run attacks. The FSA has also targeted power lines
and water mains in "retaliation against Hezbollah’s provocations." [250] To encourage defection, the FSA began attacking army patrols,
shooting the commanders and trying to convince the soldiers to switch sides. FSA units have also acted as defense forces by guarding
neighborhoods rife with opposition, guarding streets while protests take place, and attacking shabiha members. However, the FSA
engaged in street battles with security forces in Deir ez-Zor, Al-Rastan, and Al-Bukamal. Fighting in these cities raged for days, with
no clear victor. In Hama, Homs, Al-Rastan, Deir ez-Zor, and Daraa, the Syrian military used airstrikes against them, leading to calls
from the FSA for the imposition of a no-fly zone. [251] The Free Syrian Army numbers about 15,000 men according to a statement its
leader Riad al-Asaad made on Al Jazeera, and he added that these were almost exclusively reserve troops that defected from the
Syrian army, and thus were no match against the government's highly trained active-duty troops. More than 3,000 members of the
Syrian security forces have been killed, which the Syrian government states is due to "armed gangs" being among the protesters, yet
the opposition blames the deaths on the government. [252] Syrians have been crossing the border to Lebanon to buy weapons on the
black market since the beginning of the protests. [253] Clan leaders in Syria claim that the armed uprising is of a tribal, revenge-based
nature, not Islamist. [254] On 6 June, the government said more than 120 security personnel were killed by "armed gangs"; 20 in an
ambush, and 82 in an attack on a security post. [255] The main centers of unrest – Daraa near Jordan, where the uprising began,
Talkalakh, Homs, Talbiseh, and Al-Rastan near Lebanon, and Jisr ash-Shugur near Turkey – have been described as being
predominately Sunni Muslim towns and cities close to the country's borders where smuggling has been common for generations, and
thus have more access to smuggled weapons. [256] In September 2011, the Syrian government claimed to have killed a total of 700
insurgents. [257] Daniel Byman believes the political and military opposition are each worryingly divided and disconnected from each
other, [258] and thus uniting, training and pushing the armed opposition to avoid religious sectarianism is crucial. The latter is
important, for otherwise the Alawites and other minorities will fight all the harder, and make post-Assad Syria more difficult to
govern. [259] Others would say that part of Byman's analysis represents a failure to understand that the leadership within Syria is
decentralised out of necessity, that this is a good thing, and that decentralisation is not the same thing as fragmentation, and certainly
does not represent an absence of strong leadership. [260] Whichever view one accepts, there are undeniably rivalries between different
strands and disagreement between those advocating peaceful protests and those backing armed struggle. [261][262]
Kurdish stance Main article: Kurdish participation in the Syrian civil war Syrian Kurds represented 10% of Syria's population at the
start of the uprising. They had suffered from decades of discrimination and neglect, being deprived of basic civil, cultural, economic
and social rights. Additionally, since 1962, they and their children had been denied Syrian nationality, a situation that led to other
problems relating to personal status and an inability to seek employment in the public sector. [97]:7 When protests began, Assad's
government, in an effort to try and neutralise potential Kurdish opposition, finally granted citizenship to an estimated 200,000
stateless Kurds. [263] This concession on citizenship, combined with Turkish endorsement of the opposition and Kurdish
underrepresentation in the Syrian National Council, has meant that Kurds have participated in the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising in
smaller numbers than their Syrian Arab counterparts. [263][264] Consequently, violence and repression in Kurdish areas has been less
severe. [263][265] According to Ariel Zirulnick of the Christian Science Monitor, the Assad government "has successfully convinced
many of Syria's Kurds and Christians that without the iron grip of a leader sympathetic to the threats posed to minorities, they might
meet the same fate" as minorities in Lebanon and Iraq. [266] In terms of a post-Assad Syria, Kurds reportedly desire a degree of
autonomy within a decentralised state. [267] In 2012, several cities with large Kurdish populations, such as Qamishli and Al-Hasakah,
began witnessing protests of several thousand people against the Syrian government, which responded with tanks and fired upon the
protesters. [268] Senior Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Cemil Bayik stated that if Turkey were to intervene against Assad, the
PKK would fight on the Syrian side. The PKK's Syrian branch is alleged to be involved in the targeting of Kurds participating in the
uprising. [269] In May 2012, a delegation of the Kurdish National Council of Syria (KNCS), a coalition of ten Syrian-Kurdish parties
established in October 2011, was invited to Washington for talks. Amongst others the delegation met Robert Ford, the former U.S.
ambassador to Syria. [270] On 15 June, it was reported that Kurds had helped government soldiers defeat FSA fighters in the town of

Atma. [271] However, head of Kurdish Democratic Party (PYD) Salih Muslim, whose militia now control much of Kurdish territories,
claims that their group is not fighting on government side, but rather keeping the Kurdish territory out of FSA control in order to
protect its citizens from Syrian army response. He also described Syrian regime as brutal, which won't leave Syria until it kills all
Syrians. [272] On 19 July, Kurdish militias from Kurdish Democratic Union Party and Kurdish National Council forced out government
forces from several areas, including town of Ayn al-Arab, or Kobanê in Kurdish. Kurdish militias than denied access of FSA whose
fighters came upon hearing news of Kurdish victory, arguing that Kurds can take care of Kurdish areas alone. Nuri Brimo,
spokesperson for the Kurdish Democratic Party announced that "liberation" of Kobane is beginning of battle for whole Syrian
Kurdistan. [273][274]
Shabiha Main article: Shabiha Shabiha (Arabic: الشبيحة ; from the word شبح "ghost") have been described as "a notorious Alawite
paramilitary, who are accused of acting as unofficial enforcers for Assad’s regime"; [275] "gunmen loyal to Assad"; [276] "semi-criminal
gangs comprised of thugs close to the regime." [276] Some "shabiha" operating in Aleppo have been reported to be Sunni, however. [277]
Bassel al-Assad is reported to have created the secretive militia for the government in times of crisis. [278] According to a Syrian
citizen, shabiha is a term that was used to refer to gangs involved in smuggling during the Syrian occupation of Lebanon: "They used
to travel in ghost cars without plates; that's how they got the name Shabbiha. They would smuggle cars from Lebanon to Syria. The
police turned a blind eye, and in return Shabbiha would act as a shadow militia in case of need". [279] Witnesses and refugees from the
northwestern region say that the shabiha have been intimately involved in the killing, looting and destruction. [279][280]
Sectarianism Main article: Sectarianism in the Syrian civil war At the uprising's outset, some protesters reportedly chanted
"Christians to Beirut; Alawites to the coffin". [281][282] While many in the opposition view the conflict as a sectarian one, some have
accused the government of fomenting sectarianism; [283] In a TIME report, an anti-Assad activist claimed that the Syrian government
had paid government workers to write anti-Alawite graffiti and chant sectarian slogans at opposition rallies. [284] Alawites who have
taken refugee in Lebanon have also told journalists that they were offered money by the Syrian government to spread sectarianism
through chants and graffiti. [284] The reaction of Palestinians in Syria has been mixed: many just want to stay out of the situation,
some (particularly younger people) have actively supported the protests, but the PFLP-General Command is widely accused of
actively supporting the repression (Assad has sheltered the group for years). Due to this, six Palestinian officers were assassinated
between January and June 2012. [285] The Global Post reported that Christians living in Aleppo started to arm themselves, often
supplied by the Syrian Army. Christians feared the Islamists and the scenario that happend to the Christians in Iraq. [286]
Foreign involvement The Syrian conflict has been interpreted as part of a proxy war between Sunni states, such as Saudi Arabia,
Turkey and Qatar, who support the Sunni-led opposition, and Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, who support the Alawite-led
government in Syria. [287][288]
In February 2012 German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned that a proxy war in Syria could "cause a confrontation that
drags in even Moscow and Beijing". [289] Before his departure to the 2012 G8 Summit the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
warned, that "actions, which undermine state sovereignty" may well end in "a full-blown regional war" and even the "use of nuclear
weapons". [290] Syrian state institutions are regime-centred, [291] thus another Brookings scholar, citing post-invasion Iraq, cautioned
against the goal of an immediate purge of all Ba'athists. [292] Reuters suggested that the prospect of British special forces entering Syria
on the ground is growing, following unconfirmed reports from an Israeli website that SAS Commandos were conducting covert
operations within Syrian territory, operating from Turkey on 26 June 2012. [293] In July 2012, Switzerland ceased arms exports
to the UAE after it emerged Swiss weapons were finding their way to opposition fighters. [294] The Swiss decision came shortly
after the UN human rights chief, Navi Pillay, called for an urgent stop to arms transfers to government and opposition forces so as to
avoid "further militarisation" of the conflict. [295] The director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy had previously argued that,
while "uncontrolled militarization will turn the Syrian uprising into a wider conflict that could draw in jihadis and other extremists
from across the Muslim World", militarisation was inevitable, and so the US should help facilitate and guide it. [296] Marc Lynch
argued the opposite in February 2012, as the provision of weapons from Saudi Arabia and Qatar was being mooted: "It is unlikely that
arms from the outside would come close to evening the balance of power, and would only invite escalations from Syrian regime
forces". [297] Lynch was correct: according to the Syrian National Council, the increasingly fierce air and artillery assaults by the
government after March 2012 were intended to counter the improved weaponry, coordination and tactics among the opposition forces
that arrived from Arab states via Turkey and US facilitation; [298] in June, Amnesty International said the fighting during spring had
escalated to "the level and intensity of a non-international armed conflict", [146]:10 while the UN's head of peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous
said the country was now in a state of "civil war"; [299] and in July, the head of the UN monitoring mission to Syria, General Robert
Mood, warned that violence was reaching an "unprecedented level", [300] as EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, noted the level
of violence and number of casualties had risen to "unimaginable levels" over previous weeks. [301] At a conference in Paris shortly
afterward, Western and Sunni Arab countries nonetheless announced they were going to "massively increase" aid to the Syrian
opposition. [302] Opposition violence has reportedly alarmed some of the peaceful protesters and activists who first drove the
uprising. [303]
Support for the opposition Turkey provided refuge for Syrian dissidents. Syrian opposition activists convened in Istanbul in May to
discuss regime change, [304] and Turkey hosts the head of the Free Syrian Army, Colonel Riad al-Asaad. [305][306] Turkey has become
increasingly hostile to the Assad government's policies, has encouraged reconciliation among dissident factions. Beginning in May
2012, some Syrian opposition fighters began being armed and trained by the Turkish Intelligence. [307] Some countries have cut ties
with the Assad government including: the Gulf States, Libya, Tunisia, [308] Britain, Spain, Turkey, the United States and Belgium. [309]
Canada has closed its visa office but maintains an embassy in Damascus. [310] On 1 November, NATO said it had no intention of taking
military action in Syria, after it closed its seven-month campaign in Libya. [311] Sunni Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir has voiced its
support for the Syrian opposition, [312] as has Hamas prime minister of Gaza, Ismail Haniya, [313] though Hamas leader Salah al-
Bardaweel added that this does not mean severance of ties with the Assad government. [314] Bardaweel's claims are at odds with
repeated leaks by his group showing that they were prepared to evacuate Syria and had already reduced their presence there. [315] The
Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood provided active assistance. [298] Al-Qaeda and affiliates are anti-Assad. American officials
believe that Al-Qaeda in Iraq has conducted bomb attacks against government forces, [316] and al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
condemned Assad. [317] On 23 April, one of the leaders of Fatah al-Islam, Abdel Ghani Jawhar, was killed during the Battle of Al-
Qusayr, after he blew himself up while making a bomb. [19] A member of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades in Lebanon admitted that his
group had sent fighters to Syria, while a group thought linked to al-Qaeda and calling itself the al-Nusra Front claimed for a suicide

omb attack on 6 January 2012 in the central Damascus neighbourhood of al-Midan killed 26 people, most of whom were
civilians, [318] as well as for truck bombs that killed 55 people and injured 370. Jihadist leaders and intelligence sources said foreign
fighters had begun to enter Syria only in February 2012. [319] In May 2012, Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari declared that dozens of
foreign fighters from Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Britain, France elsewhere had been captured or killed, and urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Turkey to stop "their sponsorship of the armed rebellion". [320][321] Jihadist leaders and intelligence sources said foreign fighters had
begun to enter Syria only in February 2012. [319] In June, it was reported that hundreds of foreign fighters, many linked to al-Qaeda,
had gone to Syria to fight against Assad. [322] In July, Iraq's foreign minister again warned that members of al-Qaeda in Iraq were
seeking refuge in Syria and moving there to fight. [300] When asked if the United States would arm the opposition, Hillary Clinton
expressed fears that such weapons could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda or Hamas. [323] A crucial line of support began in spring 2012
as Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced they would begin arming and bankrolling the opposition. [324][325][326] Paul Salem, director of the
Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut, and Emile Hokayem of the International Institute of Strategic Studies argued such support
would be unlikely to immediately make a decisive impact. [326][327] A ship carrying weapons from Libya believed destined for Syria's
rebels has also been intercepted. [328] According to SNC e-mails leaked to Al Akhbar, Saudi support came with undesirable conditions
attached, and played a negative, divisive role in Homs. [329]
Support for the Syrian government
Russia Main article: Russia's role in the Syrian civil war See also: Russian naval base in Tartus Russia has provided arms, including
refurbished helicopter gunships, and diplomatic support to the Syrian government. In January 2012, Human Rights Watch criticised
Russia for "repeating the mistakes of Western governments" in its "misguided" support of Assad. [330] Amnesty International, noting
the Syrian government's headlong deployment of military helicopters, criticised Russia of "a wanton disregard for humanity." [331]
Human Rights Watch warned Russia's state-owned arms-trading company Rosoboronexport in a letter that, under international law,
"providing weapons to Syria while crimes against humanity are being committed may translate into assisting in the commission of
those crimes", and called on governments and companies around the world to stop signing new contracts and consider suspending
current dealings with the Russian company. [332] Not long after, however, the US bought Mi-17 helicopters from Rosoboronexport
worth hundreds of millions of dollars. [333] One of Russia's interests is access to the port of Tartus, home to its only remaining military
base outside the former USSR and thus a key source of its influence in the eastern Mediterranean. [334] The Centre for Analysis of
Strategies and Technologies, a leading Russian think tank, played down Tartus and other allegedly important national interests,
though, arguing instead that Russian support was "irrational". [335] In July 2012, however, Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy director of
Russia's Federal Service for Military Technical Co-operation, announced a halt to any new weapons transfers. [336] A joint group of 10
Russian warships and an equal number of escort vessels led by an anti-submarine destroyer and including landing ships with marines
on board, entered the Meditarranean early this week. The task force has been deployed at the time of escalating fighting in Syria with
the United States avowing to “intensify” its efforts “outside the Security Council.” The British, French and U.S. navies are planning a
larger deployment of warships in Eastern Mediterranean in autumn for naval exercises. [337]
Iran Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was vocally in favor of the Syrian government. [338] The Guardian reported that the Iranian
government is assisting the Syrian government with riot control equipment and intelligence monitoring techniques. [339] The Economist
said that Iran had, by February 2012, sent the Syrian government $9 billion to help it withstand Western sanctions. [340] It has also
shipped fuel to the country and sent two warships to a Syrian port in a display of power and support. [341] U.S. President Barack Obama
and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice accused Iran of secretly aiding Assad in his efforts to quell the protests, [342]
and there have been reports of Syrian protesters hearing security-force members speaking Persian. [343] The city of Zabadani is vitally
important to Assad and to Iran because, at least as late as June 2011, the city served as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps's
logistical hub for supplying Hezballah. [249] According to a U.N. panel in May 2012, Iran supplied the Syrian government with arms
during the previous year despite a ban on weapons exports by the Islamic Republic. Turkish authorities captured crates and a truck in
February 2012, including assault rifles, machine guns, explosives, detonators, 60mm and 120mm mortar shells as well as other items
on its border. It was believed these were destined for the Syrian government. The confidential report leaked just hours after an article
appeared in the Washington Post revealing how Syrian opposition fighters started to receive more, and better, weapons in an effort
paid for by Gulf Arab states and co-ordinated partly by the US. [4] The report investigated three large illegal shipments of Iranian
weapons over the past year and stated "Iran has continued to defy the international community through illegal arms shipments. Two of
these cases involved (Syria), as were the majority of cases inspected by the Panel during its previous mandate, underscoring that Syria
continues to be the central party to illicit Iranian arms transfers." [344] In March 2012, anonymous U.S. intelligence officials claimed a
spike in Iranian-supplied arms and other aid for the Syrian government. Iranian security officials also allegedly traveled to Damascus
to help deliver this assistance. A second senior U.S. official said members of Iran's main intelligence service, the Ministry of
Intelligence and Security, are assisting Syrian counterparts in charge of the crackdown. [345] More anonymous sources were cited by
the UN in May 2012, as it claimed arms were moving both ways between Lebanon and Syria, and alleged weapons brought in from
Lebanon were being used to arm the opposition. [346] The alleged spike in Iranian arms was likely a response to a looming influx of
weapons and ammunition to the rebels from Gulf states that had been reported shortly before. [298] According to US journalist Geneive
Abdo, the Iranian government provided the Syrian government with technology to monitor e-mail, cell phones and social media. Iran
developed these capabilities in the wake of the 2009 protests and spent millions of dollars establishing a "cyber army" to track down
dissidents online. Iran's monitoring technology is believed to be among the most sophisticated in the world, perhaps only second to
China. [338] On 24 July 2012, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp commander Massoud Jazayeri said Iranians will not allow enemy
plans to change Syria's political system to succeed. [347]
China China has provided diplomatic support and possibly facilitated material support for Assad's government. This has included
vetoing a UN Security Council resolution in tandem with Russia; Jerusalem Post correspondent Oren Kessler reported that Beijing's
veto was enacted in the interests of preserving its ties with Russia. [348] China was named in a May 2012 Security Council report as a
transit hub for illegal arms shipments from North Korea, with UN investigators investigating reports of such shipments to the Syrian
government. [349]
Other countries According to a top official of the Iranian revolutionary guard corps, Hezbollah operatives took part in fighting on the
ground against the opposition in Damascus and in the Battle of Zabadani. [1] In February 2012, it was reported that Hugo Chavez'
government in Venezuela had been shipping tens of millions of dollars of diesel to Syria, which can be used to fuel army tanks. [350]
The following month, as it prepared a third shipment, Venezuela confirmed that it would continue sending diesel to the country. [351]

The Wall Street Journal obtained documents showing that a fourth big shipment of diesel was being readied in July 2012: "the deals
are structured to bring other benefits, including shielding Syria's dwindling foreign-exchange reserves". The paper also noted that
even "Syria's political opposition is split on the issue of cutting off all energy exports to the country. While they would like to see Mr.
Assad's tanks run out of fuel, they also worry that a shortage of diesel could equally undermine the political and military opposition
inside Syria." [352] A Greece-based trading company, Naftomar, is reputedly the last firm arranging deliveries of liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG), but, unlike the fuel sent from Venezuela and Russia, LPG is a peaceful material that plays a vital role in countries like
Syria that have limited infrastructure for piping gas. International sanctions do not apply to LPG for humanitarian reasons. [353]
WikiLeaks revelations beginning in July 2012 led to accusations that the subsidiary of an Italian arms company had provided
communications equipment to the Syrian military in May 2011, and that, as late as February 2012, its engineers gave training on the
use of the communications technology, including how it could be installed in helicopters. [354] The company said the equipment was
for civilian use and said it had not sold any technology to Syria since the beginning of the uprising. [355]
Syrian refugees Main article: Refugees of the Syrian civil war The refugee problem began unfolding across Syrian borders on April
2011, intensifying with the siege of Talkalakh and the unrest in the Syrian province of Idlib. As a result, thousands of Syrian citizens
fled across the border to Lebanon and Syria by summer 2011. In early 2012, the numbers of Syrian refugees swelled to some 20,000
registered by UN in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. Syrian Kurds constitute most of the thousands who have sought shelter in northern
Iraq. [263] Following the increased fighting in Homs and the escalating assault of Syrian troops on towns and villages near Lebanese
border, a large-scale refugee influx into Lebanon was reported on 4 March 2012. The exact number of moving Syrian refegees was
not clear, but was described around 2,000. [356] The numbers of Syrian refugees were estimated at 130,000 in early March 2012. On 10
April, it was reported that the number of Syrian refugees in four neighboring countries jumped by 40% within several weeks and
stands at about 55,000 registered, almost half of whom are under 18 years old, according to U.N. figures. [357] There were also
estimated to be at least 20,000 refugees who have not yet registered, as well as 200,000 or more Syrians who were displaced within
their own country. [357] By June, the number of Syrian refugees reached 180,000 throughout the Middle East, with the major
concentration of 120,000 in Jordan. UN sources said that about 34,000 refugees have arrived in Lebanon. [358]
Deaths Main article: Casualties of the Syrian civil war Estimates of deaths in the conflict vary with figures from 19,865 to 26,860.
The particular problem has been to ascertain the number of armed combatants who have died due to opposition policy of counting
rebel fighters who were not defectors as civilians. [36][359][360] Although, at least half of those killed have been estimated to be
combatants from both sides, including over 5,000 government soldiers. [30] In addition, UNICEF reported that over 500 children have
been killed. [361][362] Another 400 children have been reportedly arrested and tortured in Syrian prisons. [363][364] Additionally, over 600
detainees and political prisoners have died under torture. [365]
International reaction Main article: International reactions to the Syrian civil war The Arab League, [366] European Union, [367]
Secretary-General of the United Nations, [368] and many Western governments condemned the violence and the Syrian government's
response to the protests, and many expressed support for the protesters' right to exercise free speech. [369][370] China and Russia
supported the government against international sanctions. [371][dead link] Russia, whose Mediterranean fleet's primary naval base is in
Syria, denounced the use of violence by the opposition and the presence of "terrorists" within its ranks. [372]
See also
Syria portal
Social movements portal
2010s portal
• Politics of Syria
• Cities and towns during the Syrian uprising
• List of freedom indices
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Further reading
• Hinnebusch, Raymond (2012). "Syria: From ‘Authoritarian Upgrading’ to Revolution?". International Affairs 88 (1): 95–
113. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2346.2012.01059.x.
• Lawson, Fred Haley, ed. (1 February 2010). Demystifying Syria. Saqi. ISBN 978-0-86356-654-7.
http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/Demystifying-Syria.php.
• Van Dam, Nikolaos (15 July 2011). The Struggle for Power in Syria: Politics and Society under Asad and the Ba'ath Party.
I. B. Tauris. ISBN 1-84885-760-8. http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/The-struggle-for-power-in-Syria-Nikolaos-van-
Dam.php.
• Wright, Robin (2008). Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East. New York, NY: Penguin Press. pp. 212–261.
ISBN 1-59420-111-0.

• Ziadeh, Radwan (2011). Power and Policy in Syria: Intelligence Services, Foreign Relations and Democracy in the Modern
Middle East. London, GB: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84885-434-5.
• International Crisis Group (13 July 2011). "Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (VII): The Syrian Regimes
Slow-Motion Suicide". Middle East/North Africa Report N°109 – 13 July 2011.
http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/Middle%20East%20North%20Africa/Iraq%20Syria%20Lebanon/Syria/109%20Po
pular%20Protest%20in%20North%20Africa%20and%20the%20Middle%20East%20VII%20--
%20The%20Syrian%20Regimes%20Slow-motion%20Suicide.pdf. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
• Rashdan, Abdelrahman. Syrians Crushed in a Complex International Game. OnIslam.net. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May
2012.
External links
Find more about the Syrian uprising on Wikipedia's sister projects:
Images and media from Commons
News stories from Wikinews
• Syria Uprising collected coverage at Al Jazeera
• Guide: Syria Crisis at BBC News Online
• Syria collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Syria protests (2011) collected coverage at The New York Times
• Syrian uprising: A year in turmoil at The Washington Post
• Live updates on Syria’s uprising at NOW Lebanon
• The Reality of Events at Syrian Arab News Agency
• Syria News Latest News @ Syria
• Syria Tribune 3 Articles You Must Read
Former President Hafez al-Assad (right), and his brother Rifaat al-Assad (left), who personally supervised the 1982 Hama massacre.
The former flag of Syria has been used as an opposition flag. [102]
Demonstration in Homs, 18 April 2011 Neighborhoods in Homs under siege (8 February 2012).

Opposition demonstration in one of Homs' districts Pro-Assad demonstration in Lattakia, 2011 Riot police in Damascus
Rally in 2011 in support of Syrian President al-Assad in Sydney Protest against Bashar al-Assad in Cairo "Down with Bashar al-
A[ssad]". Government-critical graffiti was an early sign of the uprising.
Bassma Kodmani (L), Burhan Ghalioun (C) and Haitham al-Maleh (R) at SNC's first congress in Tunis, 19 December 2011.
2. Timeline of the
Syrian civil war
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For a timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising from May to August 2011, see Timeline of the 2011–
2012 Syrian uprising (May–August 2011)
For a timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising from September to December 2011, see Timeline of the
2011–2012 Syrian uprising (September–December 2011)
For a timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising from January to April 2012, see Timeline of the 2011–
2012 Syrian uprising (January-April 2012)
For a timeline of the 2011-2012 Syrian uprising from May 2012 onward, see Timeline of the 2011-2012
Syrian uprising (from May 2012)
The following is a timeline of the Syrian civil war from January to April 2011, beginning with the start of
protests on 26 January 2011 and including the protests' escalation into a civil uprising on 15 March 2011.
(January–April 2011)
January 2011

26 January On 26 January, Hasan Ali Akleh from Al-Hasakah poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire, in the same way
Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi had in Tunis on 17 December 2010. According to eyewitnesses, the action was "a protest against the
Syrian government". [3][4][5]
28 January On 28 January, an evening demonstration was held in Ar-Raqqah, to protest the killing of two soldiers of Kurdish
descent. [5][6] February 2011
2 February On 2 February, a group of 20 people in civilian clothing beat and dispersed 15 people who had been holding a candlelight
vigil at Bab Tuma in Damascus for Egyptian demonstrators, Human Rights Watch reported. [7]
4–16 February On 3 February, a "Day of Rage" was called for in Syria from 4–5 February on social media sites Facebook and
Twitter. Protesters demanded governmental reform. Most protests took place outside of Syria, and were small. [8][9][10][11] The protests
were expected to begin on 4 February, as social media mobilised the Syrian people for rallies demanding freedom, human rights, and
the end to the country's state of emergency. Protests were also scheduled for 5 February in front of the parliament in Damascus, and at
Syrian embassies internationally. [12] Al Jazeera reported increased security for the planned "Days of Rage." [13] The only known action
took place on 5 February, when hundreds of protesters in Al-Hasakah participated in a mass demonstration, calling for Assad's
departure. Syrian authorities arrested dozens, and a demonstration was quickly triggered. [14] Suhair Atassi, who runs the banned Jamal
Atassi Forum, called for political reforms and the reinstatement of civil rights, as well as for an end to the emergency law that has
been in place since 1962. [15] However, no protests occurred on either date. [16][17][18] After the failure of attempts to arrange a "Day of
Rage," Al Jazeera described the country as "a kingdom of silence". It identified the key factors underlying Syrian stability as the
country's strict security measures, the popularity of President Bashar al-Assad, and fear of potential sectarian violence in the aftermath
of a government ouster (akin to neighbouring Iraq). [19]
17 February
Protests in Damascus, Syria, 17 February 2011 on YouTube
On 17 February, a spontaneous demonstration broke out outside Al-Hamidiyah Souq in Damascus, to protest the police beating of a
local shop owner. Several men gathered and blocked a road, while chanting that "The Syrian people will not be humiliated". An
eyewitness estimated that there were more than 1,500 demonstrators. Secret police officers arrived on the scene quickly, along with
several government officials and finally Syria's interior minister, who dispersed the demonstrators, took the shop owner into his car,
and promised an investigation. [7][20][21] A couple of hours later, several videos of the events were posted on YouTube. [22]
22 February On 22 February, about 200 people gathered outside the Libyan embassy in Damascus to protest against the Libyan
regime, and ask that the ambassador resign. Despite the peaceful demonstration, there were nearly twice as many secret and
uniformed police as there were protesters. The demonstrators carried placards reading "Freedom for the people" and "Down with
Gaddafi". The protesters then started chanting "Traitors are those that beat their people", which created nervousness among the
security forces, who immediately asked the people to return to their homes. 14 people were arrested but later released, and several
more were beaten by policemen. Some protesters were punched, kicked and beaten with sticks. All present had their identities
recorded. [7][23][24]
23 February On 23 February, during a routine session of the Syrian Parliament, a member proposed that harsh emergency laws be
reviewed. The issue was not scheduled for discussion, and its introduction came as a surprise. A pro-government official who was at
the session recalled it with anger. The proposal was rapidly quashed, when the speaker put the proposed review to a vote in the
chamber, but none of the other 249 MPs supported it. [25] March 2011
6 March On 6 March, a number of young boys under 15 years of age were arrested in Daraa, for writing on the walls of the city a
slogan of the 2010–11 Arab uprisings that: "the people want to overthrow the regime". [26] It was reported that Libyan Anti-Gaddafi
forces shot down two Syrian war planes in Ra's Lanuf, Libya; this was later denied by Syrian officials. [27][28][29] In Lebanon, four
brothers, all of them Syrian opposition activists, went missing shortly after passing out flyers in front of the Syrian embassy in Beirut,
calling for a demonstration to oppose Syria's government. [30] TIME said that the commitment could still be found among the Syrian
youth, but that what was needed was a starting point. [31] Ribal al-Assad said that it was almost time for Syria to be the next domino. [32]
7 March On 7 March 13 Syrian political prisoners went on a hunger strike to protest against "political detentions and oppression" in
Syria. They demanded an end to political arrests, the removal of injustices, and the restitution of rights that had been removed from
civil and political life. [33][34]
10 March On 10 March, dozens of jailed Kurds in Syria, from the Yakiti Party and from the Democratic Union, started a hunger
strike in solidarity with other activists who had also initiated hunger strikes in a prison near Damascus three days earlier. [35] Human
Rights Watch reacted to the disappearance of Syrian activists in Lebanon four days earlier, indicating that it feared that Lebanon is
"back to doing Syria's dirty job". [36] The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that Syria was monitoring with high concern "the tragic
developments in the brotherly country of Libya". [37] Syrian newspaper Al-Watan said that the Syrian government welcomed the fall of
Mubarak's regime, and was looking forward to a new leadership that does not "cover for Israeli violations". [38] The Reform Party of
Syria asserted that "al-Assad is sending arms to Gaddafi to kill his people with". [39]
12 March On 12 March, thousands of Syrian Kurds in al-Qamishli and in al-Hasakah protested on the day of Kurdish martyr, which
is an annual event since 2004, when many Syrian kurds died in anti-government demonstrations. [40][41][42] Al Jazeera reported that a
civilian vessel, loaded with weapons and ammunition and 500 SUVs had sailed from the port of Tartus in Syria towards Tripoli in
Libya, in order to supply the Gaddafi forces. The reporter said that the Syrian battalion is fighting alongside Gaddafi against the
Libyan rebels. [43][44] That was also confirmed with an interview with Libyan politician Ibrahim Jibreel. [45]

13 March On 13 March, Kamal Hussein Cheikho, a Kurdish member of the Committee for the Defence of Democratic Liberties and
Human Rights in Syria (CDF), was released on bail of 500 Syrian pounds ($10). He is still facing charges for allegedly publishing
material harmful to the country. [46][47][48]
15 March – "Day of Rage"
First explicit demonstration against the Syrian regime Damascus, Syria, 15 March 2011 on YouTube
Simultaneous demonstrations took place in major cities across Syria. Thousands of protesters gathered in al-Hasakah, Daraa, Deir ez-
Zor, and Hama. There were some clashes with security, according to reports from dissident groups. In Damascus, a smaller group of
200 men grew spontaneously to about 1,500 men. Damascus has not seen such uprising since the 1980s. The official Facebook page
called "Syrian Revolution 2011" showed pictures of supportive demonstrations in Cairo, Nicosia, Helsinki, Istanbul and Berlin. There
were also unconfirmed news that Syrian revolution supporters of Libyan descent, stormed into the Syrian Embassy in
Paris. [49][50][51][52][53] Another recently released political figure, Suhair Atassi, became an unofficial spokesperson for the "Syrian
revolution", when she was interviewed by dozens of Arab and international media channels regarding the uprising. There were reports
of 6 arrested in Damascus. [54][55][56][57] Atassi paid tribute to "the Syrian people who took the initiative ahead of the opposition,"
recalling the popular uprisings that shook Tunisia and Egypt [48] After the first day of the uprising there were reports about
approximately 3000 arrests and a few "martyrs", but there are no official figures on the number of deaths. [58]
16 March Syrian authorities forcibly dispersed a crowd composed of 200 demonstrators in front of the Syrian Interior Ministry. al-
Arabiya reported that the protesters were a mix of activists and jurists, writers, journalists, young academics, and family members to
people detained in Syrian prisons. [59][60][61] Several security officers managed to infiltrate themselves in demonstrations at different
places and started shouting slogans declaring their love and loyalty to President Bashar al-Assad. [62] < The security forces arrested a
number of protesters, Al Jazeera reported 25, [63] while Al Arabiya said 32 [64] including activist and lawyer Suhair Atassi and Kamal
Cheikho, an activist who had been released two days earlier. [65][66][67] World Organisation Against Torture published list of arrests and
demanded immediate release of them. [46] Mohamed al-Ali, a spokesman for the Syrian Interior Authority denied that any
demonstrations took place in Syria and said that the Facebook-campaign has proved unsuccessful. According to the spokesperson, the
"claimed protests" consisted of a bunch of people who were "hiding" among the already packed souq and tried to make it look like a
demonstration. [68] In another statement, he finally acknowledged the protest but then turned it around by saying that the demonstration
which was outside the Interior Authority's building was actually in support of President Bashar al-Assad. [69]
18 March – "Friday of Dignity" On 18 March the most serious unrest to take place in Syria for decades erupted. [70] After Friday
prayers, thousands of protesters demanding an end to alleged government corruption took to the streets of cities across Syria. [71] The
protesters were met with a violent crackdown orchestrated by state security forces. The protesters chanted "God, Syria, Freedom" and
anti-corruption slogans. [72] Amateur video footage posted on YouTube and Twitter showed large groups of protesters in several cities,
such as Damascus, Daraa, Homs, Baniyas, al-Qamishli and Deir ez-Zor. [73][74][75] In Damascus, Syrian security forces dressed as
civilians broke up protests outside the Umayyad Mosque, dragging away at least two activists. [73] In the southern city of Daraa, people
chanted against Rami Makhlouf, who is the cousin of al-Assad. The regime responded with helicopters and water cannons. There
were unconfirmed reports that four protesters had been killed and hundreds injured. [70][72] A resident said that Syrian security forces
have killed three protesters in Daraa. [70] The Syrian Government responded by claiming that unnamed "infiltrators" had been
attempting to cause chaos. [76]
19 March Syrian security forces fired tear gas to disperse crowds in Daraa following the funeral of two anti-government protesters
killed by security forces on the previous day. [77] The crowds had been shouting "God, Syria, freedom" before the security forces
intervened. [77] Witnesses said that the gas used appeared to be more toxic than ordinary tear gas. [78] The Syrian League for Human
Rights reported that 10 women who had been detained on 16 March following a rally outside the interior ministry had begun a hunger
strike. [79]
20 March Thousands took to the streets in the city of Daraa for a third day, shouting slogans against the country's emergency law.
One person was killed and scores injured as security forces opened fire on protesters. [80] The courthouse, the Baath party headquarters
in the city, and Rami Makhlouf's Syriatel building were all set on fire, and seven police were killed by armed rebels [81][82]
21 March Protests started to spread further across the country. [83] Thousands of people took to the streets in Daraa and troops were
sent to the city. [84] Hundreds of people protested in Jassem and there were reports of protests in Banias, Homs and Hama. [84][85] It was
reported that an 11-year-old boy had died of wounds suffered when Syrian security forces dispersed a protest rally in Daraa, [86] and
meanwhile, the Beirut-based al Akhbar newspaper accused Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri's Future Movement of
paying the Syrian protesters something that which he immediately denied. [87] Demonstrators in Daraa set fire to the ruling Baath
Party’s headquarters and other government buildings. Police officers fired live ammunition into the crowds, killing at least one and
wounding scores of others, witnesses said. al-Assad made some conciliatory gestures, but crowds continued to gather in and around
the Omari mosque in Dara’a, chanting their demands: the release of all political prisoners; trials for those who shot and killed
protesters; the abolition of Syria’s 48-year emergency law; more freedoms; and an end to pervasive corruption. [88]
22 March There were protests in Daraa, Jassem, Nawa and Sanamayn. [89][90] There were also reports of protests in Inkhil and rural
areas around Damascus. [91] In Daraa, gunfire and tear gas was reported near the Omari mosque, which is a major gathering spot for
protesters. [92] An AFP photographer and cameraman were beaten by Syrian security forces in Daraa and had their equipment seized. [89]
Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an investigation into the deaths of six protesters who had been
killed by Syrian security forces in March. [89]
23 March There were reports that at least 15 protesters had been killed by security forces in southern Syria. [93] At least six people
were killed by security forces near Al-Omari mosque in Daraa, including a doctor and a paramedic. [93][94] Witnesses reported that a
12-year-old girl had been killed by security forces near the mosque. [93] Mobile phone connections to Daraa were cut during the day
and checkpoints were set up throughout the city and manned by soldiers. [93] Security forces were also preventing ambulances from
entering the city centre, where the mosque is located. On the evening of the 23 March, there were reports that Syrian security forces
had opened fire on hundreds of young protesters who had been marching towards Daraa. [95]
24 March Around 20,000 protesters marched at the funerals of nine protesters killed by security forces in Daraa. [96] Syrian Human
Rights Committee reported that number of deaths rose to 32, [97] while AFP reported that more than 100 people were killed by police

gunfire in Daraa. [98] Syria freed writer Louai Hussein, who was detained earlier this week for posting a petition online demanding the
right to freedom of expression [99]
25 March – "Friday of Glory" After new online calls to a big demonstration called "Friday of Glory" (Arabic: جمعة العزة ) after
Friday prayers, tens of thousands took to the streets in protest around the nation, defying a state that has once again demonstrated its
willingness to use lethal force. Military troops opened fire during protests in the southern part of Syria and killed peaceful
demonstrators, according to witnesses and news reports, hurtling the strategically important nation into turmoil. [100] There were reports
that at least 20 people were killed in uprising in Daraa which drew over 100,000 people. [101][102] A witness said that thousands of
people chanted against the president's brother: "Maher you coward. Send your troops to liberate the Golan," [103] A statue of Hafez al-
Assad was dismantled and set on fire. [104] The governor's home was also set on fire. [104] There were also reports of protests in
Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, Latakia and Raqqa. [101][105] There were reports that one demonstrator had been shot dead by security
forces in Latakia and another had been killed in Homs. [106]
There were reports that dozens of protesters had died across the
country. [107] A witness said that in Sanamayn, security forces killed 20 people. [105][108] The official Syrian news agency said that an
"armed gang" had attacked army headquarters there, that "resulted in the deaths of several attackers." [109] The death of a civilian in
Homs was blamed on an "armed group". [109] Most chants called for solidarity with Daraa and with the people killed there, for freedom,
and against regime corruption. [110] In Tafas, 3 protesters were killed by security forces. [104] In Kafr Amim, Idlib there was a fire at the
Baath Party headquarters. [111] The Sunni cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi gave a sermon in Qatar in which he stated: "Today the train
of revolution has arrived at a station that it was destined to reach, the Syrian station. It isn't possible for Syria to detach itself from the
history of the Arab nation." [112] Also Syrian Salafi Sunni cleric Sheikh Adnan al-Arour advised the youth of the revolution to follow
the Egyptian example and endure violence without responding in kind. He voiced hope that the president will intervene and form a
dialogue committee to address legitimate grievances. [113] AFP reported that Syrian opposition leaders-in-exile called in Paris for the
downfall of President Bashar al-Assad, asking France to maintain pressure on the Syrian leader to "halt the killing of innocents." [111] A
YouTube video showed protesters packed into Ar-Rifai mosque in Damascus and chanting “God, Syria, and freedom alone.”. [114] A
leaked YouTube video purportedly filmed in the Syrian city of Homs shows security forces changing outfits to look like civilians in
order to provoke anti-regime protesters, reports have said. [115] 17 people were killed in demonstration on way to Daraa, while 40 were
killed near Omari Mosque, 25 died in al-Sanameen in Homs, 4 in Latakia, 3 in Damascus. [111]
26 March 200 political prisoners were released. [116] In the cities of Latakia and Tafas, Baath party buildings and police stations were
set on fire. [104] Armed gangs were blamed by the authorities for attempting to destabilize the country. [117] The Syrian Arab News
Agency (SANA), the government controlled news agency, claimed that an armed group seized rooftops in many areas in Latakia,
opening fire on citizens and security forces personnel. [118] Two people were killed, and thousands more protested in Daraa. [104] Two
US citizens were reported to be in the custody of Syrian authorities. Mohammed Radwan, 32, a dual citizen of the US and Egypt, and
Pathik "Tik" Root, 21, a student at Middlebury College in Vermont, were said to have been detained for involvement in antigovernment
uprising. [119] The Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Bader Hassoun, said "Any citizen has the right to protest and call for
freedom, but I will tell you, all those behind the bloodshed will be penalized. There are no army officials who opened fire at
protesters, they only retaliated out of self-defense. After what happened, there should be reconciliation between the people. There are
some corrupters in the country and the corrupters should be penalized". [120] As a result of what happened in Homs on Friday, Iyad
Ghazal, the governor of Homs was dismissed from his post.
27 March Syrian officials reported that 12 people were killed in Latakia. [121] An Al Jazeera clip on YouTube records the imam of the
Ar-Rahman Mosque in Latakia telling an Al Jazeera broadcaster that a massacre is occurring in the city. [122] Buthaina Shaaban, the
president's media adviser, stated that the emergency law would be lifted, without giving any indication of when that will be. [123] She
also said that the President will appear publicly to address the Syrians and to give official statements of the steps that will be taken by
the government. The Reuters news agency reported that two of its journalists are missing. They were last heard of from the night
before, when they were expected to cross into Lebanon from Syria. [124] Journalists Sobhi Hasan and Zaher Alamin were rearrested. [125]
28 March The Reuters news agency reported that its two missing journalists, both Lebanese nationals, had been in the custody of
Syrian authorities since 26 March, but were released and they had returned to Lebanon. [126] Kuwaiti Sheikh Nabeel al-Awadi [127] and
Syrian Sheikh Issam al-Attar [128] showed their support for Syrian anti-regime uprising.
29 March Hundreds of thousands demonstrated in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Aleppo, Hasaka, Homs,
Tartous and Hama. [129][130][131] The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that a major cabinet reshuffle was coming, [131] and later that
day, President Assad accepted the official resignation of the government led by Muhammad Naji al-Otari, while the latter will serve
as caretaker prime minister until a new government is selected and officially announced. [132] Syrian actor Jamal Suliman announced
via BBC that Syrian artists released a statement regarding the ongoing uprising. The artists voiced the importance of "implementing
reforms" and the artists’ willingness to "stand by the political system in a serious and reform journey" as well as standing with the
people. [133]
30 March It was reported that Ayat Basma and Ezzat Baltaji two Reuters journalists had gone missing near Damascus. [134] President
Assad made a speech blaming foreign conspirators for the cause of the uprising and declaring that the emergency law will not be
lifted as previously confirmed by Shaaban and instead the lift will be put to studies for future application. [135] A YouTube video of a
CNN report shows Syrian State television footage of a woman allegedly attacking Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s car following
his speech on Wednesday. [136] Disappointed by the president's speech, protesters took to the street in Latakia, where they were fired on
by police. [137][138] Mass protests in Daraa to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime following his speech and reports of
five new deaths and total of 200 "martyrs" in Daraa since uprising started. The investigative judge in Damascus refused to release the
activist Suhair Attasi and four others. [139]
31 March Two more Reuters journalists Suleiman al-Khalidi and Khaled al-Hariri disappeared in Syria. [140] Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad established a commission to study the termination of the emergency law in his country. [141] Syrian Arab News Agency
(SANA) reported that President al-Assad issued a decree raising the wages of state employees. The decision will go into effect as of 1
April. [142] A London-based rights group close to the Muslim Brotherhood said Thursday 25 people were killed by security forces in
Latakia, northwest of the country, in a "bloodbath." [143] April 2011

1 April – "Friday of Martyrs" After online calls for a "Friday of Martyrs" (Arabic: جمعة الشھداء ), thousands of protesters emerged
from Friday's prayers and took to the streets in multiple cities around Syria. Security forces opened fire on about 1,000 protesters in
the suburb of Damascus, Douma, killing eight. In Damascus, hundreds gathered in Al Rifai mosque to protest after Friday prayers;
however, government forces reportedly sealed the mosque and attacked those who tried to leave. Further south, in a small city outside
Daraa, a demonstrator was killed during a protest there. [144][145]
2 April Over 2,000 people protested in support of Assad in the village of Buq'ata in the Golan Heights, [146] while Syrian security
forces arrested more than 20 people in Daraa and Homs, according to a human rights group. [147] Prime Minister of Turkey Recep
Erdogan said he will put pressure on Assad to create reforms. [148]
3 April Syrian authorities released 50-year-old Reuters photographer Khaled al-Hariri after six days in detention. [149] Assad appointed
Adel Safar as the new Syrian prime minister and charged him with the task of forming a new government. [150]
4 April Assad appointed Mohammad Khaled al-Hannus as the new governor of Daraa. [151] Meanwhile, thousands of Syrians marched
through the shuttered streets of Douma, just outside Damascus, chanting antigovernment slogans as they buried at least eight victims
of the crackdown on protests held 1 April. [116] Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the state news agency, reported that 8 prisoners
were killed in a fire that was set by one of the prisoners in Latakia prison. Two police men were injured by the fire. [152]
5 April – "Martyrs' Week" AFP reported the start of "Martyrs Week" (Arabic: أسبوع الشھداء ), a series of rallies organized by the
Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook group in honor of those killed in recent security crackdowns on pro-reform demonstrations. [153]
According to state television, two policemen in rural Damascus were shot to death by unidentified perpetrators. [154] 15 people died in
[citation needed]
protests in Kafr Batna in Syria.
6 April Assad's government offered concessions to Sunnis and Kurds and that teachers would once again be allowed to wear the
niqab. [116] The government had also closed the country's only casino. [155] Tens of thousands of Kurds residing in Syria will soon be
granted Syrian citizenship. [156] The editor of Syrian government daily Teshreen said she is organizing talks with key opposition figures
so that they can air their demands for political reforms. [157] A politician close to the regime said that the Syrian parliament is preparing
to adopt major reforms in May, including an end to emergency rule. [158]
7 April Minor protests took place across Syria, but the majority of protesters prepared for large demonstrations planned for
Friday. [159]
8 April – "Friday of Resistance"
Unknown Gunmen Filmed at Syria Demo (YouTube: Associated Press.) 8 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April
2011.
On the third Friday called "Friday of Resistance" (Arabic: جمعة الصمود ), thousands of protesters took to streets in Daraa, Latakia,
Tartus, Edlib, Baniyas, Qamishli, Homs and the Damascus suburb of Harasta, in the largest protest yet. [160][161] 27 anti-government
protesters were killed in Daraa and many other were wounded when security forces opened fire with rubber bullets and live rounds to
disperse stone-throwing protesters. [161][162] The clashes started when thousands of prayers staged rallies following the Friday prayers.
In a telephone call one of the activists told the news agencies that demonstrators, starting from three mosques, have marched to the
city's main court where they were confronted by security forces dressed in civilian clothing. [163] A witness told Reuters he saw
"snipers on roofs." [164] It was also reported that another resident has seen "pools of blood and three bodies" in the Mahatta area of
Daraa. [164] The protesters have also smashed a stone statue of Basil al-Assad, the brother of the current President of the country, and
set fire to a Ba'ath Party outpost. [163][164][165] The state-run Syrian Television reported that 19 police officers and members of the
security forces have been killed in Daraa. [166] At least three people were killed in Damascus's suburb city of Harasta and two people
were killed and dozens wounded in Homs, Syria's third largest city. [167] A human rights group said 37 people killed in protests across
the country on Friday. [116]
9 April Witnesses in the city of Daraa reported that Syrian security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas at thousands of
protesters who had gathered for a mass funeral near a mosque. [168] In Latakia, witnesses said Syrian security forces used live
ammunition to disperse hundreds of people who gathered to protest. Another witness said water trucks had been brought in and were
hosing down the streets to wash away blood. [169]
10 April The death toll of the previous day's events was up to 26 people in Daraa, [citation needed] 20 in the Homs neighborhood of Teldo
[citation needed]
and one in Baniyas. On 10 April's morning, militiamen alleged to be members of the shabbiha opened fire on
demonstrators in front of the main mosquee of Baniyas, killing at least 4. Uprising also took place in Homs, Douma and Daraa. [170] 9
soldiers of a unit of the Syrian army were killed in an armed ambush on a road near Baniyas, including two officers, while many
others were injured. [171]
11 April Students in the Science faculty of Damascus University, located in the Baramkeh area in Damascus, began a demonstration
in which they chanted for freedom and support of the people in Daraa and Baniyas. However, the Damascus University Dean of the
Faculty of Science, Dr. Mohammad Said Mahasni, denied the reports, and said instead that a number of students gathered in front of
the faculty, rejecting attempts of destabilizing Syrian national security, and chanting national slogans and support for Assad. [172][173] In
Baniyas, funerals for the four protesters who were shot down by the military led to a new demonstration, and security forces attacked
the city until late at night. [174]
12 April The day started with a confirmation that one student was beaten to death by security forces during the demonstration at
Damascus University one day earlier. Witnesses reported that the suburb of Bayda in Baniyas was surrounded by tanks, and ongoing
gunfire by security forces had led to dozens of injuries, [175] while neither ambulance cars nor necessary food-aid that had been sent
from the nearby city Tartus were allowed to enter the village.
13 April Hundreds of women took part in a march demanding the release of 350 men arrested in town of Bayda. Protests also spread
to Aleppo University, as security forces and students clashed on the campus of Aleppo's faculty of literature and three students were
arrested. In Damascus, about 50 students staged a pro-freedom protest at the faculty of law. [176]
14 April Assad announced the release of hundreds of prisoners that were "not involved in criminal acts", and that a new government
had been formed (see Cabinet of Syria). In the coastal city of Baniyas (Banias), the army replaced the secret police. Shortly
afterwards, a sniper killed one soldier and wounded another. Assad also met with a delegation from Deraa in his first direct contact
with representatives close to the protesters. [177][178] 300 people protested in Suwayda. [179]

15 April – "Friday of Determination" On the "Friday of Determination" (Arabic: جمعة اإلصرار ), tens of thousands of people held
protests in several Syrian cities, including Baniyas, Latakia, Baida, Homs, and Deir ez-Zor. [180][181] Al Jazeera reported that up to
50,000 protesters trying to enter Damascus from the Douma suburb were dispersed by security forces using tear gas, while in the
Barzeh district of the capital violence erupted when dozens of armed men in plain clothes surrounded about 250 protesters rallying in
front of a mosque. [182] On the other hand, thousands demonstrated in Daraa, but security forces were not visible in the city, as the
authorities reportedly allowed the uprising to take place. [181]
16 April Thousands of people marched in Deraa chanting anti-regime slogans, while in the Damascus suburb of Douma, 1,500
residents staged a sit-in, demanding the release of 140 people arrested a day earlier. [183] In Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled area
of the Golan Heights, almost 200 people demonstrated in opposition to Assad and the regime. [184][185] On the same day, Assad spoke to
the People's Assembly in a televised speech, stating that he expects his government to lift the emergency law the following, and
acknowledging there is a gap between citizens and the state, and that government has to "keep up with the aspirations of the
people". [186] Later in the day he welcomed his new cabinet with a speech containing more specifics (full text). He spoke of the
importance of reaching "a state of unity, unity between the government, state institutions and the people"; stressed the need for
dialogue and consultation in multiple channels, popular support, trust and transparency; explained the interrelatedness of reform and
the needs of citizens for services, security and dignity. He stated the first priorities were citizenship for Kurds, lifting the state of
emergency in the coming week or at the latest the week after, regulating demonstrations without chaos and sabotage, political party
law, local administration law in both structure and elections, and new and modern media law, all with public timeframes. The next
topics were unemployment, the economy, rural services, attracting investment, the public and private sectors, justice, corruption, petty
bribery, tax reform and reducing government waste, followed by tackling government itself with more participation, e-government,
decentralization, effectiveness and efficiency, as well as closer cooperation with civil society, mass organizations and trade unions.
17 April About 300 protesters took to the streets in Suweida, but were dispersed by security forces. Reportedly, demonstrations also
took place in Aleppo, Baniyas, Homs, and Hirak, mostly chanting slogans for political freedom. SANA reported seizure of a large
number of weapons hidden in a lorry coming in from Iraq. [187] Security forces opened fire on a funeral procession on a highway
outside the town of Talbiseh, killing three people. In Homs, clashes between protesters and security forces took place after a tribal
leader died in custody. 12 protesters were killed. [188]
18 April
General Tellawi's mutilated body, Homs, Syria, 18 April 2011 on YouTube
Protests in Homs, Syria, 18 April 2011 on YouTube
Sit-in at Liberty Square in Homs, Syria, 18 April 2011 on YouTube
A high-ranked officer of the Syrian army, Brigadier General Abdo Kheder al-Tellawi, was reportedly shot dead by an armed group in
Homs along with his two children and nephew. [189][190] According to the director of the National Hospital of Homs Dr. Ghassan
Tannous, the bodies of the victims have been maimed and mutilated with the use of sharp tools. [191] More than 10,000 demonstrators
staged an anti-government sit-in in Homs, and a massive funeral procession for six demonstrators who had been killed also took place
in the city. In Baniyas, about 300 children released balloons with slogans calling on Assad to leave power. [192]
Security forces shot dead at least 13 people when dispersing a protest. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced that the latest
developments in Syria such as the killing of policemen, army soldiers and civilians and terrifying people are all armed mutiny led by
extremist Salafi armed groups. [193]
19 April On 19 April, the government approved a bill lifting the country's emergency laws. [194] This was the first time in 48 years that
the state of emergency had been lifted. [194] A pilot of the Syrian Air Force, Col. Mohammad Abdo Khaddour, was shot dead by an
armed group in front of his home in Homs. [195][196][197] Police forces use combat rounds and tear gas to disperse a sit-in, deaths are
confirmed, but their number is unknown. [198] Police forces caused 3 deaths after opening fire on a funeral mourning dead protesters.
The lifting of the emergency laws notwithstanding, authorities vowed to "crush any new uprising". A witness reported that the gunfire
lasted at least two hours. [199]
20 April Activists said that 4,000 university students protested in Daraa. [200] Around 20 students protested at the faculty of medicine
of Aleppo University where they were quickly denied and absorbed by a pro-Assad rally. [200][201][202]
21 April On 21 April,President Assad signed the decrees for ending the state of emergency, abolishing the Supreme State Security
Court (SSSC), and regulating the right to peaceful demonstrations. [203][204] Undeterred protesters called for Friday to be their biggest
[205] ). الجمعة العظيمة (Arabic: day of outrage yet, in what they dub as "the Great Friday"
22 April – "The Great Friday" On 22 April, the country experienced its biggest and bloodiest day in the current series of uprising as
tens of thousands took to the streets. [206] Protests occurred in the capital, Damascus, and in at least ten other cities in the country. [207]
Hundreds of protesters in central Damascus were dispersed, but thousands congregated in towns ringing the capital. [207] According to
the protesters' own reports, at least 70 people were killed nationwide when security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. [208]
Immediate verification was difficult because Syria had expelled almost all members of the international media from the country, [206]
although it eventually emerged that over 100 had been killed. [209][210]
23 April Throughout the country, funerals for fallen protesters occurred. Snipers reportedly fired, killing 8 people in Daraa with 5
members of the security forces among them. [211][212]
24 April A Syrian human rights organisation said that 9 civilians were killed in Jableh by security forces and pro-Assad gunmen. [213]
25 April – "Sieges of Daraa and Douma" Main article: Siege of Daraa On 25 April, the Syrian government deployed tanks to
Daraa, which was an early focal point of the protests, killing at least 25 people. [214] The tanks were accompanied by soldiers—
estimates varied from hundreds to 6,000—rooftop snipers, and the cutting of water, power, and phone lines. One resident in Jableh
(Lattakia) said that protesters had burned an army car and taken a soldier hostage. [214] The government also closed the nearby border
with Jordan. [215] At least one high-ranking Syrian military commander refused to participate in the operation against Daraa. [216] A
resident of Daraa said to media reporters over the phone: "Let Obama come and take Syria. Let Israel come and take Syria. Let the
Jews come. Anything is better than Bashar Assad." [217] US President Barack Obama condemned the "outrageous" use of violence, [218]
and the US prepared to freeze Syrian officials' American assets. [219] EU countries, including permanent Security Council members

France and the U.K., pushed the U.N. for international sanctions, though it remained unclear whether permanent council members
Russia and China would support them. [220] Syria said it was responding to an Islamist-inspired uprising. [221]
27 April The army continued its crack down into 27 April, and over the span of three days arrested over 500 people. Several dozen
died from the raids. The Syrian government intensified their raids using more tanks and brigades. 2 Jordanian civilians were amongst
those killed. On 27 April 233 members of the Baath party, amongst them parliament members, resigned over the violence against
protesters and civilians. [222]
28 April On 28 April, Al Jazeera aired footage of what appear to be injured soldiers receiving aid from civilians in Syria, reportedly
after they refused orders to shoot at protesters and were fired upon by loyalist units. The network warned it could not independently
verify the authenticity of the footage but claimed that it came from a "reliable source". [223] For many, this confirmed that there are
defections from within the Syrian army. [224]
29 April – "Friday of Rage" – "Solidarity With Daraa Day" Despite a harsh crackdown in Daraa, Douma, and other towns,
protesters appeared undeterred on 29 April, when thousands rallied in Aleppo, Homs, Deir ez-Zor, Sheikh Meskeen, Damascus, and
other areas across Syria. An anonymous person posted what appeared to be video of soldiers in Sheik Meskeen attacking and killing
unarmed protesters with live ammunition. [225] Al Jazeera reported that at least 62 civilians were claimed dead as a result of the security
forces' response to the protests, which started after Friday noon prayers. [226] Reuters put the death toll at 62. [227] Bashar's forces were
said to have cut cut off Daraa's water supply and electricity several days before the protests, as well as other cities in Syria. They have
confiscated flour and food as well, in an effort to starve the people of Daraa. [228]
30 April The military increased their presence with more tanks and military helicopters. Snipers were positioned on buildings. Tanks
began firing indiscriminately on houses, and also destroyed the local mosque. Snipers and military vehicles were also placed in other
cities in the country such as Homs. Activists had called for the this week, starting this Sunday, to be the "week of breaking the siege
of Daraa" with the aim of stopping the siege on Daraa. [229] A video taken allegedly shows the dead bodies of protesters from Daraa
wrapped in burial cloth and gathered and stored in a refrigerated room, as the people of Daraa are unable to burial them due to the
military and sniper presence. [230]
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External links
5 عناصر أمن وإصابة
بجروح في ھجوم لمسلحين بدرعا
Wikinews has news related to:
2011 Syria anti-government protests
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2011 Syrian protests

• The Syrian Revolution 2011 االسد بشار ضد السورية الثورة Facebook page
• Timeline: Syria unrest, Ahram Online
• Syria Unrest collected coverage with live blog at Al Jazeera
• Timeline of the Syrian civil war (January–April 2011) collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Live updates on Syria’s uprising at NOW Lebanon
• Syria protests (2011) collected coverage at The New York Times
• Syria Comment by Joshua Landis
(May–August 2011)
May 2011
1–2 May Protesters throughout Syria remained defiant despite intensifying arrests and attacks in Daraa and Douma. [3] The Syrian
military continued shelling homes in Daraa with tanks. [4] As the military siege on Daraa continued, Assad's security forces allegedly
killed 40 civilians elsewhere in the town of Tel Kalakh. By 2 May, 4,000 people crossed the border into Lebanon. [5]
4 May The deadly military siege on Daraa continued. Arrests intensified in Damascus, with large protests anticipated for Friday after
prayers. [6]
5 May – "Siege of Homs" Main article: Siege of Homs Dozens of tanks were sent to the Syrian city of Homs as part of the
crackdown. [7] Syrian army tanks raided Saqba and other suburbs of Damascus. [8] The Syrian Army pulled out of Daraa [9] By the end of
the day, the army prepared to seize control of Baniyas. [10] About 100 tanks and troop transports converged on the town of Al-Rastan,
after anti-regime protesters toppled a statue of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and pledged to press ahead with their
revolution despite sweeping arrests by Bashar al-Assad's regime. [11]
6 May – "Friday of Challenge" On 6 May, after Friday noon prayers, demonstrators rose in cities and towns across Syria to protest
the regime, especially in the suburbs of Damascus, the smaller cities of Homs, Hama, and Baniyas, and in Syrian Kurdistan. Video
and audio of security forces responding, in some cases with lethal force, appeared online within an hour of protests beginning. Eleven
members of the Syrian army were allegedly killed by an armed group in Homs in an attack on a military checkpoint. [12] At least three
dead and 20 injured were reported in Homs alone, with a total of 16 dead between Homs and Hama, and opposition leaders Mouaz al-
Khatib and Riad Seif were detained allegedly by secret police. Tens of thousands reportedly marched in Damascus and its suburbs,
and about 7,000 protesters wearing funeral shrouds and carrying olive branches and flowers gathered in Baniyas, vowing to "meet the
army peacefully", according to Al Jazeera, whose Arabic-language channel broadcast live from the city for some minutes. Several
thousand Syrians participated in a protest march to the vicinity of Deraa, but security forces maintaining a siege of the city refused to
let them enter with supplies for its inhabitants. [13][14] Following this "Day of Defiance", Amnesty International reported that activists
Razan Zaitouneh, Wa’el Hammada, Haitham al-Maleh, Hind al-Labwani, Omar al-Labwani, Jwan Yousef Khorshid, Walid al-Bunni
and Suheir al-Atassi had been forced to go into hiding. [15]
7 May – "Siege of Baniyas" Main article: Siege of Baniyas The Syrian army began a siege of Baniyas, with at least 6 civilians dead
on 7 May, among them 4 women. [16]
8 May – "Siege of Tafas" On 8 May, a 12-year-old boy was killed during a government crackdown in Homs and a 10-year-old boy
was arrested, anti-government activists claimed. [17] The Syrian army began a siege on Tafas, near Daraa, and arrested at least 250
people there. [18]
9 May The Syrian army continued its house to house raid on Baniyas, Tafas, Homs. Arrests were ongoing in Damascus as well,
where gunfire was heard. [19]
10 May The Syrian army prepared a siege on Hama, as the siege on Baniyas, Tafas, and Homs, and Damascus continued. [20] The
European Union imposed sanctions on 13 government individuals including Maher al-Assad, Bashar's brother, who commands the
security brigades. [21] Kuwait will also replace Syria for bid on membership of the UN Human Rights Council due to Syria's oppression
of protesters. [22]
11 May In an escalation of the siege on Homs, tanks were sent in and began shelling buildings, with at least 5 killed. Secretary
general of the UN Ban Ki-moon demanded that the UN have access to Daraa. [23]
12 May Mass arrests were carried out in Aleppo against students who protested. The siege of Homs, Tafas, and Baniyas continued.
Tanks were sent towards Hama. [24] Dael, Jassem, and Al-Harah were also under siege by tanks and troops. [25]
13 May – "Friday of Free Women" Bashar Al-Assad reportedly ordered the Syrian army "not to shoot" at protesters ahead of
expected Friday protests. [25] Security forces have set up checkpoints and roadblocks all across Syria. Demonstrations first began in
Hama and Qamishli and Homs. Towns across the Kurdish northeast protested as Kurds have been intensifying their protests.
Thousands rallied in Daraa where security forces fired warning shots. Thousands rallied in Damascus, where police presence was
especially large, particularly in the Midan suburb, where thousands of officers were deployed to stop them from entering other parts
of Damascus. People tried to protest in Baniyas and Latakia, but were shot at with live ammunition. [26] Three people were shot killed
by security forces in Homs, 2 in Damascus, and 1 in Daraa. [27][28] Despite the intensified crackdown and massive police and army
presence, the strength and the amount of protesters in Damascus appeared to have only increased. [29]
14 May – "Siege of Talkalakh" Main article: Siege of Talkalakh The government continued to prevent food from being sent to
Daraa, in an effort to starve people into stopping their protests. [30] The army launched a siege on Talkalakh, killing four civilians and
sending hundreds to seek refugee in Lebanon. Protesting occurred in several cities, including Daraa. Funerals for slain protesters were
held in Damascus's suburbs. The Kurds protesting in the north have called on all opposition forces in and out of Syria to unite into one
party aiming at transferring Syria from a dictatorship to a democracy. [31]
16 May The Syrian army's siege across the country continued, especially in Talkalakh, where 7 civilians were killed by Syrian army
snipers when trying to cross the border into Lebanon. By this point 5,000 people had crossed the border intio Lebanon. International

media reported that mass graves had been found by farmers on the outskirts of Daraa with at least 20 dead people in them, [32] leading
security forces to immediately reinstate a curfew in the restive town. [33]
17 May The chief of the Political Security Forces of Homs and four other officers were killed by an armed group in
Talkalakh. [34][35][36] The civilian death toll from the Syrian army's siege on Talkalakh risen to 27. Thousands attended funerals for slain
protesters in Damascus the previous day. University students attempted to protest in Aleppo, but were dispersed by an immense
security presence. Activists called for a general strike in Syria starting Wednesday. [37] Sunni refugees told reporters that sectarian
violence had broken out in Talkalakh, with Alawite paramilitaries clashing with Sunni residents. [38]
19 MayThe general strike did not affect Damascus significantly, which is mostly blamed on the fear factor. Other towns saw greater
levels of general strike. The USA put up sanctions on six top Syrian government officials, including Bashar al-Assad. As the
opposition promised to continue their campaign, shootings and arrests of protesters were ongoing in Syria, as well as the siege and
starvation of Talkalakh. [39]
20 May – "Friday of Azady (freedom)" Over 23 people, including 2 boys, were killed by security forces across Syria. Most of the
deaths occurred in Homs. For the first time Assyrian Christians joined protests, though many were arrested. [40] Protesters burned down
the Baath Party headquarters in Albu Kamal. Four protesters were killed in the Berze section of Damascus, where security forces
surrounded it and shut off its electricity. 9 of the 23 dead protesters were killed in Hama, and another 9 in Kafr Nabl. Qamishli saw
large protests by the Kurds. Other cities that saw thousands protest were Hama, Homs, Sanamin, Hassake, Amouda, Ras al-Ain, Tel,
Baniyas, and Latakia. [41]
21 May The death toll from Friday through Saturday rose to 76. Security forces in Homs fired on a funeral procession, killing 22
mourners. [42] A video released allegedly shows soldiers gathering dead bodies of Syrian protesters and mocking them. [43]
24 May Human rights groups say the civilian death toll has reached over 1,100. They also confirmed that soldiers who refused to fire
on civilians were executed by the Syrian army. [44] A large number of opposition groups are reportedly planning to meet in Turkey at
the end of the month; to attempt to elect a transitional council, connect with protesters inside the country, and present the international
community with a clear alternative to Assad. [45]
26 May On 26 May, Haaretz reported that protests had broken out in the eastern city of Abu Kamal, with protesters burning pictures
of both Assad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who had given a speech in support of Assad earlier in the week. Security forces
had reportedly withdrawn from the city, situated on the Iraqi border. Additionally, five protesters were injured in the town of
Zabadani on the border with Lebanon after security forces fired on protesters. Thirty thousand protesters were rumoured to be in the
town of Rastan, chanting anti-Assad slogans. [46] Protesters planned to launch more large demonstrations Friday to protest Syrian
forces' reprisals against, rather than defense of, Syrian civilians. [47]
27 May – "Home Protectors' Friday"
Thousands of protesters, Hama, Syria, 27 May 2011 on YouTube
Protests occurred throughout the country on this "Home Protectors' Friday" (Arabic: الديار حماة ‏.(جمعة A total of 7 protesters died.
Cities where several thousand protested in each included Baniyas, Berze, Qatana, Deir al-Zur, Zabadani, Dael, Daraa, Ablu Kamal,
and Homs. Tens of thousands protested in Hama. [48]
28 May – "Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh" Main article: Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh On 28 May, the military pushed into the
towns of Rastan and Talbiseh. The opposition claimed that soldiers fired from machine guns and tanks as they spread out through
Talbiseh and started breaking into homes and arresting people. The operation started after the authorities cut all telecommunications
in the area and all roads leading to the two towns were closed off by security forces and soldiers. [49] On the same day, footage
purportedly of a protest in Deraa appeared on YouTube that showed people carrying the photo of a 13-year-old boy, Hamza Ali Al-
Khateeb, whom opposition activists alleged was tortured and killed. Human Rights Watch – who called on the government to
investigate the case – stated that a Syrian researcher with their organisation had spoken to a relative who asserted that the boy had
been taken into custody on 29 April during an anti-government march. A month later, his body was returned to the family for burial,
allegedly riddled with bullets; his kneecaps, jaw, and neck broken; and his genitals mutilated. Various media sources pointed to a
Facebook page in honor of the boy, as well as Twitter and blog posts from activists, in suggesting that the story emerging about the
boy had reinvigorated calls for protest and "could galvanize the country's troubled protest movement", drawing comparisons with
Khaled Saeed in the Egyptian Revolution. [50][51] Significant protests followed in Hama, Darayya, and, for the first time, Aleppo, with
thousands chanting Hamza's name. A doctor invited to appear on pro-regime television station al-Dunya claimed that the injuries were
not consistent with torture and could have been faked. While the Syrian government denies access to foreign media to confirm or
deny any story or event, the story of the boy's death travelled fast and far and was reportedly inspiring some who had not previously
participated to engage in the demonstrations. [52]
30 May Fourteen civilians were allegedly killed in Syria by security forces on 30 May, including a young girl. Cities and towns in the
Daraa and Homs region saw the most intense protests. In response the Syrian army launched attacks and sieges on many towns and
villages in the Homs and Daraa region, especially near Homs. [53]
31 May On 31 May, media reported that armed residents in Rastan and Talbiseh put up resistance to the military and the besieging
army was not able to enter the two towns. [54][55] The military reportedly started artillery attacks on both cities. [56]
June 2011
2 June Witnesses said Syrian forces destroyed a number of buildings in protest stronghold Rastan on 2 June. [57] Human rights groups
put the civilian death toll from the crackdown in the Rastan region at 41 or more, including 2 young girls. [57] Human Rights Watch
issued a statement asserting, "The Syrian regime has carried out a "systematic" series of abuses against protesters that could "qualify
as crimes against humanity," and the United Nations must hold the government accountable". [58] Human Rights Watch makes these
assertions in a report titled "'We've Never Seen Such Horror': Crimes against Humanity in Daraa". [58]
3 June – "Friday of Children" On this Friday, dubbed "Friday of Children", the largest protest outside Daraa so far occurred in
Hama, with about 50,000 protesters. Protests occurred throughout the country, including in Damascus's suburbs and Daraa. The
Syrian government shut off most of Syria's internet, reducing about 2/3 of Syria's internet activities. 64 people were killed in Hama

alone by security forces. United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a statement saying Assad is about to lose
legitimacy. [59]
4 June Mass funerals were held in Hama and other cities. The death toll from Friday's protests risen to 72. Tanks were sent to Hama
in preparation for another siege on the city. [60] The Syrian government reportedly began using helicopter gunships on protesters,
[61][unreliable source?]
killing at least 10 in Rastan.
6 June Syrian state TV reported that 120 soldiers were killed in Jisr al-Shughour by what the news agency called "armed gangs"
launching an ambush. Residents claim that the soldiers were in reality executed by the Syrian army itself for refusing to fire on
protesters. Alleged video of the dead soldiers purport to show that they were manually executed by being shot in the back. [62] The
government also claimed 20 protesters were shot and killed by Israeli Defense Force soldiers in the Golan Heights during
demonstrations in the Israeli-occupied Syrian territory. [63][64][65]
10 June – "Friday of Tribes" and "Siege of Jisr ash-Shugur" Main article: Siege of Jisr ash-Shugur On 10 June, the Syrian Army
began military operations against the towns of Maarat al-Numan and Jisr ash-Shugur near the international border with Turkey. These
operations reportedly included the deployment of troops, tanks, artillery, and even attack helicopters. Refugees streamed out of the
towns in Idlib Governorate, with well over 2,000 fleeing into Turkey, Ankara and the United Nations claimed. Anti-government
activists in Idlib claimed 23 Syrians were killed, many of them by shelling and helicopter assault against Maarat al-Numan, which
was apparently a reprisal attack for the claimed deaths of officers days earlier. Amidst the violence in the northwest, demonstrators
rallied in Aleppo, [66] Latakia, and Damascus. Fifty student activists were reportedly detained in Aleppo, [66] nine protesters were shot in
Latakia, and at least four protesters were killed in Damascus, as well as two more protesters elsewhere in the country, according to
activists. The government claimed a police officer was killed in Damascus as well, but demonstrators said their protests were peaceful
and no member of Assad's security forces was harmed. [67] Britain and France prepared a UN resolution condemning the crackdown on
protesters in Syria. [68] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the Syrian crackdown on protesters and said that the
Syrian army had committed atrocities. [69] A second child named Tamer al-Sharey, age 15, was claimed to have been tortured and
killed by Syrian police. Tamer al-Sharey was allegedly abducted by police, tortured, and killed, in a death similar to that of Hamza al-
Khateeb, aged 13. Video footage allegedly shows the body of the dead 15-year-old. [70]
13 June By 13 June, helicopter gunships and tanks breached the nearly empty town of Jisr ash-Shugur. Many residents left the city,
with many fleeing to Turkey. The Syrian army reportedly engaged in battle with some army defectors, some witnesses who spoke to
international press asserted, and conducted house-by-house arrests. Civilians were shot on sight, including a 16-year-old boy,
according to some witnesses. Other witnesses reported that many of the troops who came into Jisr ash-Shugur were Iranian, though
the Iranian government has repeatedly denied it is offering any military assistance to Syria to put down the uprising. [71][72] Soldiers
who refused to shoot at people, even if they just shot in the air, were allegedly executed. [73][74]
14 June The security branch of Jisr ash-Shugur largely defected, and the Syrian government decided to expand the siege and surround
the northern town of Maraat al-Numaan. [75] The Syrian army sent troops into Ariha, and shot dead six civilians. Another six civilians
also died in Deir Ezzor, when security forces shot the protesters there. The Syrian army was sent to Abu Kamal as well. [41] A
journalist who snuck into Daraa reported that the Syrian army has blocked off most of town, and will not allow any supplies to come
through. Consequently, Daraa is about to face a famine. 5000 residents there are being held in the local stadium, now used as a
detention facility. [76] For the first time, the Arab League condemned Syria's crackdown and repression. [77]
16 June As the protesting and the Syrian's army's siege on Deir-el Zour, Jisr ash-Shugur, and Daraa continued, the Syrian army
prepared to launch a siege at the Iraqi border town of al-Boukamal, the town of Khan Shaykoun, and the city of Maraat al-Numaan.
Much of Maraat al-Numaan's civilian population fled the city. [78] Rami Maklouf, Syrian's richest businessman and owner of Syriatel,
Syria's largest phone company, publicly resigned "to do charity work" and quit business life. Maklouf was a close confidant of
president Assad. [79] UN Chief Ban Ki Moon condemned the violent crackdown. [80] The Syrian opposition planned more protests for
Friday, in what they dubbed as Friday of Saleh al-Ali. Saleh al-Ali was a renowned Syrian Alawite who commanded the Syrian
rebellion against the French Mandate in the early 20th century. The opposition said it hoped to achieve Alawite support for the
protests. [81]
17 June – "Friday of Saleh al-Ali" Demonstrators claimed this Friday of protesting to be the largest one yet. Activists say 19 were
killed nationwide by,security forces, including the first death in Aleppo. Tens of thousands protested in Daraa, as well as in Deir al-
Zor, Homs, Kiswa, and Hama, as well as other cities. Tripoli, Lebanon, saw anti-Syrian regime demonstrations, where two people
died in a clash between Sunni's and Alawites. A total of 2000 people have been arrest in Jisr al-Shugur, and a reported 130 civilians
killed there. [82][83] Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the London-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, said five people were killed
in Homs after security forces fired at a crowd of around 5,000 people. The state news agency SANA said a member of the security
forces was killed and more than 30 were wounded by gunfire in Homs. [84] Abdel Rahman also reported of casualties in Banias after
"intense firing to disperse the demonstrations," and of hundreds of protesters in Suweida dispersed by Syrian forces wielding clubs.
He also said there were anti-regime demonstrations in Daraa province and Jableh, and two deaths in Harasta and two in Deir Ezzor.
SANA reported of rallies in several cities and towns including Hama and Deir Ezzor, and said that six members of the security forces
were wounded when gunmen attacked a recruitment centre in Deir Ezzor. [84] Other activists who reached Agence France Presse in
Nicosia by telephone reported that two people were killed in Dael in the Daraa province and one in Douma. Witnesses also told AFP
that a gunman killed a policeman and wounded at least four after he fired on a police station in Rikn al-Deen. In a separate incident,
SANA reported of three policemen wounded by gunfire in the Qabun neighbourhood of Damascus. [84] Activists also said there were
protests in Latakia and Maaret al-Nooman, and that 4,000 demonstrated in Qamishli and about 3,000 in Amuda. Abdullah al-Khalil, a
rights activist, said that 2,500 people demonstrated in Raqqa without intervention by security forces. [84]
18 June The Syrian Army stormed Bdama, just two kilometers from the Turkish border, and seized control of the town, making
several dozen arrests. Refugees claimed troops were shooting indiscriminately at residents of the town who stayed behind and
appeared on the streets. In response to the use of lethal force in security clampdowns both in Idlib Governorate and elsewhere in
Syria, demonstrators reportedly protested overnight in Albu Kamal, Deir al-Zor, Madaya, Homs, Hama, Latakia, and several districts
of Damascus in defiance of the ban. [85]
19 June Opposition activists established a "National Council" to "lead the Syrian revolution, comprising all communities and
representatives of national political forces inside and outside Syria," said their spokesmen, Jamil Saib, in a statement near the Turkish

order. [86] Syrian security forces are reportedly blocking refugees from escaping to Turkey, and are also firing at those trying to bring
supplies and relief to them. Several thousand are now being prevented from leaving Syria, activists say. [87]
20 June In an hour-long noon address, President Assad blamed "vandals", "radical and blasphemous individuals", and "foreign
conspiracies" for the unrest, but also admitted that some of the demands of protesters were legitimate. He said the government was
committed to moving forward with "reforms" and said he planned to meet with "committees" to address the question of how to draft a
new constitution and grant other concessions. However, he did not outline a timeline or name any specific opposition groups or
leaders whose input he was seeking in the process. Assad also offered an amnesty to peaceful protesters but warned that the military
would continue to hunt down "terrorists", a term he has used before to describe anti-government individuals he accuses of acting
violently. [88] In the speech, Assad said over 64,000 people were wanted by the government on charges of "sedition" and "terrorism".
Assad also said a new parliamentary election could be held as soon as August, and unspecified reforms would be delivered by the end
of September. [89] Al Jazeera reported that refugees in Turkey from the military crackdown in northern Syria broke out into anti-Assad
demonstrations and vented frustration with the president after watching and listening to the widely broadcast speech. [90] After the
speech, protesters gathered in Damascus's suburbs, Latakia, Baniyas, Aleppo, Daraa, Homs, Hama, and several other cities to
demonstrate against the government. Activists dismissed Assad's claims of reform, saying "no dialogue with the murderers". [91][92][93]
The Turkish government sent an envoy to Damascus, who gave the Syrian government the message that they must remove Maher
Assad, which the envoy called Syria's "thug in chief". [94]
21 June The Syrian government encouraged all members of the Baath party to host pro-Assad rallies, sparking such rallies in several
cities in Syria, most notably in Damascus where tens of thousands occupied the local square. The Syrian opposition held some
counter-rallies, which came under attack by security forces, resulting in 7 anti-government protester deaths in Hama and Homs. [95]
22 June Fearing growing anti-government demonstrations in Aleppo, police raided the Aleppo University campus and arrested
dozens. Security forces attempted to limit the flow of supplies and people to and from Aleppo by setting up roadblocks on the local
highways. The opposition of Syria rejected Assad's amnesty claims. Rioting occurred in a Northern Syrian prison when the
government began releasing common day criminals instead of political prisoners, according to residents. [96]
23 June The Syrian opposition called for mass protests on Friday, titled Friday of Lost Legitimacy. [97]
24 June – "Friday of Lost Legitimacy" In one of the largest yet, mass Friday demonstrations occurred in Syria. For the first time,
people in central Damascus began protesting, where they were immediately shot outside the local mosque, killing 6. An additional 9
protesters were killed elsewhere in Syria, bringing the total to 15. However, some activists say the number could be as high as 20. [98]
The largest demonstration yet occurred in Hama, where an estimated 200,000 people participated. Approximately 15,000 people
protested on the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo. The Damascus suburb of Zabadani had major protests for the first time as
well. Other cities in which demonstrations occurred included Homs, Daraa, Latakia, Qamishli Amouda, Al-Kisweh, Al-Quasyr, and
others. The Syrian government set up camps and road blocks on the roads nearby Aleppo, fearing any possible exodus from there. The
European Union expanded sanctions on Syria. [99][100]
25 June The death toll of Friday's protests had risen to 18. The Syrian army entered villages in Syria's far north, where villagers fled
into Turkey in anticipation of their arrival. By putting troops at the border, it was seen internationally as a veiled threat against
Turkey. [101]
29 June As protests continued, the Syrian army continued to enter and attack villages in the Idlib province, killing four people in the
village of Rameh. The Syrian army also moved in on Marayn, Ihsim, Barshoun, and al-Bara. [102]
30 June – "Aleppo volcano" There were demonstrations across Aleppo, Syria's second city, including in neighborhoods such as Al
Masharqah, Seif El Dawla, Alsakhur, Jamiliah, Bab El-Nasr, Bab El-Hadeed, University Square and others, [103] and demonstrator was
killed. Activists called for an another Friday of mass protests, this time dubbed Friday of Departure. [104]
July 2011
1 July – "Friday of Departure" Major protests were seen across the country, in the largest demonstrations to date. Over half a
million people were said to have joined the demonstration in Hama, making it the largest single rally thus far. Tens of thousands
elsewhere protested as well, such as in Homs. [105] An estimated 10,000 people took to the streets in Aleppo before the protest was
crushed by security forces. It was the biggest protest seen in Aleppo up to that point. [106] 6,000 people took to the streets in Hajar al-
Aswad in Damascus. [107] There was also a pro-Assad rally outside of the Syrian embassy in Amman, Jordan. [108] 28 people have been
killed in the protests, most of them in Idlib. [109]
2 July A funeral was held in Homs for five protesters killed the day before by security forces in Homs, Damascus and its countryside,
with 7,000 mourners attending. [110] The Assad anti-regime demonstrations continued in Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Duma, Idlib (despite the
siege), Talbiseh, Latakia and Adhamiya in Aleppo. There were also demonstrations by the Syrian communities in Strasbourg and
Lyon in France. [111] The Syrian government has sent military reinforcements to the international road Damascus – Aleppo, heading
north. Columns of tanks were seen on the road to Hama – Aleppo, near Khan Shaykhun in Idlib. [112][113]
3 July Government tanks and troops began deploying around Hama, with reports of gunfire and mass arrests taking place in the
city. [114] Anti-Assad demonstrations continued in Damascus and its countryside, with two protesters killed by police in the suburb of
Hajar al-Aswad. [115]
5 July Dozens of people were arrested in Damascus, and the Syrian army killed 11 people in Hama. [116]
6 July Amnesty International calls for the United Nations to investigate Syria, claiming that the violent crackdown on protestors may
constitute crimes against humanity. This comes after the organisation releases a report documenting a military sweep in the western
village of Tell Kalakh in May. The Syrian government claims that many of the dead were killed by criminal gangs. [117]
7 July Another Friday of protests are planned, this time dubbed Friday of No Dialogue, an attempt by the opposition to emphasize
that they do not believe the Syrian government is capable of reform, and that dialogue is in vain due to the high amount of protester
deaths. The death toll from the Hama crackdown has risen to 22. [118]
8 July – "Friday of No Dialogue" In the presence of the French and United States ambassadors to Syria, a demonstration was held in
Al-Assy Square in Hama, with an estimated 500,000 protesters. According to activists, it was the single largest rally of the uprising
thus far. There were also demonstrations in Damascus and its countryside, Homs, Idlib, Deir Al-Zour, Latakia, Qamishli and Deraa.

For the first time the unrest spread to the centre of the capital city of Damascus where security services were filmed firing at protesters
at close range, according to unverified footage. The opposition reported 13 people killed during Friday's protests, and over 40 people
are reported to have been wounded. [119][120][121]
10 July The Syrian army launched a raid in Homs, killing at least one person. [122] The American and French diplomats who
participated in Friday's protests were summoned to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. [123] In Demas outside of Damascus, Syrian officials
formally opened what they described as a national dialogue aimed at a transition to a multiparty democracy. Opposition leaders
boycotted the event, saying it is a sham to mask the government's crackdown on protesters, and that they will not participate without
an end to the crackdown. [123]
11 July Supporters of President al-Assad attacked the embassies of France and the United States in Damascus. According to a US
embassy official, there had been physical damage done, but no one was injured. The official also said that the authorities had been
slow to respond despite assurances from the Syrian government that the embassy would be given adequate protection. At the French
embassy, guards fired into the air to disperse a crowd. [124] Robert Stephen Ford, the US ambassador to Syria criticized the regime on
the embassy's Facebook page, stating "On 9 July, a 'mnhebak' group threw rocks at our embassy, causing some damage. They resorted
to violence, unlike the people in Hama, who have stayed peaceful... and how ironic that the Syrian Government lets an anti-US
demonstration proceed freely while their security thugs beat down olive branch-carrying peaceful protesters elsewhere." [125] US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned both the attacks and the incumbent regime, stating that al-Assad had "lost legitimacy,"
and that "President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power." [126]
13 July Four villagers were killed by the Syrian army in the village of Jabal al Zawiya. [127]
14 July Security forces killed 8 protesters in Deir al-Zour, amid a wide-scale strike in that town. 2 protesters were also killed in
Homs. [128] and 1 in Aleppo. Activists have called for another Friday of protests, this time dubbed "Friday of Freedom for Hostages",
in reference to their demands for the Syrian government to release over 12,000 protesters who were arrested and detained without trial
so far. [128]
15 July – "Friday of Freedom for the Hostages" Mass protests occurred. At least 28 civilians were reported killed by Syrian
security forces. [129] The protests were widespread, most notably occurring in Damascus and its countryside, Homs, Qamishli, Daraa,
Latakia, Idlib, and Al-Raqqah. 700,000 came out in Martyrs square in Hama, 350,000 in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor and
20,000 in Aleppo. Syrian communities abroad demonstrated in front of the embassies of their countries. [130]
16 July In the town of Al-Bukamal, on the border with Iraq, five protesters were killed by the Syrian army. A day later, thousands of
people took to the streets before the military tried to intervene to suppress the demonstrations. However, they were unsuccessful in
doing so as the protesters were larger in size. It was reported that 100 Air Force intelligence agents and the crew of at least four
armored vehicles defected to the opposition. Activists also claimed that the protesters managed to capture several tanks, armored
vehicles and weapons from the army. The government stated that three soldiers were killed in the clashes. [131] After an agreement was
reached between the protesters and the military, some of the seized military vehicles and weapons were handed back. [132]
17 July During factional fighting between residents of Homs 30 people were killed. At the same time, the army entered some villages
in Aleppo’s countryside, according to activists on the Internet. [133] Some soldiers defected with their armoured personnel carriers and
joined the protesters, as did at least 100 Air Force personnel in a town near the Iraqi border. [134]
18 July Continue to the funeral of the martyrs of Qaboun and demonstration in the evening in Harasta and military operations in
Homs.
21 July The Syrian army was sent to Homs where they fired machine guns randomly at anyone in the streets. At least 40 civilians
were reported killed. The Syrian army also conducted arrests and raids. [135][136] Activists have called for another Friday of protests, this
time dubbed Friday of Khaled bin al-Walid, after a Muslim military commander from the Middle Ages who is buried in Homs. [136]
22 July – "Friday of Khalid ibn al-Walid grandsons" Further information: Khalid ibn al-Walid Mass protests occurred, with at
least 450,000 protesters in Deir Ezzour, and 650,000 in Hama. Tens of thousands protested in other cities as well, the Kurdish
Northeast, Daraa, the Syrian coast,Aleppo and Homs. The Syrian army was sent into the central area of Damascus where they
conducted arrests and prevented anyone from rallying. [137] A total of 8 people were killed by the Syrian army most of them in Aleppo
on Friday. [138]
23 July Many demonstrations took place in front of Syrian embassies abroad to denounce the suppression of peaceful protesters by
the authorities.
26 July As protests continued, the Syrian army raided the Damascus suburb of Kanakar with tanks, killing 8 civilians. The security
forces arrested at least 250 people, all in an attempt to subdue opposition in Damascus before Ramadan occurs, when the protests are
expected to intensify further. [139]
28 July Security forces swept through Damascus's neighborhoods again, killing four people and conducting mass arrests. [140] Activists
called for mass Friday protests under the name of "Your Silence is Killing Us" in an attempt to encourage the silent majority of
Syria's population to take sides with the anti-Assad demonstrators. [139]
29 July – "Friday of 'Your Silence Is Killing Us'" Massive protests ensued as security forces unleashed expansive crackdowns. 20
protesters were killed throughout Syria, most notably in Deir ez-Zor, where the government tried to stop mass gatherings. The Syrian
army was sent into the city with tanks and fired on protesters with live ammunition, whilst Daraa and Latakia also witnessed protester
deaths. Other places where protesting occurred included Hama, Homs, Qamishli, and Aleppo. The Syrian army conducted mass
arrests in the capital, Damascus. The Syrian army's brutal response was one of heaviest since June. [141] A colonel in the Syrian Army
claimed he had defected to the opposition along with "hundreds" of other military personnel in the city of Deir ez-Zor, and called his
group the Free Syrian Army. [142]
31 July Main article: Siege of Hama (2011) On what appeared to be the bloodiest day of the uprising to date, at least 136 were killed
across the country as Syrian tanks, snipers, and troops stormed Deir ez-Zor, Hama, Harak, and Al-Bukamal. The crackdown was an
apparent effort to halt the momentum of the protest movement before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Syrian government
claimed its military actions were in response to armed gangs attacking buildings and forcing people to protest, allegations rejected by
protesters and American diplomats inside the country. [143] August 2011

3 August Following increased violence in the preceding days, the United Nations Security Council for the first time condemned the
human rights violations against the Syrian protesters. [144] 45 people were killed in Hama on 3 August. [145]
4 August Assad issued a decree authorizing the formation of multiple political parties in Syria, as well as election reforms aimed at
pleasing protesters. [146][147] Even as he did this, the Hama crackdown intensified, leaving now over 200 dead in Hama since 31 July.
Hama is now enduring a widespread power outage as well as a blockade of basic food and medical supplies. The Syrian opposition
intends for another Friday of mass protests dubbed "The Friday of God is with Us". [148][149]
5 August – "Friday of 'God is With Us'" Mass protests occurred for Friday protests, including 30,000 in Deir Ezzour. Hama was
totally suppressed, making it difficult for people to rally there. Citizens in Qamishli, Aleppo, Deraa, Homs, suburban and central
Damascus went out to protest in solidarity with Hama. 24 civilians were killed by security forces, including 5 in Damascus. [150]
6 August The Syrian army entered Homs and Deir Ezzour with tanks in an attempt to stop people from rallying. [151] Turkey said it
would send its foreign minister to Damascus to present the Turkish government's demands for an end to the crackdown, while the
Gulf Co-operation Council condemned the violence in a joint statement by GCC member states. United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon also condemned the violence. [152]
7 August Over 70 people were killed in Syria, according to local human rights groups. Over 50 were killed in Deir Ezzour alone.
Dozens were arrested, and use of mortars and tanks to shell neighborhoods was also reported. The Arab League condemned the
actions of the Syrian government for the first time. [152]
8 August Just after midnight, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia gave a televised address condemning the Syrian government over the
crackdown. The king also said Saudi Arabia was recalling its ambassador to Syria. He warned Assad to enact major reforms or else
Syria "will be pulled down into the depths of turmoil and loss". [153] Kuwait and later Bahrain also recalled their ambassadors and said
a GCC summit would be held soon to determine a unified course of action for responding to the events in Syria. [154] A mother and her
two children were killed in Deir ez-Zor by Syrian troops storming the city during the predawn adhān, according to the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights. [155] The attack on Deir ez-Zor reportedly continued until noon. Soldiers also entered Maarat an-
Numan in northern Syria from the east and quickly cordoned off the city, preventing anyone from entering or exiting, a local
opposition committee said in a statement. [156] Seven people attending a funeral in Daraa were also reported killed when security forces
attacked the procession, leaving dozens more injured. The deadly incident prompted late-night protests in the city, with demonstrators
saying they held police responsible for the violence. [157] The head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights claimed 24 people were
killed throughout the country during the day, [158] while UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco
said 87 civilians were killed by Syrian forces. [159] The online group Anonymous defaced the Syrian Ministry of Defense website with
a message urging members of the Syrian Army to defect and expressing solidarity with the protesters. [155] President Assad sacked
Defense Minister Ali Habib Mahmud and replaced him with General Dawoud Rajiha, the Syrian Army's chief of staff, due to Ali
Habib Mahmud's declining health. [154]
9 August An opposition group reported Syrian forces were attacking Sarmin, a town in Idlib Governorate, at dawn from three sides,
conducting raids and arresting residents. Tanks were said to be deployed in and around Idlib, the provincial capital. The siege of Deir
ez-Zor continued, with tank shelling reported in the al-Hawiqa district, and at least 15 deaths were reported in the city, along with two
more elsewhere in Idlib Governorate. There were also sketchy reports of military operations near Al-Bu-Kamal, close to the Iraqi
border. [160] Five were reported killed in Hama, including two children from the same family. [161] Syrian troops also assaulted Binnish
in an apparent reprisal for large-scale "night rallies after Ramadan prayers", according to a local resident, leaving four villagers
reported dead. [162] Opposition websites claimed that former Syrian defense minister Ali Habib Mahmud was found dead in his home.
A spokesman for the Syrian government initially claimed he had died of "a disease", while the opposition accused the Syrian
government of executing him. According to the opposition, Ali Habib started refusing to send in the army into cities because he feared
increasing defections, and for that he was killed. [163][164] However, he appeared on Syrian state TV hours after his supposed death to
deny that he was fired or killed, saying he resigned due to illness. [165] Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu met with President
Bashar al-Assad for over two hours and spoke with other Syrian officials for four more hours in total before departing Syria without
making a statement. Assad reportedly told Davutoğlu during the meeting that his government "will not relent in pursuing the terrorist
groups in order to protect the stability of the country and the security of the citizens" but said he was still committed to making
reforms. [166] Upon returning to Turkey, Davutoğlu said his government will continue relations with Damascus, but said he had urged
Assad to take "concrete steps" to end the violence without answering whether Assad had agreed to do so. [167] Meanwhile, Egypt
sharply criticized the Syrian government for promising reforms while continuing violence, with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel
Amr calling such reforms "of no use". Amr demanded an end to the crackdown and said Assad and the Syrian populace should engage
in a comprehensive national dialogue. [168] In a retaliatory cyberattack for the hacking of the Ministry of Defence website, a website set
up by Anonymous was hacked by supporters of the Syrian government, who placed photos of burned bodies and a message claiming
the victims were Syrian soldiers and civilians killed by members of the Muslim Brotherhood on the page. [169]
10 August The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed one dead and 13 wounded by army operations, backed by one dozen
armoured vehicles, in the northwestern towns of Sarmin and Taftanaz. Meanwhile, the military appeared to conclude the siege of
Hama, withdrawing 40 APCs loaded with cheering soldiers from the city centre, according to a journalist on a government-organised
tour. [162] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lauded the withdrawal and media access, both of which Davutoğlu had urged
the previous day, as "a sign that our initiative is producing results". [170] However, later in the day the Syrian government decided to
put tanks back into Hama, and canceled the withdrawal. [171] The government also announced its withdrawal from Ariha. [172] Seventeen
people were killed and 20 more injured by Syrian troops in Homs after the army opened fire on protesters, activists told the Agence
France-Presse by telephone. [173] Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari compared the situation in Syria to the
ongoing English riots and said that just as in the United Kingdom and other countries, the Syrian government was democratically
elected and not a "regime". The UK's representative sharply rebuked Jaafari's argument, saying, "In Syria, you have a situation where
thousands of unarmed civilians are being attacked and many of them killed. That comparison made by the Syrian ambassador is
ludicrous." [174] In a step The New York Times deemed previously unthinkable, 41 former Ba'ath and current government officials
announced an initiative for political transition, and urged an end to the military crackdown on protestors. They were led by
Mohammed Salman, a former minister of information with intimate ties to the Assads. [175]
11 August A resident of Saraqeb, a town near the Turkish border, reported that over 60 vehicles, about 14 of which were reportedly
tanks or APCs, entered the town. According to the report, Syrian soldiers began firing randomly and detaining residents en masse.

The opposition Local Co-ordination Committees corroborated the report. [172] In Qusayr in Homs Governorate, eleven people were
reported killed as the army stormed the town. Two more residents of Hama were killed, according to Avaaz. The town of al-
Mousaifara was the site of military operations at dawn. The army also shelled at least two neighbourhoods in Deir ez-Zour, Avaaz
reported. [176] More mass Friday protests are planned by the Syrian opposition, this time under the title "Friday of 'We will not bow
except for God'". [177]
12 August – "Friday of 'We Won't Kneel Except to God'" Mass protests continued as twenty-three [178] people were reportedly
killed by Syrian forces across the country, including five in Saqba and Douma, suburbs of Damascus, when security forces fired on
protesters shortly before Friday prayers. Troops killed protesters in Daraa, Deir ez-Zour, Idlib, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and elsewhere,
according to activists. They also allegedly fired on demonstrators in the Midan district of Damascus. [179] The Local Coordination
Committees reported from Aleppo that shabiha, or plainclothes pro-government militiamen, beat and stabbed dozens of people at a
hundreds-strong protest in Syria's largest city. [180] A similar scene played out in Zabadani, residents claimed, where shooting at a local
mosque was also reported. [181] Despite a security clampdown on the city of Homs, close to 20,000 people reportedly protested there
after prayers. [182]
13 August The Syrian army entered Latakia with more than 20 tanks and APCs and killed at least two civilians, according to activists.
Activists in Deir ez-Zour also said a child was killed by a sniper. [183] The Hürriyet Daily News, a Turkish daily, reported that a senior
Turkish government official speaking on the condition of anonymity said a military intervention in Syria led by Turkey was an option.
The report suggested Ankara is nervous over sectarian tension in Syria inflaming an already unstable situation in neighboring Iraq,
which also experienced protests as part of the Arab Spring revolutionary wave. [184] The LCC also reported a death in Qusayr, a death
in Daraya, and a death in Hama. [185]
14 August The LCC said that even as the army's artillery assault continued, the Syrian Navy was firing on Latakia with gunboats off
the Mediterranean coast, killing at least 28, according to the Syrian Revolution Coordinating Union. [186] Eight more civilians were
killed elsewhere in the country, bringing the day's death toll to a minimum of 36, human rights activists and pro-democracy
campaigners said. Syrian state news claimed two police and six armed criminals were killed in Latakia. [159]
15 August Four to six more civilians were reportedly killed in Latakia as the siege dragged on. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoğlu demanded that the Syrian government's violent crackdown end "immediately and without conditions or excuses ... [or]
there would be nothing more to discuss about steps that would be taken". In Houleh, an elderly man was shot dead by a sniper as the
army began operations in the town, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed. Germany called on the European Union to
take stronger action against the Assad administration by strengthening sanctions. [186] A Palestinian refugee camp was among the
targets of the shelling, residents, activists, and the UNRWA reported, drawing sharp condemnation from the Palestinian Liberation
Organization, among other groups. [187] Twelve people were killed in Homs after post-iftar protests, Al Jazeera reported citing
unnamed sources. [188]
16 August Avaaz said it could confirm nine people in Latakia were killed during the day, Al Jazeera reported. [189] Residents reported
looting by shabiha in the al-Ramel neighborhood, where the Palestinian refugee camp is situated, as well as clearing of dead bodies,
bullet casings, and other signs of shooting, and said thousands of people were trying to flee but many were being detained or forced to
remain in the city. One resident said he feared his neighborhood would be razed to the ground. The Turkish government denied it had
plans to create a border buffer zone, but said it was drafting plans for its next course of action if the crackdown continued. [190]
Nighttime protests were held in Homs, Albu Kamal, and several suburbs of Damascus, among other places in Syria, in defiance of the
security operations. [191]
17 August The Syrian government claimed it withdrew from Latakia and Deir ez-Zor, but Davutoğlu disputed this, saying Syrian
troops remained in Deir ez-Zor and other centres of protest. [192] He again reiterated Turkey's stance that "the bloodshed has to stop"
and warned that "Turkey can naturally not remain indifferent" if the crackdown continued. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan compared the situation to the civil war in Libya and vented his frustration with the Syrian regime, saying, "I've sent my
foreign minister, and personally got in touch many times, the last of them three days ago on the phone. In spite of all this, civilians are
still getting killed." [193] The post-revolutionary interim government of Tunisia withdrew its ambassador from Damascus for
"consultations". [194] The United Nations reported that in a phone conversation with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Assad claimed
that all police and military operations against protesters had stopped. [195] Despite Assad's assertion, activists reported between 9 and
16 deaths of protesters in Homs and said most of the shooting took place after evening prayers. [196] Al Arabiya reported that
"thousands" protested in a central square (Saadallah al-Jabiri square) of Aleppo, the city's largest demonstration to date, as well as
various neighbourhoods of the city, [197] before security forces attacked the people gathered there. [198]
18 August The governments of Canada, [199] France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States all called for Assad to
resign for the first time. Switzerland, despite its policy of neutrality, recalled its ambassador and condemned the violence. Avaaz
reported afternoon raids of the al-Ramel neighbourhood, as well as shelling, including of at least one mosque, in Latakia despite
Assad's claims that security operations had ended the previous day. The LCC reported continuing arrests and army activities in Deir
ez-Zor, but did not report shooting. [200] In a report documenting the uprising up until 14 July, the United Nations found that the Syrian
government may have committed crimes against humanity and had practiced such tactics as summary execution, torture, use of
indiscriminate force against civilians, and arbitrary arrests. [201][202] New massive protests are planned for Friday, this time under the
title Friday of Beginnings of Victory. [203]
19 August – "Friday of Beginnings of Victory" At least 23 people were allegedly killed across Syria, with 15 killed in Daraa
Governorate, two killed in Douma and Harasta, and six killed in Homs. Six of the dead were killed when security forces stormed a
village mosque in Inkhil, opposition activists claimed. [202] About 6,000 people in Qadam, a Damascus suburb, reportedly chanted for
President Assad to be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Security forces attempted to use tear gas to disperse the
crowd, but when this failed, they opened fire with live ammunition, wounding at least five, activists and witnesses claimed. Lady
Catherine Ashton, the European Union's head of foreign affairs, said the EU was making preparations for an embargo on Syrian oil.
The Russian government dissented from the tougher stance adopted by the EU and many Western countries, with leading figures
saying Assad "needs more time" to deliver on promised reforms. [204]
20 August The death toll from the previous day rose to 34, and the Syrian army renewed a siege on Homs with army tanks, firing at
the local population to keep them from rallying. [205]

21 August In a media interview, Assad claimed he wanted to pursue reforms and pursue "terrorists". Assad warned against foreign
intervention. Two people died in Hama when Shabbiha randomly opened fire on civilians in the street. The Syrian opposition gathered
in Syria for talks on creating a rival government. [206]
22 August As protests continued, the UN said the protester death toll had reached 2,200. The United Nations Human Rights Council
voted to launch an investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the Syrian government, despite objections by Russia and
the People's Republic of China. [207] A UN team visited Homs to assess the humanitarian situation there and investigate claims of
human rights abuses by Syrian authorities. Shortly after its departure, security forces reportedly opened fire on demonstrators in the
city, leaving at least four dead, Human Rights Watch said. [208]
23 August Main article: National Council of Syria In Istanbul, Turkey, the National Council of Syria was announced to "represent the
concerns and demands of the Syrian people". [209] In Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to
condemn the Syrian government over its response to the uprising. [210] At least 12 were killed in Idlib, Hama, and Homs governorates,
the Arab Organization for Human Rights claimed. [211]
24 August Despite the National Council's stated purpose in uniting all Syrian opposition groups, a Syrian Turkmen opposition activist
complained that his community was marginalised and said he and other Syrian Turks were not invited to the council's formation, and
then were accorded only observer status upon attending. [212] A European Union official said the EU would likely place an embargo on
Syrian oil within ten days. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a woman was tortured to death in western Syria,
while Al Jazeera reported that three civilians died amid raids in Homs, one protester was killed by snipers overnight in Nessieb, and
five people were killed in an agricultural area outside Hama. [213] The Arab Organization for Human Rights put the death toll for the
day at 13, reporting several shootings of protesters in Deir ez-Zor and suburbs of Damascus as well, [211] while the LCC said at least 17
were killed across Syria. [214] The Russian Foreign Ministry, supported by the government of the People's Republic of China, released a
statement urging the international community not to interfere with Syria's "internal affairs". [215]
25 August Prominent political cartoonist Ali Ferzat was reportedly kidnapped and beaten by pro-regime assailants before being
released near Damascus International Airport. [211] The identity of his attackers was unclear, with some attributing the beating to Syrian
security forces. Some reports said both his hands were broken as a "warning" to dissuade him from drawing. [216][217] Residents near
Latakia and in Deir ez-Zor said they heard gunfire near their homes, the head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights claimed. [211]
The LCC said tanks again shelled Deir ez-Zor throughout the day, and at least 118 tanks were reported to be in Shuhail to the city's
immediate southeast. The state-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency reported eight soldiers, including an army officer, were
ambushed and killed in two separate attacks by "armed terrorist groups" in Homs Governorate the previous afternoon. The report said
at least seven soldiers were wounded in one of the attacks when "terrorists" shot at a military bus in Talbisah. Iranian President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered a measured criticism of the Syrian government for the first time, calling for a national dialogue in a
televised interview and saying, "When there is a problem between the people and their leaders, they must sit down together to reach a
solution, away from violence." [214] The Syrian opposition prepared to launch new Friday mass protests, this time dubbed under the
name '"Friday of Patience and Steadfastness'". [218]
26 August – "Friday of Patience and Steadfastness" On the last Friday of Ramadan, thousands protested in several Syrian cities,
including Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Deraa, Douma, Hama, Homs, and towns in Idlib Governorate, and security forces responded to
many anti-government rallies with live fire and tear gas. 8 protesters were killed overnight when security forces attacked street
demonstrations, activists said. [219] The LCC said six people were injured in Qusayr after security forces shot at peaceful
demonstrators. [220] At least 3 protesters were reported slain in Deir ez-Zor during the day. Another protester was killed in Nawa,
witnesses claimed, and another in Mleeha, one in Qaboun, one in Bosra, and one in Ma`arrat an-Nu`man. Many protesters carried
placards congratulating the Libyan people on their progress in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi. [221] Tanks backed up security troops
in many places, said residents of protest hotspots. [222]
27 August Before dawn, protests erupted in Damascus, both in the suburbs and in the city centre. Multiple witnesses reported that a
mosque was stormed in Kafarsouseh, a Damascus suburb, and thousands protested there against the regime, though a crowd of regime
supporters turned out to chant slogans in support of Assad. Several protesters, as well as the mosque's 80-year-old imam, were
reportedly injured. Security forces used live fire and tear gas against demonstrators in a square adjacent to the mosque, wounding at
least five. Hundreds more protested in Moadamiya, another suburb, and in the Damascene neighbourhood of Tijana. A planned
protest in Abaseen Square was largely thwarted, though about 60 protesters managed to march into the square before being dispersed.
More protesters from Douma marched toward central Damascus, though protesters in the suburb of Saqba met live fire from security
forces, leaving at least one dead, activists claimed. In Tehran's most direct warning to Syrian authorities yet, Iranian Foreign Minister
Ali Akbar Salehi said protesters had "legitimate demands" and added, "The government should answer to the demands of its people,
be it Syria, Yemen, or other countries." The Arab League also called on the Syrian government to end its crackdown. [223] Two
protesters were killed in Latakia and Qusayr, activists said. [224]
28 August London-based daily As-Sharq al-Awsat reported that Mohammad Rahhal, the leader of the LCC's Revolutionary Council,
said the council had concluded that "what we are being subjected to today is a global conspiracy that can only be faced by an armed
uprising". He said the council was now working to distribute weapons to protesters in order to combat the regime's security
crackdown. He criticised the international response to the Syrian uprising, saying, "Confronting this monster [the Syrian regime] now
requires arms, especially after it has become clear to everyone that the world only supports the Syrian uprising through speeches." He
predicted the protest movement "will turn violent very soon". [225] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported five protesters
were killed, including two who succumbed to mortal injuries from the previous day, and at least nine more were wounded. Residents
of Qadam claimed a firefight between soldiers and army defectors who joined protesters took place in the Damascus suburb, though it
was unclear if anyone was hurt or killed in the shooting. [226] The Movement of Free Officers claimed "large defections" from Syrian
security forces to the side of the protesters in Harasta, another Damascus suburb, and said a colonel in the Syrian Air Force who was
involved in the secret police had been shot in the head in Saqba. The statement claimed shabiha and loyalist troops were pursuing the
defectors into central Damascus. [227] On the diplomatic front, the Arab League said it would send Secretary-General Naril Elaraby on
a mission to Damascus in an "urgent" effort to end the crisis, while the Syrian government rejected the Arab League's statement. [226]
29 August One person was reported killed in a dawn raid on Qara, a suburb of the capital, while five were said to have been killed
and at least 60 injured in Sarmin, including a child, when security forces opened fire while conducting house-to-house searches. Five
were wounded in Hit, Syria, near the Lebanese border, witnesses said. The crackdown in Hit reportedly prompted at least several

dozen Syrians to flee into northern Lebanon. [228] An activist in Homs told Bloomberg News that at least 15 people were killed and 400
injured as Syrian forces again laid siege to the city, though this number could not be confirmed. [229] AFP reported, quoting an
anonymous diplomat, that the EU had agreed "in principle" on a ban on importing Syrian oil, likely to be implemented by the end of
the week. [230] After Russia's envoy met with Assad, Moscow indicated "no change" in its stance of calling for reforms in Syria but
opposing sanctions or other forms of international action. [228] In Rastan, there were reports of dozens of conscripted soldiers of the
Syrian army defecting to the opposition, where heavy gunfire and power outages were being reported, and a large armoured force
surrounded the city. [231]
30 August On the first day of Eid ul-Fitr, thousands demonstrated against the regime in Deraa, Homs, and the suburbs of Damascus.
Security forces opened fire on protesters, killing at least nine, the LCC said. Six were killed in Daraa Governorate, an activist said,
including a 13-year-old boy. The LCC also reported raids in Rastan, Latakia, Al-Sanamayn, Qara, Qudsaya, Jableh, and Qamashli.
Eid celebrations were reportedly muted, with many Syrians visiting graves of loved ones killed during the uprising. [232]
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External links
Wikinews has news related to:
2011 Syria anti-government protests
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2011 Syrian protests
• The Syrian Revolution 2011 االسد بشار ضد السورية الثورة Facebook page
• Timeline: Syria unrest, Ahram Online
• Syria Unrest collected coverage with live blog at Al Jazeera English
• Timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising (May–August 2011) collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Live updates on Syria’s uprising at NOW Lebanon
• Syria protests (2011) collected coverage at The New York Times
• Syria Comment by Joshua Landis
(September–December 2011)

September 2011
1 September The attorney general of Hama resigned, citing the brutality of the Bashar al-Assad regime as his reason, particularly the
alleged execution of 72 political prisoners in Hama Central Prison on 31 July. [4] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights, Syrian Army elements laid siege to Douma, a Damascus suburb, and killed a man in the central city of Homs. It claimed 360
civilians and 113 security officers were killed during the Ramadan crackdown of the previous month. Syrian troops reportedly
conducted house-to-house searches in Hama. [5] Security forces killed at least 7 more people in Syria, activists said, urging new antiregime
protests on Friday under the banner of Friday of death rather than humiliation.
2 September – "Friday of Death Rather Than Humiliation" Thousands of people protested against the regime across Syria.
Activists said the death toll on the first Friday of protests after Ramadan was at least 20, [6] with Syrian soldiers reportedly firing live
rounds at demonstrators in Homs and suburban Damascus. Activists said tanks surrounded the central square of Ma'arrat al-Numan,
trapping protesters inside while soldiers moved in. The opposition Local Co-ordination Committees claimed that Syrian soldiers had
stormed at least two hospitals in the suburbs of Damascus, shooting off their guns as they attempted to recover the bodies of dead and
wounded protesters. [7] Anti-government activists also rallied outside of the home of the former attorney general of Hama, Adnan
Bakkour. The Syrian Arab News Agency, the state-run media organ, claimed two "terrorists" had confessed to supplying doctored
propaganda videos to Al Jazeera. The government of France announced it was establishing contacts within the Syrian opposition. [8]
The European Union also adopted a ban on importing Syrian oil, which legally goes into effect on 3 September, but according to an
Italian official the ban will have minimal effect before 30 November 2011, as most contracts are set to expire then. [9]
3 September Al-Arabiya television reported on Saturday that Syrian security forces killed 6 civilians across the country. Activists
told-Al Arabiya the Syrian army's fighter jets flew over Houla and Rastan in near Homs to terrify local residents. There were also
reports that the Syrian army were deployed in Banyas and raided Tal Kalakh and regions of Deir az-Zour. Al-Arabiya also reported
that several protests broke out in the country, adding that “thousands participated in the funeral of martyrs of Arabin, near
Damascus.” [10]
4 September Syrian activists said at least 13 people have been killed by the Syrian army during protests. The reported deaths came as
the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was due to meet with senior Syrian officials in the capital,
Damascus. Eight of the deaths occurred in the Idlib province in the country's northwestern area, the Local Co-ordination Committees
(LCC) said. [11] State-run media claimed 5 soldiers, one army officer, and 3 civilians were killed when "terrorists" attacked a military
bus in Moharda in the morning. The report said 3 of the "terrorists" were killed in a shootout, while one loyalist soldier and another
gunman were injured. [12]
6 September Activists stated that Syrian security forces had killed 2 people as armoured vehicles came through the streets. 2
mechanics were killed at their workplace in the town of al-Restan near Homs, the Local Coordination Committee said. City residents
were hiding in homes and offices to escape the gunfire, while armoured vehicles were "shooting toward anything moving," the LCC
said, citing witnesses on the ground. Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary-general, made his strongest remarks yet on the
crackdown under way against Syrian anti-government protesters. Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence, which he said was being
committed by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Ban called on Assad to take "bold and decisive measures before it's too late". "It's
already too late, in fact," Ban said in New Zealand, where he was attending a meeting of Pacific leaders. "If it takes more and more
days, then more people will be killed.", he went on to say. Ban also stated that it was time for United Nation members to unite and
take "coherent measures". [13] Aleppo also witnessed a major demonstration after the sudden death of prominent Aleppine scholar and
regime critic Ibrahim Salqini, though state-run media claimed he died of a heart attack. Tens thousands of people attended his funeral
march and chanted against the government, invoking revolutionary slogans such as "better death than humiliation", before security
forces reportedly fired on them as they entered the city cemetery. [14]
7 September Citing "circumstances beyond our control", the Syrian government abruptly canceled Arab League Secretary-General
Naril Elaraby's scheduled visit to Damascus. Elaraby's office confirmed that the visit had been indefinitely postponed. [14] At least 34
people were reported dead by Syrian activists in a tank assault on Homs that also involved about 20 truckloads of soldiers armed with
live ammunition. Two more were reportedly killed in Sarmin, while one was killed in Hama. State-run media claimed two Baath Party
officials were abducted by "terrorists" near Al-Rastan. [15] Activists and locals reported that heavy machine-gun fire was heard in the
Bab Dreib and Bostan Diwan neighbourhoods of Homs in the evening after at least 2,000 protesters marched toward the area from the
Bab Tadmor district. [15] Activists claimed the city was facing an especially vigorous assault due to a recent spate of defections, with
one activist saying about 40 soldiers in Homs defected after refusing to fire on protesters. [16]
8 September Military vehicles rolled into the village of Ibleen just after dawn in pursuit of defected soldiers, between three and five
of whom were killed in the raid, according to a resident. Another resident told international media that five children under the age of
10 were among roughly a dozen villagers detained by troops in Ibleen. [17] SANA reported that six security officers were killed and
three more wounded in the operation, which it characterised as a raid to target "armed terrorist groups" and seize stockpiles of
weapons. [18] In Homs, the army reportedly pelted the city with a heavy artillery barrage. Activists said areas where soldiers had been
known to have defected were being targeted. At least 23 people were killed, residents told international media. [19] The Syrian
opposition plan new mass Friday demonstrations, this time under the banner of "Friday of International Protection", referring to their
campaign to get UN observers to monitor violence inside Syria, as a way to pressure the Syrian government. [20]
9 September – "Friday of International Protection" Syrians protested across the country, calling for international help to stop the
crackdown. Large protests called "Friday for International Protection" were reported in cities including Qamishli in the northeast,
Homs and Hama in the center of the country, and Deir ez-Zor in the east. "A 15-year-old boy was martyred when soldiers manning a
checkpoint opened fire in the village of al-Rama, in Jabal al-Zawiyah," in the northwest, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
said in a statement. The LCC said the boy was killed after he was injured with his brother by "random shooting" in the village. [21] In
Damascus, activists alleged 8 soldiers were executed after refusing to fire on unarmed demonstrators. At least 6 protesters were
injured in Damascus, the LCC said. [22] The body of a defected soldier's 74-year-old brother, one of the people abducted by soldiers the
previous morning in Ibleen, was returned to his family by the Syrian Army. [18] Altogether, 14 people were reported killed throughout
Syria on 9 September. [23]
10 September Syrian police and soldiers allegedly killed 24 protesters, [24] including at least 12 in Homs alone, [25] as Naril Elaraby, the
head of the Arab League, met with Bashar al-Assad, urging him to stop violence and move forward with reforms. After the meeting,

Elaraby announced that "a deal has been agreed to for reforms". The Syrian opposition were angered at Elaraby's meeting with Assad,
arguing that "a deal for reform" is meaningless at this stage. [26]
11 September Troops surrounded several villages, including near the protest hubs of Deir ez-Zor and Deraa, and conducted house-tohouse
raids and arrests. Sawasiah, a Syrian human rights organisation, claimed that at least 113 civilians had been killed over the past
seven days, including three who were apparently tortured to death in military prisons. Leaders of the Syrian opposition again met in
Istanbul and were scheduled to speak with a Paris-based Syrian academic by phone to discuss the unification of anti-government
factions into a more cohesive political force. [27] Citing activists in Abu Kamal, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a
woman was killed at midday by a stray bullet fired by security forces conducting arrests in the eastern town. It also said its sources in
Damascus had reported a teenager wounded by a bullet while attending a funeral that was attacked by security personnel the previous
day died as a result of his injuries. [28] The body of Ghiyath Mattar, 26, was returned to his family in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus.
Ghiyath played a key role in organizing antigovernment protests. A friend of Ghiyath who saw his upper body today said that there
were bruises on the chest, and his face had traces of wounds. Security forces (most likely Air Force intelligence, according to friends
and relatives) had detained Ghiyath on 6 September with another leading protest organizer in Daraya, Yahya Sharbaji. [29]
12 September Three prominent Syrian clerics of the Alawite sect, which President Bashar al-Assad belongs, have denounced the
violence committed by the Syrian government against protesters. “We declare our innocence from these atrocities carried out by
Bashar al-Assad and his aides who belong to all religious sects,” Mohib Nisafi, Yassin Hussein and Mussa Mansour said in a joint
statement from Homs. The three clerics denied state-media reports that members of the Shiite Alawite sect are being subjected to acts
of killing and kidnapping in Homs, and said “The daily reports of kidnappings, killings and harassment of members of the Alawite
sect are all untrue. They are designed and spread to cause divisions among people united against the regime.” [30] Meanwhile at least 26
civilians were killed in the Syrian government's ongoing crackdown on protesters, the Local Coordination Committees of Syria said.
Among the dead was a 12-year-old boy shot to death when Syrian security forces fired on a funeral procession, according to the
London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.. The funeral procession was for a protester killed on 11 September, the
observatory said. In addition, 17 people were killed during operations by the military and security forces in Hama as authorities
searched for wanted activists and demonstrators, the organization said. [31]
13 September Protesters in Deraa and Homs burned the Russian flag in protest over Russia's threatened veto of a United Nations
Security Council resolution condemning Assad. [32]
14 September Syrian rights activists say security forces have opened fire in northwestern villages Wednesday in an ongoing effort to
crush dissent as the government rejected an Arab League demand for an end to the crackdown. Rights activists said government
troops fired heavy machine guns during raids on several villages in Idlib province near the Turkish border. They say security forces
cut local communications, blocked roads and made arrests. [33] The US ambassador Robert Stephen Ford and representatives from
France, Germany, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK and the EU in an unprecedented gesture of solidarity with Syria's protest
movement took part in a vigil for a prominent human rights activist Ghiyath Mattar believed to have been killed under torture by
security forces. [34]
15 September A group of Syrian activists declared on Thursday a council representing a united front in opposition to al-Assad. About
140 figures, including exiled opponents and 70 dissidents inside Syria, were chosen as members of the new Syrian National Council,
concluding a four-day meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The council aims to help topple Assad within six months and form an
interim government thereafter, Basma Kadmani, a Syrian exile living in France, announced. [35] Mass protests are planned for Friday,
under the banner of Friday of "continuing until we bring down the regime" [35]
16 September – "Friday of Continuing Until We Bring Down the Regime" The Syrian Revolution General Commission claimed
at least 18 were killed when police and army forces fired on demonstrations in and around Deraa, Homs, and Hama, among other
cities. [36] The LCC said it could confirm 19 deaths. Protests were reportedly attended by thousands, with anti-Assad rallies also
springing up in Damascus and its suburbs, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, and Latakia Governorate. Thousands of Syrian Kurds also
demonstrated in the northeast, according to at least one activist. State-run media reported that one police officer was killed and four
wounded when they were shot at in Busra al-Harir, a village in Deraa Governorate. [37]
By the end of the day, the death toll had reached 45 protesters. [38]
17 September Syrian opposition members called on President Bashar Assad Sunday to end his deadly six-month crackdown or face
an escalation in peaceful protests, as security forces fired warning shots to disperse high school students calling for the regime's
downfall. The weekend meeting drew more than 200 opposition figures, including leading writer Michel Kilo and Hassan Abdul-
Azim, who heads the outlawed Arab Socialist Democratic Union party. It was also notable because it took place inside Syria, rather
than in a neighboring country, as most others have. A statement released after the meeting called on Assad's regime to immediately
end its "acts of repression," and it urged protesters to keep their movement peaceful and not be tempted to take up arms. The Londonbased
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a boy succumbed to his wounds in the southern village of Sanamein two days after
being shot be security forces. [39]
18 September At least 4 people were killed across Syria on Sunday, the Local Coordination Committees reported, as violence
between protesters and Syrian security forces continued unabated. The LCC, an opposition activist group that organizes and
documents anti-government demonstrations, said that 2 people were killed in Idlib and one person each in Daraa and Homs. Among
the dead was an 11-year-old child, who had been wounded in the head by gunfire, the LCC reported. In Daraa province, security
forces arrested activists suspected of participating in protests, the group said. [40]
19 September The General Organisation for the Syrian Revolution said 13 people were killed in Syria throughout the day, including
children and defected soldiers, in places including Deraa, Hama, Homs, and Latakia governorates. Thirty were reportedly arrested in
Sahl al-Hawla and 20 were injured. In al-Bayadha, defected soldiers staged a hit-and-run attack on three army tanks, but it was
unclear whether they caused any significant damage. Schoolchildren in Deraa were truant, protesting and refusing to return to school
until Assad left power. In Harasta, outside Damascus, army vehicles blocked the expressway to Aleppo for unknown reasons. [41] Iraq
also announced that it has requested Bashar Assad to step down. [42]
20 September The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed
to "increase pressure" on the Syrian regime to end the violence against antigovernment protesters. The U.S. and Turkish leaders
discussed Syria in a meeting on 20 September on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly in New York. UN officials have
estimated that pro-Assad forces have killed some 2,700 people since the uprising against the regime started in March, including at

least 100 children. [43] Speaking separately in New York, the foreign minister of Syria's neighbor Iraq said a change of regime in Syria
appears inevitable. Tanks surrounded the town of al-Kiswa, opposition activists claimed. [41]
21 September Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey announced that Turkey has cut of all relations and contacts with Syria, and is
considering joining in on the sanctions. [44]
22 September The Syrian opposition announced its intention for another Friday of protests, this time under the banner Friday of
Unification against the Regime. [45]
23 September – "Friday of Unification Against the Regime" Protesters took to the street, with protests occurring in Hama, Homs,
Damascus, Aleppo, and Daraa. 50,000 attended an anti-government march in Homs. 12 protesters across Syria were killed by security
forces. Amnesty international announced the death and mutilation of an 18 year old girl in the hands of the Syrian army. The girl's
body was returned to her mother by the Syrian army, and the corpse had clear signs of torture, including skin ripped off and her arms
cut off. [46] Turkey continued to attempt to alienate the Syrian government, and has announced that it will be enforcing an arms
embargo on Syria, and confiscate any weapon deliveries to Syria by ship. The European Union also toughened sanctions against the
Syrian government, while Switzerland established a ban on Syrian oil imports on Friday. [47]
25 September Syria pressed on with a crackdown on anti-regiment dissent Sunday, dispatching troop reinforcements to the flashpoint
province of Homs and security forces near Damascus, activists said. "Military reinforcements were sent to Rastan, deploying around
the building housing military security, and others to Qusseir," a town on the border with Lebanon, they said. The Syrian army had
strengthened its presence in Qusseir on Saturday and previous days after many civilians tried to flee the area to escape the violence.
The deployments come a day after activists reported that security forces had killed 12 civilians in Qusseir, in the central province of
Homs, and one more in Hama, further north. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which carried the toll said that the 12
civilians were killed in Qusseir during raids for people wanted by the authorities. [48]
28 September Syrian security forces killed at least 76 people in the past five days as part of a crackdown on protests against President
Bashar al-Assad’s government, a human rights activist said. At least seven people were killed today in the central governorate of
Homs, following the death of 15 protesters yesterday there and in Hama, the northern province of Idlib and in the southern area of
Daraa, where the uprising against Assad began in March, Mahmoud Merhi, head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, said by
phone today. State media said “terrorists” killed General Nael al- Dakhil, deputy chief of the chemistry faculty at Al-Baath University
in Homs, and Mohammad Ali Akeel, deputy dean of its architecture faculty. Activists said security forces murdered them after they
expressed opposition to the crackdown. Homs is a focal point of the uprising against Assad’s government and the hometown of his
wife, Asma. [49]
29 September The Free Syrian Army claimed to have destroyed 17 loyalist tanks in the town of Rastan, and there were reports of
more defections occurring with the ranks of the Syrian Army, raising fears that civil war could break out. [50][51] At least 38 loyalist
soldiers were injured in Rastan, some critically. [52] About 100 "pro-assad" protesters attempted to attack the U.S. ambassadors convoy,
but Ambassador Ford and his convoy remained unharmed in the incident. Security forces killed 17 protesters throughout Syria, and
the Opposition prepared for a new Friday of Protests, under the Banner of Friday of Victory for the Levant and Yemen. [53]
30 September – "Friday of Victory for the Levant and Yemen" Syrian security forces have clashed with protesters, killing at least
30 people as tens of thousands have rallied across the country calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, activists say. There
were reports that the security forces opened fire on protesters at several of the demonstrations on Friday, and that there were also
clashes between troops who have joined the protesters and those loyal to Assad. Protests were reported in suburbs of Damascus, the
capital, as well as in the southern province of Deraa, the northwestern province of Idlib, in Hama, Homs and several other cities. An
opposition activist, speaking to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, described the scene at one protest in Damascus: [54] The area
where I stay now, a protest went around and it was soon attacked by security forces, and the attack included batons, hitting with
batons, some gas bombs and later live ammunition that was shot all around. At least one person was injured. Later, after that, we
could see a number of soldiers – we could see a clash between the soldiers and the security forces. And my friends confirmed that
eight soldiers at least defected and shot back on the security forces.
October 2011
2 October Chairman Burhan Ghalioun of the Syrian National Council announced that an agreement had been reached in the aims and
structure of the SNC. This followed two days of talks in Turkey. Bassma Kodmani, the appointed spokesperson for the SNC, stated
that a general assembly of 190 members will be convened in November, along with a 29-strong general secretariat representing seven
Syrian opposition factions. [55] Among the constituent members groups of the SNC are the Muslim Brotherhood, the signatories of the
2005 Damascus Declaration and members of the Higher Syrian Revolutionary Council. [56] The news was reportedly welcomed with a
rally in Jisr ash-Shugur, according to pro-opposition Shams News Network. Meanwhile, the government in Damascus announced its
retaking of Rastan, while members of the Free Syrian Army announced their retreat from the town. Anti-Assad activists told the BBC
that 250 tanks had been sent into the town by the Assad government, and that 50 of those vehicles had left on 2 October. [55] Saria
Hassoun, son of Syria's Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, was reportedly shot dead near Ibla University on the road
between Idleb and Aleppo. Also killed in the ambush was Professor of History at Aleppo University Dr. Mohammad al-Omar; both
were taken to Idleb National Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. SANA blamed the deaths on "armed terrorist groups"; Al-
Arabiya linked the incident to a spate of killings by armed dissidents of suspected Assad regime informers, most of whom were
academicians, and that Syria was veering toward civil war. [57] French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy called for the release of Syria's
first female practicing psychoanalyst Rafah Nashed, who was arrested en route to Paris in September. Meanwhile, Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez reiterated his support for both deposed Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi and Assad, calling them
"brothers" and backing Assad against "an aggression from Yankee imperialists and their European allies". [58] Rallies were reported in
Hirak, Jabal az-Zawiya, Talmans, Jarjanaz, Maarat Horma, Kafr Takhareem, Bansh, Sermeen, Saraqeb, Hass, Jassem, Teebat al-
Imam, Houran, Taseel, and Dael. Security forces reportedly killed six civilians.
4 October At the UN Security Council in New York, China and Russia vetoed sanctions against Syria. [59] Hours later, Turkey
threatened unilateral sanctions, [60] and announced war games along the border.

5 October Activists say Syrian troops have stormed villages close to the border with Turkey in pursuit of army defectors, and that at
least three people and four soldiers died in clashes there. Military operations were centered around the Jabal al-Zawiya region where
defectors from the Syrian military are known to be active. [61] In Damascus, residents sabotaged the main square's fountain, making the
water turn red to symbolize "the blood of martyrs", referring to slain protesters. [62] Two Syrian Army tanks entered the Bekaa border
town of Arsal on the Lebanese side of the border, and fired at an abandoned battery factory, suspecting that armed men were hiding
inside. [63]
6 October The Syrian Army invades Lebanon for the second time in two days and shoots up several farmhouses, killing one person,
before retreating back across the border. [64] Protesters plan to launch new Friday demonstrations, this time under the banner of Friday
of the Syrian National Council as our Representative. [65] According to Syrian State news, a retired Brigadier General was captured
and assassinated by "armed terrorists". [66]
7 October – "Friday of the Syrian National Council as our Representative" At least 21 people were killed by security forces amid
protests by tens of thousands to support the SNC, according to activists. [67] The deaths occurred in Homs, Latakia, the Douma section
of Damascus, and Zabadani. Protests were largest in Daraa, Deir Ezzor, Qamishli, Homs, and suburban Damascus. [68]
Syrian Kurdish activist Mashaal al-Tammo was assassinated in his flat by masked gunmen, an attack blamed on Syrian security forces
by anti-government activists. Tens of thousands of Kurds took to the streets in Qamishli after Tammo's death and gathered outside the
hospital where his body was taken. [69] Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Syria's leaders should step down if they cannot enact
reforms, but warns the West not to try to push Assad from power. [70]
8 October More than 50,000 mourners marched through the streets of Qamishli, a city in the Kurdish north-east, to mark Tammo's
funeral. [71] At least 14 people were killed after security forces opened fire on the mourners. [72]
9 October Eight loyalist soldiers were ambushed and killed by the Free Syrian Army in attacks on three army posts in Idlib
Governorate. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem warned foreign governments not to recognise the Syrian National Council,
saying, "We will take tough measures against any state which recognizes this illegitimate council." [73]
10 October The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 17 soldiers and at least 14 civilians were killed, most of them in Homs,
where loyalists clashed with defectors. Security forces arrested 27 people, it reported. The European Union issued a statement hailing
the SNC, but made no move to recognise the council as the legitimate representative of Syria as it did the National Transitional
Council in Libya. [73]
11 October Tens of thousands of Syrians rallied in Damascus in a show of support for Assad, though the opposition alleged the proregime
rally was staged and did not reflect popular opinion. [74]
12 October In the southern village of Harra, at least six loyalist soldiers and two defected soldiers were killed after an ambush against
loyalists in the town square. The northwestern town of Bannish was also the scene of clashes between loyalist and rebel army units; [75]
and the military flew 13 aircraft over the city of Aleppo, for unknown reasons. [76]
13 October At least 20 people have been killed in renewed clashes across Syria, as the European Union decided on a new set of
sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's government. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that 10
civilians were killed in the town of Banash in the northern province of Idlib when soldiers loyal to President Bashar al-Assad stormed
the town of Binish and fought battles with gunmen and army deserters. "The Syrian army backed by tanks and armoured troop carriers
launched an assault this morning on the town of Banash and clashes took place with armed men who were apparently dissidents," the
rights group said. The group said that the army also launched an attack on Taum village, in the province's east. "Several houses were
partly destroyed and people were wounded... while the noise of heavy machineguns and explosions could be heard in several parts of
the town and ambulances seen racing through the streets." In the southern province of Deraa, where the six-month wave of protests
against Assad first erupted, the group said that six soldiers and two army deserters were killed in a clash in the town of Haara,
alongside one civilian. Another soldier was killed in the central city of Homs. [77]
14 October – "Friday of the Free Army" Syrian security forces shot dead at least six protesters on Friday during large antigovernment
demonstrations emboldened by growing international pressure on President Bashar al-Assad, activists said. The shootings
occurred in Aleppo, Syria's second city, and in the suburbs of the capital Damascus, they said. Separately, at least 20,000 Kurds
marched in the city of Qamishli near Turkey in honor of Mishaal Tammo, a Kurdish leader who was killed earlier this month, activists
said. Tammo's supporters say the authorities were behind that killing, which has fueled outrage on the streets after seven months of
political upheaval in Syria. Several thousand people also marched in the town of Hirak in the southern Hauran Plain, which was the
first region to be stormed by tanks and troops at the beginning of the uprising in an effort to put it down. In the central city of Homs,
video footage showed thousands of people rallying in the al-Khalidya neighborhood. [78] The number of people killed in Syria in
violence related to protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government has now reached more than 3,000, the United Nations
human rights chief has said, as she has called for "the international community to take immediate measures to protect the Syrian
people". [79]
15 October Syrian forces shot dead two mourners when they fired at a funeral in central Damascus for a 10-year-old child killed
during a protest a day earlier, a witness said. Some mourners began throwing stones at the security forces, who fired live ammunition
back, the witness told Reuters news agency by phone from the scene in the Maidan district on Saturday. "Passions were running high.
The body was wrapped in white and thousands behind it were chanting 'the people want the execution of the president' and 'we will be
free despite you Bashar'," the witness said. The child, Ibrahim Sheiban, was killed in a protest in the Qadam suburb of Damascus. His
funeral took place in Maidan, an old, socially conservative district of the capital, because his family is originally from there, the
witness, a private sector employee who did not want to be further identified, said. Monzer Makhous of the Syrian National Council, a
coalition of opposition groups, told Al Jazeera that the Maidan area is known for its opposition against Assad's government. "That's
why the security forces have shown such a large presence in this neighbourhood. [80]
17 October Syrian troops killed 21 people during search operations in the flashpoint central city of Homs on Monday, a human rights
group said. "Twenty-one people, some civilians and others police officers, were killed in Homs on Monday during operations by the
army and the security services in several neighbourhoods of the city," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Troops shot
dead two other civilians, one in Idlib province in the northwest and the other a 13-year-old boy in Hama, a protest centre north of
Homs, the Britain-based watchdog said. Seven soldiers were also killed in clashes with gunmen suspected of being army defectors in
Homs province, the Observatory reported earlier. It added that 20 soldiers fled into nearby orchards after those exchanges. [81]

18 October The LCC said 25 doctors and pharmacists had been detained in recent weeks because they had provided medical
treatment to protesters injured at demonstrations. The security forces require hospitals to report on those who seek treatment for
gunshot wounds, prompting many civilians injured at protests to resort to makeshift clinics erected in private homes where facilities
are minimal. The human rights advocacy group Avaaz said it had identified 57 patients who had been detained by the security forces
from their beds in hospitals in the towns of Homs and Lattakia as a result of the reporting requirement. In addition, it said, the
government-sponsored militias known as Shabiha have used Red Crescent ambulances to shoot at demonstrators. [82]
20 October There were more clashes between army loyalists and defectors across Syria, [83] this came the day that the Arab Spring
claimed Muammar Gaddafi's life in Libya. [84] The clashes apparently occurred in the town on Burhaniya near Homs leading to at least
five civilian deaths as well as well as the death of several loyalist soldiers and the destruction of 2 military vehicles. The opposition
also plans another round of Friday protests, this time under the banner of Friday of the Matyrs of the Arab deadline, referring to the
deaths of protesters since the Arab league declared a "two week deadline" for reforms. [84]
21 October – "Friday of the Martyrs of the Arab Deadline" Deaths have been reported during the latest protests in Syria,
including up to 16 in the flashpoint central city of Homs, according to activist groups. Two people were shot dead on Friday in Homs
by security forces manning a checkpoint, while 14 more were killed by security forces as they participated in mass protests, many
celebrating the death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the opposition Local Co-ordination Committees said. Another
civilian died when security forces opened fire on a funeral procession in the southern Deraa region, one of the focal points of
opposition to Syrian President Bashar al Assad's government and two more people died in the central province of Hama, according to
the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. [85] Activists and residents said Syrian authorities have stepped up security in
several cities and towns including the Damascus suburbs and Talbiseh near Homs. “(There is an) unprecedented presence of security
today with snipers on rooftops and roadblocks inside the suburb,” an activist in Damascus suburb of Saqba said. Demonstrations also
broke out in the ethnically Kurdish regions of Qamishli, Derbaseyeh, Malikiya and Amouda. In the town of Houla northwest of
Homs, a crowd of several thousands held shoulders and waved old Syrian flags dating to before Assad’s Baath party took power in a
coup 48 years ago. “Doctor (Assad), you are next!” read banners carried by the villagers, according to live video footage.
Demonstrations also flared in Homs, the provincial capital 140 km (85 miles) north of Damascus, where three members of one family
were also shot dead at an army roadblock in Bab Sbaa district on their way to prayers, local activists said. [86]
23 October Syria's military clampdown on protest hubs, and skirmishes pitting soldiers against gunmen, believed to be defectors,
killed at least 11 people on Saturday, activists said. Meanwhile, Iran, Syria's key ally, took a tougher stance against the regime of
President Bashar al-Assad, openly condemning its crackdown on dissent that has left more than 3,000 people dead, most of them
civilians, according to the United Nations. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad condemned the "killings and massacre" in Syria
in an interview with CNN, in the Islamic republic's strongest criticism of its neighbor's deadly repression of protests calling for greater
freedom and the fall of the Assad regime. [87]
25 October Clashes occurred in the northwestern town of Maarat al-Numaan on 25 October between loyalists and defected soldiers at
a roadblock on the edge of the town. The defectors launched an assault on the government-held roadblock in retaliation against a raid
on their positions the previous night. [88] At least seven Syrian security agents, including an officer, and possibly as many as 10 were
killed in the ambush, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. [89]
26 October The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London said 19 people were killed in Syria, including seven civilians shot
by security forces in the Homs Governorate as well as nine loyalist soldiers killed in a rocket attack attributed to defectors. An Arab
League delegation led by Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi arrived in Damascus for talks. [90][91]
27 October There were protests in Damascus in support of the Syrian National Council whilst some analysts began describing the
situation as the beginning of a "sectarian war". [92][93]
28 October – "Friday of No-Fly Zone" 36 people were reported killed in Syria, most of them in Hama, whilst thousands of
protesters marched demanding a no-fly zone be implemented, such as the one in Libya. Over 100 people were wounded and 500
arrested. Despite the threat of violence, around 170 protests took place on Friday, the traditional day of protest. [94][94] State media
claimed that armed gangs assaulted the main police station in Homs, which activists attributed to defectors from the army. [94] A
Lebanese official claimed that Syrian soldiers were laying landmines along the border between Syria and Lebanon near illegal border
crossings. [95] A former consultant to Bashar Al Assad claimed that if the crackdown on protestors continued, that Syria would soon
slide into a civil war. [96][97] There were reports of 17 pro Assad soldiers being killed in clashes with the Free Syrian Army in
Homs. [98][99]
29 October Tanks and artillery blasted the Homs neighbourhood of Bab Amr, the site of a 90-man defection from the Syrian security
forces two days before, causing several casualties. [100] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that 20 soldiers died and 53
were injured in clashes between loyalist troops and "presumed deserters" in Bab Amr as well. [101]
November 2011
2 November Syrian security forces shot dead at least 11 villagers they had stopped at a roadblock northwest of the central city of
Homs, local activists said on Wednesday, while President Bashar al-Assad approved an Arab League plan to end the crackdown. [102]
3 November At least 19 people have reportedly been killed in the flashpoint city of Homs, as Syrian security forces bombarded
residential areas with tanks. This comes a day after the government approved an Arab League plan to completely halt its violent
crackdown. [103]
4 November – "Friday of God is Greatest" At least 20 people have been reported killed by Syrian security forces as massive antigovernment
demonstrations took place across the country following Friday prayers. Four civilians were reported to have been killed
after security forces opened fire on protesters in the district of Kanaker in the capital, Damascus. Two protesters were reported killed
in Hama, and one in the city of Hamouriya, not far from Damascus. Two others were reported killed trying to cross the border and
flee into Jordan, according to reports. Six reported deaths in the Bab Amro area of Homs on Friday came a day after 22 civilians were
reportedly killed there in a military crackdown. "Syrian security forces continue to shell and launch attacks on Bab Amro district,"
said Al Jazeera's Nisreen El-Shamayleh, reporting from Jordan. "At least 10 people were injured, but ambulances were prevented
from entering the area to reach the wounded. And we are hearing reports that planes are still hovering over the district," El-Shamayleh

said. In the port city of Latakia, an activist said he counted 13 security trucks surrounding the main Arsalan mosque. He said at least
three protesters were wounded by security forces firing in front of the Bazar mosque in the centre of the city. "They were hit and
taken by the security forces. In front of every mosque in Latakia there are several hundred security personnel carrying either batons,
handguns, or automatic rifles," the activist said. [104] A total of 126 unidentified bodies were taken during the past three days to Al-
Watani Hospital in Homs, Syria, a doctor there told CNN. The trauma physician did not want to be identified out of fear of retribution
by government forces, who were at the hospital. Eight of the bodies were burnt, he said Saturday, adding that the deaths have not been
reported in the state-run news media. [105]
7 November Syria's opposition has appealed for international intervention in the central city of Homs, one of the focal points of the
country's uprising, calling it a "humanitarian disaster area". The appeal, issued by the Turkey-based Syrian National Council, came as
activists reported that at least 11 people were killed across the country on Monday, including two children, in an ongoing crackdown
on anti-government protesters by security forces. Activists said that at least eight of the dead were in Homs where hundreds of
residents protested against the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding that government troops stormed several areas and
made house-to-house arrests. Heavy artillery clashes erupted between regime forces and presumed army defectors in Homs, activists
reported, saying it was the fifth day of a "brutal siege on the brave city". More than 110 people have been killed in the past week in
Homs according to the Local Co-ordination Committees activist network. [106]
8 November In Hama, around 50 km north of Homs, tanks and armoured vehicles could be seen moving towards the city centre as
snipers and armed government supporters surrounded a medical complex and the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party, the LCC
said. The activist network reported that five people were killed in Hama. Explosions and heavy gunfire could be heard in the city, and
electricity and internet services had been disabled, they said. [107]
10 November Syrian security forces raided homes and clashes erupted between soldiers and army defectors Thursday, killing at least
21 people across the country, including an 8-year-old girl and six soldiers, activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
said. In some of the attacks, security forces opened fire as they conducted raids in search of dissidents in areas including the suburbs
of the capital, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hama, Daraa, and Homs. [108]
11 November – "Friday of Freezing Syria's Arab League Membership" As least 30 civilians were killed by the Syrian security
forces and army troops, according to Syrian activists. Most of the victims were reported in the restive city of Homs as Human Rights
Watch renewed accusations of the regime's crimes against humanity. The deaths came amid mass anti-regime rallies demanding the
Arab League suspend Syria’s membership in the pan-Arab body to sanction its brutal, eight-month crackdown on dissent. Security
forces broke up demonstrations in al-Malaab, a main thoroughfare in Homs, but rallies relocated and mushroomed, engulfing eight
neighborhoods, including a Al-Bayada, al-Ghuta and Baba Amr, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement from
Nicosia, according to AFP. In the northwestern province of Idlib, near Turkey, demonstrations erupted after the weekly Muslim
midday prayers. The Observatory also reported mass protests in Idlib’s Sheikhun in the wake of a “retreat by security forces from
government buildings following violent clashes" and that “security forces unleashed heavy gunfire to disperse demonstrations,” in the
eastern oil hub of Deir al-Zor. In Damascus, security forces deployed on the streets of Barzeh and posted snipers on rooftops, after a
wave of arrests and deadly violence shook the capital's neighborhood. In the town of Busret al-Sham, in Deraa province, cradle of the
revolt, “security forces shot dead one person,” the Observatory said. [109]
12 November The Arab League announced it would suspend Syria effective 16 November over the violent crackdown and promised
new sanctions, while also urging member states to withdraw ambassadors from Damascus. [110] The Saudi Arabian and Qatari
embassies were attacked by crowds in Damascus. [111] Turkish and French consulates in Latakia were also attacked by crowds. [citation
needed] and the Turkish consulate attacked by angry crowd also in Aleppo. [112]
13 November Hundreds of thousands of supporters of the Assad regime protested against the Arab League decision. Protests against
the Arab Leagues decision occurred in Damascus, Tartus, and Latakia. [113] Meanwhile Syrian security forces on Sunday pressed a
crackdown on dissent, killing five people in the central cities of Homs and Hama, rights activists said, adding two loyalist soldiers
were killed in an ambush. "Security forces opened fire killing four people in Hama," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in
an email received in Nicosia. In the central city of Homs, government snipers killed one person on Cairo Street in the early morning,
said the Observatory, which reported a similar incident in the same place the previous day. Meanwhile, engineering students were
injured by a "round of mortar" fire which hit their faculty building in Baath University, also in Homs, the same source added. Two
civilians, one in Homs and the other in Hama, died from gunshot wounds suffered the previous day. Suspected army defectors
ambushed and killed 2 loyalist soldiers patrolling town of Qusayr, near Homs, the Observatory said. [114] By the end of the day, Syrian
security forces had killed 26 people throughout Syria. [115]
14 November At least 16 people were killed in clashes in and around Deraa, while three were killed in Homs and one was killed and
11 wounded in Saramein. [116] Activists said the army killed 20 people in an attack on Khirbet Ghazaleh near the Jordanian border,
including both civilians and armed fighters. The European Union agreed to expand sanctions against regime officials, while Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he believed the Arab League's suspension was a ploy by Western states to destabilise Syria. [117]
Troops backed by armor killed 20 people, army defectors, insurgents and civilians, in an assault on Khirbet Ghazaleh in the Hauran
Plain, and in fighting that ensued near the town. A similar number of troops were killed. [118]
15 November The death toll rose to 70 people as fighting continued into 15 November, activists reported. The UK-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday that 27 civilians were shot dead by security forces and 34 soldiers as well as 12
suspected army deserters were killed in clashes. Most of the victims were killed in the southern flashpoint province of Deraa, the
observatory said in a statement. "Twenty-three people were shot dead by security forces posted along the road between the towns of
Kherbet Ghazale and Hirak," the statement said. At least four other civilians were killed by security force fire in the city of Homs, a
protest hub in central Syria, the rights group reported. [119] The Jordanian embassy in Damascus was attacked by Assad loyalists after
King Abdullah II criticized the violence and called for Bashar al-Assad to stepdown. The Syrian National Council calls for UN
peacekeepers into Syria.
16 November According to opposition sources, Syrian army deserters attacked a military intelligence office in Harasta, near the
capital Damascus, killing six soldiers and wounding more than 20. "The Syrian Free Army struck with rockets and RPGs" said Omar
Idlibi, the Beirut-based spokesperson for the opposition Syrian Local Co-ordination Committees. Army defectors also killed eight
soldiers and wounded dozens in an attack on a security checkpoint in the town of Kafr Zeta in Hama, the London-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said. [120] A further 17 civilians were killed when Syrian troops fired on anti-government protesters in

several areas of the country, according to the opposition General Syria Revolution Committees. The bulk of the deaths were in the
restive provinces of Homs and Idlib, where residents engaged in acts of civil disobedience to protest the government crackdown. [120]
17 November Jordan and China add to pressure on Syria. [121] Syrian security forces shot dead 13 people, including nine civilians and
four army defectors. [122] Syria's army is planting mines along the border of Jordan. [123] Germany, Britain, France seek UN action
against Syria. [124]
18 November – "Friday of the Expulsion of the Ambassadors" Syrian security forces shot dead at least 20 people on Friday as
they opened fire to disperse protesters urging countries to expel Syria’s ambassadors, activists told Al Arabiya, as Russia called for
restraint over the Damascus crisis. Large anti-government protests occurred in the Damascus suburbs, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Deir
Ezzor, and Daraa. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Friday that three people were killed in the Damascus
countryside, while two were shot in the central protest city of Homs and another in the restive city of Hama, also in the center of the
country. Five people, including a 14-year-old boy, were also shot dead in the southern town of Deraa, cradle of the uprising against
Assad’s autocratic regime, said the Britain-based Observatory. Around 30 people were shot and wounded in Homs, in the Damascus
suburb of Harasta and in Maaret Numan in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Observatory and the opposition Local Coordination
Committees (LCC) reported, according to AFP. The Syrian government has said it would agree to foreign observers but with
conditions. The Arab League has not given an official response as of yet. [125]
19 November The Arab League deadline for Damascus expired, while Syrian security forces killed at least 12 civilians, including two
children, and in addition to the 25 protesters the local coordination committees said were killed on Saturday. [126]
20 November There were reports of rocket-propelled grenades fired at the Baath Party building in central Damascus by the Free
Syrian Army. [127]
21 November At least four people were killed on Monday as Syrian security forces carried out raids in and around the flashpoint
central city of Homs, rights and activist groups reported. "Two people were killed and 7 others were wounded in Homs while 2 others
died and 8 were wounded in (nearby) Qusair by gunfire during raids on Monday morning by the army and security forces," said the
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The military also raided the towns of Karnaz, Latalmleh and Kafar Nabude in the central
province of Hama, the Britain-based Observatory said in a statement received in Nicosia. [128] Two people were injured after Syrian
[citation needed]
security forces attack a bus carrying Turkish citizens on a Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
22 November Britain, France and Germany asked the United Nations to pass a resolution condemning Syrian violence against
opposition protesters. [129]
23 November French foreign minister Alain Juppé assured Syrian opposition forces that NATO powers are considering to launch an
intervention by imposing “humanitarian corridors or humanitarian zones” in the name of protecting civilians from the alleged abuses
of the Assad regime. [130] The Al-Arabia network reports that 12 people were killed in clashes between Syrian security forces and antiregime
demonstrators. [131]
25 November – "Friday of 'The Free Syrian Army is Protecting Me'" [citation needed] As Friday protests were held, Russia, China, and
their partners in the BRICS group of emerging economies urged Syria to start talks with the opposition and warned against foreign
intervention without UN backing. [132] The deadline for Syria to avoid Arab League sanctions passed. [133] The Syrian military claimed
that the Free Syrian Army attacked a military base in the Homs province, killing 10 members of Assad's air force. Of the 10 killed, six
were "elite military pilots" in the Homs Province Ambush [134]
26 November The Free Syrian Army ambushed the Syrian army in Idlib, killing eight loyalist soldiers. The Free Syrian Army had no
casualties. [135]
27 November The Arab League agreed on economic sanctions against Syria, including a freeze on doing business with the Central
Bank of Syria and the Syrian government, a travel ban on regime officials, and a suspension of infrastructure spending by Arab
governments in Syria. [136]
29 November Three civilians were injured and one other killed in a raid by security forces in the town of Saraqeb. The Free Syrian
Army also killed three loyalist soldiers and captured two others. [137]
December 2011
1 December According to the UN, the death toll has reached over 4,000. In light of the casualties and the increasing number of
defections to the Free Syrian Army, the UN is now "characterizing it as a civil war". [3] Meanwhile, 23 people were killed across Syria,
including two children, with most of the fatalities occurring in Hama. Russia delivered P-800 Oniks (Yakhont) supersonic anti-ship
[dubious – discuss][citation needed]
missiles to the Syrian military.
2 December – "Friday of the Syrian Buffer Zone" Tens of thousands marched in protests across Syria on Friday calling for Turkey
to create a buffer zone to protect civilians, as security forces killed at least five more people, activists said. The largest protests were
held in the central Homs province and in the northern town of Hama, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights. “In 17 districts (in the city of) Homs and at least nine neighbouring towns, tens of thousands of people called for the
creation of a buffer zone to ensure their protection,” Abdel Rahman told AFP. “On Friday, Hama saw its biggest protests since the
army entered the city in August,” he added. Smaller protests took place in Aleppo, in Damascus province and in the southern Deraa
province. [138] More defections occurred as another FSA attack occurred near Latakia. The Free Syrian Army attacked an Air Force
Intelligence Office, which resulted in a three-hour long clash that ended in the death of at least eight intelligence officers. There were
reports of gunfire and heavy shelling near the Lebanese border, as well as heavy fighting in the village of Talkalakh. Twenty people
[citation needed]
were killed by Syrian security forces; most of the deaths occurred in Homs and Hama.
3 December A total of 23 people were killed in Syria, 11 of which were civilians killed by security forces. In the province of Idlib,
seven soldiers including an officer and five army defectors were killed in clashes. Tanks were also spotted moving into Idlib, and a
tank was seen burning there as well. The Syrian government condemned a UN vote on human rights violations committed by the
Syrian security forces. The Syrian government claimed that the vote was unjust and based on false information. [139]
4 December At least a dozen Syrian secret police defected from an intelligence compound, activists said, in what appeared to be the
first major desertion from a service that has acted as a pillar of President Assad’s rule. A gunfight then broke out overnight after the

defectors fled the Airforce Intelligence complex in the center of Idlib city. Ten people on both sides were killed or wounded, the
activists said on Sunday, according to Reuters. [140]
5 December A bus driver and 13 passengers in were abducted by shabiha near Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights. Seven people were reported killed in Homs Governorate by security forces, the Observatory said, and 63 people dead, at least
half in Homs, were reportedly killed over the weekend. FSA fighters killed four members of the security forces, including an officer,
in Dael in Deraa Governorate, according to the same report. Eighteen students were arrested, the Observatory claimed. [141]
7 December An interview between Bashar al-Assad and veteran ABC News journalist Barbara Walters was released. In the interview
Assad claimed that he was not responsible for the military crackdown and said he did not feel guilty because his government was
doing nothing wrong. [142]
8 December Activist groups said 13 people were killed by security forces throughout Syria. An oil pipeline supplying a refinery in
Homs was attacked and set on fire, an attack SANA blamed on "armed terrorists" and protesters blamed on security forces and
shabiha. [143]
9 December – "Friday of the Dignity Strike" The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Revolution General
Commission reported that at least 41 people, including seven children and three army defectors, were killed by security forces
attempting to derail a planned nationwide "Dignity Strike". [144] Many of the deaths were in Homs, the de facto centre of the
opposition, where Free Syrian Army units purportedly clashed with security personnel. The Syrian National Council claimed Assad's
forces gathered in the thousands around the city to prepare for an "impending massacre". The military allegedly warned that Homs
had 72 hours to comply with an ultimatum to end protests. Clashes and arrests also reportedly took place in Aleppo, Idlib
Governorate, and Damascus. [145]
10 December At least 12 died as Syrian troops attacked funeral processions and clashed with FSA defectors. The government of
France called for involvement by the international community. [146]
11 December The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ordered at least a dozen U.S.-listed firms to provide details of
their business in Syria and Iran, the Financial Times reported. [147] Near the Jordanian border, more than one score of tanks from the
12th Armoured Brigade stormed Busra al-Harir, sparking what Reuters and Al Jazeera described as a "major battle" with Free Syrian
Army and other armed elements in the town. Fighting was especially intense in the Lujah region of rocky hills north of Busra al-Harir,
which defectors have used as a base to harass and disrupt military supply lines. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe
blamed an attack on French UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Hezbollah and said his government believed the attackers
acted on orders from Damascus. Within Syria, many shops did not open due to a nationwide strike, and the opposition boasted of the
strike effectively shutting down Damascus. [148] Amid protests and fighting elsewhere in the country, opposition activists reported 26
killed by security forces, including nine dead in Homs, six dead in Hama, three dead in Deraa, two in Idlib, and two outside
Damascus. They also claimed five Syrian soldiers were killed. [149] The two biggest Syrian cities, Damascus and Aleppo did not follow
the strike called by the opposition and most business operated as usual. [150]
12 December Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said more than 5,000 had been killed in Syria
since the uprising and crackdown began. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, whose own government faced protests during the
month, defended Assad and said the West should not call for him to step down and should condemn the actions of the Free Syrian
Army. [151] In Washington, D.C., U.S. President Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and discussed the
subject of Syria. In a press conference after the meeting, Obama said he and Maliki disagreed on what action to take, but said he
believed Maliki was taking Iraq's best interests to heart. Maliki reiterated his opposition to economic sanctions against Syria. [152] The
nationwide strike continued in Syria, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 15 dead throughout the country, with
most of the violence in Homs Governorate and Idlib Governorate. [153]
13 December At least 28 people were killed during the day, activists said, with most of the deaths occurring in Idlib Governorate.
Eleven civilians were allegedly gunned down after closing an arterial road, with 26 more wounded. SANA claimed 15 gunmen were
intercepted trying to "infiltrate" across the Turkish border and two were killed. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said after talks
with his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci that Moscow had decided to support the Arab League's initiative in Syria and wanted
observers to oversee troops' withdrawal from major Syrian cities. [154] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Free
Syrian Army ambushed and killed seven Syrian security troops in Bab al-Hawa in Idlib Governorate. [155] The FSA also killed a senior
officer called Brigadier General Ghanem Ibrahim al-Hassan, SANA reported. The state-run media organ claimed that it was
retaliation for the interception at the border crossing earlier that day. [156] In the early hours of the morning, an oil pipeline was blown
up near Rastan in central Syria, with both the government and the opposition blaming each other for the attack. [157] The United
Nations formally announced that at least 5,000 Syrians were estimated to have died in the uprising. [158]
14 December Loyalist soldiers reportedly fired upon a civilian car on 14 December, killing five people, in response, the Free Syrian
Army staged an ambush against a loyalist convoy consisting of four jeeps, killing eight soldiers. [159] A total of 25 people, 17 of whom
were civilians, were reported killed on 14 December. [160] Security forces launched a raid on Hama aimed at ending a three day strike
by the opposition, resulting in at least ten deaths and the destruction of two armoured vehicles by armed insurgents, possibly the Free
Syrian Army. [161]
15 December The FSA engaged loyalist army units and security service agents south of Damascus on 15 December, leading to 27
loyalist deaths and an unknown number of FSA casualties. The clashes broke out at three separate checkpoints in Daraa province
around dawn. [162]
16 December – "Friday of the Arab League Is Killing Us" Hundreds of thousands of Syrians took to the streets on Friday to
protest against President Bashar al-Assad, a day after Syria’s big power ally Russia sharpened its criticism of Damascus in a draft
United Nations resolution. As many as 22 people were killed by the gunfire of Syrian security forces during the rallies which
protesters called “The Arab League is killing us,” Al Arabiya reported citing Syrian activists. Friday’s killings took place, activists
said, after midday prayers in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour and in Homs, hotbed of opposition to four decades of repressive Assad
family rule, according to Reuters. Protesters were the largest yet since August, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
reporting over 200,000 in Homs, as well large demonstrations in Idlib, Daraa, Deir al-Zour, Hama, Aleppo and Damascus. [163]
[citation needed]
17 December 2 Free Syrian Army soldiers were killed by security forces.

18 December Armed clashes erupted in Syria Sunday, killing at least 15 civilians and 6 Syrian soldiers, activists said. Isolated and
faced with a possible civil war, Syria appeared to be bending toward allowing Arab League observers in as a step toward ending the
conflict. [164]
19 December In a statement sent to AFP in Nicosia, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said between 60 and 70 army deserters
were gunned down as they abandoned their positions in the Idlib towns of Kansafra and Kafr Awid. The Observatory reported earlier
that security forces shot dead at least 6 civilians on Monday, even as Syria's regime agreed to allow Arab observers into the country to
monitor a deal to end a bloody protest crackdown. [165] According to locals, the reported death toll for the day rose to well over 100
with the killings of the army deserters, crackdowns throughout the country, and fighting between Syrian soldiers and Free Syrian
soldiers. [166]
20 December At least 100 Syrian army deserters were killed or wounded in clashes and 49 civilians killed Tuesday, a rights group
said, as Damascus faced new demands to halt its bloody crackdown on dissent. The Gulf Cooperation Council urged the Syrian
government to "immediately halt its killing machine, put an end to bloodshed, lift all signs of armed conflict and release prisoners, as
a first step towards implementing the protocol". [167][citation needed] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 14 members of the
security forces were killed in southern Daraa province, where the protests broke out in mid-March. [168] Forces loyal to Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad killed 111 civilians in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
reported. [169]
21 December Syrian security forces were accused of massacring the entire village of Kfar Owaid, about 30 miles from the Turkish
border, with rockets, machine guns, tanks, and nail bombs. The Syrian army surrounded the unarmed villagers in the Budnaya Valley
after forcing them to flee their homes, activist groups and a witness said. The troops allegedly killed the more than 100 people trapped
inside in an attack that lasted for hours, in one of the deadliest single events of the uprising to date. [170][171] Under a new law, the
Syrian government said it would execute anyone smuggling weapons for the sake of committing "terrorist acts". According to Al
Jazeera, became clear that "army defectors have taken control over some towns and villages, almost as though they have created some
sort of safe area, where protesters from other regions were seeking a safe haven and where defectors were able to operate from". [172]
The Syrian official media reported that the army arrested tens of armed men and seized weapons in operations across the country. [173]
SANA reported that Assad supporters gathered in Damascus' Umayyad Square to honor the army and to watch the unveiling of a 7-
meter statue of a Syrian soldier. [174]
22 December Fresh raids and gunfire by government forces on Thursday killed at least 19 people, most of them in the central city of
Homs and northern Idlib province, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination
Committees. [175] The Syrian government updated the casualty figures of its soldiers to 2,000, as the Arab League prepared an agreed
observer mission into the country, amongst rising civilian, defector, and soldier deaths from ongoing clashes in the Zawiya mountains
near Idlib. [176]
23 December – "Friday of the Protocol of Death" Two car bombings in Damascus at security offices killed civilians and some
soldiers, leaving 44 dead and 163 wounded. Syrian officials said that Al Qaeda was suspected of carrying out the attack. A website,
which supposedly belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, emerged claiming the attacks. It was later revealed that the website was fake
and made by the Syrian regime only one day before the bombings. Also, many members of the organization were interviewed on
several channels and denied any relation between them and the Damascus events. [177] Meanwhile, the opposition said the Syrian
government may have orchestrated the attacks to reinforce its narrative of a country beset by terrorist-related violence. [178] The
government of Lebanon had reportedly warned Damascus two days prior that Al Qaida infiltrated Syria from Arsal, Lebanon. [179]
Daily Friday protests occurred throughout Syria, most notably in Idlib, Homs, Qamishli, Hama, Damascus and its suburbs. As many
as 28 people were killed as Syrian security forces continued with its crackdown against protesters and dissents in the country, Al
Arabiya reported, citing Syrian activists. [180]
24 December Thousands rallied in support of Assad in Damascus at the funeral of the victims of the previous day's bombings,
blaming the attacks on the Syrian opposition and Qatar. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby condemned the attacks in a
statement. [178] Meanwhile, Oil Minister Sufian Allaw said oil production in Syria had fallen by between 30 percent and 35 percent due
to foreign sanctions preventing exports. [181] Sudanese General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, the leader of a planned Arab
League observer mission, arrived in Damascus to meet with the Syrian government ahead of the mission's official start. [182]
25 December Burhan Ghalioun called for the Arab League and the United Nations Security Council to coordinate efforts to hold the
Syrian government accountable for the bloodshed. In the Homsi neighborhood of Baba Amr, at least 15 civilians were killed by
artillery bombardment, activists said. As many as 4,000 soldiers were reported to have surrounded the city. [183]
26 December Residents said at least 34 were killed in Homs, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London said four
died in Hama, two died in Idlib, one died in Daraa, and one more died in a suburb of Damascus as a result of security forces' actions,
for a total death toll of 42 throughout the country related to the uprising for the day. [184] Some Homs residents posted amateur video to
the Internet showing what appear to be army tanks moving through the city, firing on apartment buildings with machine guns and
mortar rounds, and mangled bodies and pools of blood, as well as ruined cars and power lines, in the streets of the city. At least one
resident reported seeing army ambulances carrying wounded soldiers, suggesting that militant elements of the Syrian opposition were
fighting back against the military crackdown in Homs. The Observatory also reported clashes and arrests in Aleppo. [185] Meanwhile,
50 Arab League monitors headed to Damascus as opposition members sought to downplay the mission, saying Syrian authorities were
likely to stymie its chances of uncovering the truth and block observers' access to some of the worst-hit parts of the country, and the
French government insisted on greater transparency. [186] The observers arrived in the Syrian capital after sundown, sources told
Reuters. [182]
27 December At least 11 tanks that had been shelling the neighbourhood of Baba Amr in Homs, according to residents and
opposition activists, reportedly withdrew ahead of Arab League monitors' visit to the city. [187] More than 2,000 Homsis turned out for
a sit-in protest awaiting the Arab League team's arrival, an activist said. [188] Al Jazeera reported thousands more marched in protest at
the funeral of a city resident killed the previous day. [189] The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of protesters in the
Khalidiyah neighbourhood at 20,000, while the Local Co-ordinating Committees said turnout there was closer to 35,000. [188] Over
70,000 [184] protesters reportedly converged on Clock Square in the center of the city, apparently after hearing Arab League monitors
were in the area, but an activist said security forces began firing tear gas and live ammunition and prevented them from occupying the
square. Elsewhere in Homs, including in besieged Baba Amr, the Observatory said gunfire, including volleys from snipers, impaired

the free movement of residents. [188] Although General Dabi, the leader of the observer team, said the day proceeded well and "all sides
were very responsive", amateur video footage posted on the Internet appeared to show anti-government Homsis unsuccessfully
pleading with monitors to travel further into the Baba Amr neighbourhood, where extensive violence had been reported. [184] Avaaz
claimed similar scenes of civil protest and regime violence in Hama, where thousands of demonstrators marching to al-Assi Square in
the city centre were scattered by troops firing live ammunition, according to activists. Thirty-three deaths were reported in total
throughout Syria by the LCC, including 13 in Homs, four in Daraa, four near Damascus, three at Damascus University, three in
Hama, three in Idlib, two in Deir ez-Zor, and one in Latakia. The incident at Damascus University occurred when, the Observatory
claimed, a student recently detained and tortured by the regime opened fire on fellow students who vocally supported Assad. The
Syrian Arab News Agency reported on the school shooting, but made no mention of any political motivation on the shooter's part.
SANA also claimed a terrorist attack shut down a natural gas pumping operation in Homs Governorate. [188]
28 December At least 13 people were killed in fresh violence across Syria, activists said, as Arab League observers continued their
mission. Six of the dead were reportedly killed while protesting in Hama. Local rights groups say others were killed in Homs, Aleppo,
and Idlib. Video shared by activists from the protest in Hama showed gunshots being fired and black smoke rising above the city.
Dozens of men were marching through the streets, chanting "Where are the Arab monitors?" In Deraa, army defectors killed at least
four Syrian soldiers in an ambush. [190]
29 December Protesters demanded the removal of Mustafa Dabi as leader of the Arab League monitoring team as observers visited
Hama, where six more people were killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Al Jazeera reported that an
anonymous official with the observing mission in Syria had said monitors had witnessed shelling in Homs and it was apparent some
parts of the city were controlled by the Free Syrian Army. The official, whose report directly contradicted Dabi's account of the
situation, predicted the mission was doomed to fail. The LCC put the nationwide death toll at 35 for the day, [191] while the
Observatory said 26 were confirmed dead, with four deaths allegedly occurring in Douma after security forces fired live ammunition
into a crowd of about 20,000 massing at its Grand Mosque for a protest ahead of an expected visit by Arab League observers. The
Observatory said Douma residents responded to the shootings in their city by organising a mass strike and flooding into the city
square for a sit-in thousands strong. The report could not be immediately confirmed, nor could rumours that Arab League vehicles
were sighted in Douma. Hundreds also reportedly protested in Midan, a central Damascus neighbourhood, before being dispersed by
soldiers shooting tear gas. The Observatory claimed 150,000 marched in the streets in Idlib Governorate, its largest demonstration in
recent days. After meeting with Nabil Elaraby, head of the Arab League, Syrian National Council leader Burhan Ghalioun said he
feared the Syrian government held more than 100,000 detainees and could execute them "to say there are no prisoners" if Arab
League monitors demanded access to facilities in which they are imprisoned. [192]
30 December – "Friday of the March to the Freedom Squares" Activists said more than 130 protesters had been confirmed killed,
including six children, since the Arab League observers arrived in Syria earlier in the week. [193] During the day, that reported death
toll grew to 32 following attacks from security forces. BBC News gave a death toll of 35 for the day. [194] In what seemed to be the
largest day of demonstrating, with more than 500,000 people demonstrating in two governorates alone: Hama and Idlib, over 6
million people are said to have rallied in Syria against Bashar Al-Assad, according to activists. Tens of thousands protested in
Damascus, as well as tens of thousands in Homs. Smaller demonstrations occurred in Daraa, Deir Ezzor, and Aleppo. [195][196] Amateur
video posted online appeared to show an orange-vested Arab League observer in Daraa responding to residents' claims that snipers
were nearby by saying he had seen the snipers himself and telling them the monitors planned to ask the Syrian government to remove
any snipers from Daraa within 24 hours. [194] In Cairo, the SNC and the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria
signed onto a political roadmap for a transition to democracy in Syria to be put into effect if Assad is deposed. [197]
31 December Activists reported at least nine deaths, at least three of them in Homs, at least one in Damascus, and at least one in Al-
Bukamal, as security forces attacked large protests across the country. The LCC said some protests evolved from funeral marches for
demonstrators killed the day before. [198] Al Jazeera reported that the number of statements received by the network from Arab League
observers critical of the regime's crackdown had mounted over the past two days. Meanwhile, the SNC signed a deal with the National
Co-ordination Committee, to work together on developing a "parliamentary system for a democratic, pluralistic civil state [that]
guarantees the exchange of power through elections". [199] The head of the Arab League's observing team, General Mustafa Dabi, said
in an interview with the BBC News on Newshour that no observers saw snipers in Deraa, contradicting amateur video showing an
observer telling activists he saw snipers in the city centre. Dabi claimed that the observer was making "a hypothetical remark
only". [200]
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External links
Wikinews has news related to:
2011 Syria anti-government protests
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2011 Syrian protests
• The Syrian Revolution 2011 االسد بشار ضد السورية الثورة Facebook page
• Timeline: Syria unrest, Ahram Online
• Syria Unrest collected coverage with live blog at Al Jazeera English
• Timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising (September–December 2011) collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Live updates on Syria’s uprising at NOW Lebanon
• Syria protests (2011) collected coverage at The New York Times
• Syria Comment by Joshua Landis

(January–April 2012)
January 2012
1 January Multiple reports on Twitter claimed that Syrians in several restive neighborhoods and cities, including Midan in central
Damascus, Baba Amr in Homs, and Idlib city, were marching in New Year's Day protests against the regime in the early morning,
shortly after midnight. The opposition Local Co-ordinating Committees announced it had confirmed 5,862 deaths in the Syrian
uprising during 2011, including 287 prisoners allegedly tortured to death. The LCC also announced the first confirmed death from the
uprising in 2012, a wounded person who died due to insufficient blood plasma supply at a hospital. [3] That death toll rose to eight,
several of them fatalities from Syrian security forces firing on protesters in the Damascene suburb of Daria, the LCC reported near the
end of the day. [4] Neoconservative commentator Nick Cohen, writing for the British newspaper The Guardian, said that the Western
world should in intervene militarily to oust President Bashar al-Assad and stop the Syrian Army from committing further human
rights violations. The editorial echoed opposition claims that interrogators in Aleppo had invented a new type of torture wherein
detainees are forced to stand on a heated metal plate until they confess or else collapse from extensive damage to their feet. [5] The
Arab Parliament, a consultative pan-Arab body created by the Arab League, called for the withdrawal of the supranational
organization's observers from Syria. Ali El-Salem El-Dekbas, the Speaker of the Parliament, said the observers were doing no good
and it was a disgrace to keep them in Syria with the crackdown ongoing. "The mission of the Arab League team has missed its aim of
stopping the killing of children and ensuring the withdrawal of troops from the Syrian streets, giving the Syrian regime a cover to
commit inhumane acts under the noses of the Arab League observers," Dekbas said in a statement. [6] Assad insider and Syrian security
officer Colonel Hafez Makhlouf's plans to visit Switzerland were waylaid when the Swiss Federal Tribunal ruled that Makhlouf
should not be granted a visa. Makhlouf had reportedly planned to consult with an attorney in Switzerland on a bid to overturn
international sanctions freezing his assets and restricting his travel. [7] According to Iranian state news agency PressTV, a poll
conducted by The Doha Debates showed that 55% of Syrian respondents did not want Assad to resign. [8]
2 January Nabil Elaraby, secretary-general of the Arab League, defended the observer mission after the Arab Parliament's call for its
withdrawal. Elaraby claimed that, as a result of the monitors' presence placing pressure on the Syrian government to comply with the
Arab peace initiative, Syrian Army (SA) tanks had been withdrawn from cities, almost 3,500 detainees had been released, and
humanitarian aid had been delivered to formerly besieged cities. However, contradicting mission leader General Mohammed Ahmed
Mustafa al-Dabi's remarks on Newshour two days earlier, Elaraby acknowledged snipers remained in several areas and shooting was
still ongoing, though it was hard for monitors to tell who was shooting and at whom. Opposition activists contested Elaraby's remarks,
telling The Los Angeles Times that many tanks had not withdrawn and were being hidden within striking distance of city centers in
restive areas. [9] Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told the Knesset that he judged Assad's remaining time in power
could be measured in weeks. [10] The opposition Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) said four were killed in Syria by
security forces as of 9 am local time. [11] The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the state-run media outlet in Syria, said a school
worker was killed by gunmen holding her hostage and a journalist died of wounds suffered in a shooting in Daraya, a Damascus
suburb, some days earlier. [12] In northern Syria's Idlib Governorate, near the border with Turkey, the opposition Syrian Observatory
For Human Rights (SOHR) said that, despite a self-imposed moratorium on offensive actions against the regime during the Arab
League mission, Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters captured two military checkpoints and took several dozen soldiers prisoner, and
clashed with security forces at a third, leaving an unspecified number of SA soldiers dead or wounded. The claim could not be
immediately confirmed due to tight restrictions on foreign media in Syria. [12]
3 January According to the SOHR, at least 18 people were killed in Jassem during clashes between SA soldiers after loyalist troops
allegedly fired on comrades who were attempting to defect. Security forces swept through the area, detaining more than 100, after the
fighting. [13] Witnesses said several were killed when security forces fired live ammunition into demonstrators massing in Hama.
According to SANA, a policeman was shot dead outside Homs National Hospital and another policeman was shot dead at al-Khudra
market, Idlib. [14] The Syrian government claimed "terrorists" destroyed a gas pipeline near Rastan, disrupting the electricity supply to
parts of the country. [15] FSA leader Colonel Riad al-Asaad said the FSA may mount "a huge escalation of our operations" in coming
days. However, some analysts cast aspersions on the claim, suggesting Asaad may be more a figurehead than a practical leader. [16]
President Nicolas Sarkozy, the French head of state, accused Assad of committing "massacres" in Syria. His criticism was echoed by
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, who called on the Syrian government to allow the Arab League's monitors unrestricted
access. [13] In Cairo, the Arab League called an emergency meeting for 7 January to review the observer mission's work and discuss its
future. [15]
4 January Syrian Defence Ministry official Mahmoud Sleiman Hajj Hamad defected to the opposition, The Guardian and other
major news outlets reported. [17] Hamad was the Head Inspector of the Syrian Ministry of Defence. [18] He also held a press conference
on Wednesday in Cairo to announce his defection. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamad, who was also an inspector at the monetary
center for the interior ministry, denied government claims that the ongoing violence was caused by “terrorists” aided from abroad.
“We were analysing and seeing for ourselves that the regime's story about armed gangs going out and killing protesters was
all lies," he said. "I confirm there are no armed gangs, they are all unarmed protesters.”
Hamad said the government has spent about $40m on loyalist militias to crush demonstrations since March, as security forces, at
times backed by tanks, laid siege to protests hubs across the nation.
“While auditing, I found two billion Syrian pounds [$40m] paid out to the regime's paid thugs, and seen an increase in the
spending of the intelligence and defense ministries for the purpose of paying thugs. We saw them preparing and heading out
in their armored vehicles and buses toward the young protesters and killing them. It has been happening since the beginning
of the protests.”
Hamad also said most government officials and employees want to defect but are afraid of the consequences.
"Syrian government officials live in a kind of prison...No one can go anywhere without being accompanied by a member of
the security services," he added.

Hamad continued that he has seen proof that Iran and Iraq are aiding the Syrian government's crackdown. Hamad also praised the
FSA. [19] Meanwhile, the LCC reported at least five deaths and numerous injuries it described as "serious" as a result of security forces'
actions. [20] The SNC announced a new official website at syriancouncil.org. [21]
SANA reported that a gas pipeline and a bridge were bombed near al-Rastan. Mihajja Bridge in Daraa Countryside was also
reportedly damaged by a bomb, which targeted a police patrol. The blast and gunfire that followed reportedly killed one policeman
and wounded five. Meanwhile, a Baath Party worker was shot dead as he drove his car in Hama Countryside, SANA said. [22]
5 January Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani criticized the Arab League mission in Syria, saying after a meeting with
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York City, "I said we must evaluate the types of mistakes it made and
without a shadow of a doubt I see mistakes, even though we went in to observe, not to stop the violence." He said he had suggested to
Ban that the UN could take a role in training Arab League personnel in how to monitor human rights situations in the future. Despite
Sheikh Hamad's remarks, Reuters reported citing sources within Arab governments that the Arab League was likely to decide over the
weekend to keep the observers in Syria. [23] Meanwhile, SNC President Burhan Ghalioun suggested a military intervention in Syria
would not need to be NATO-led and could be done on a more limited scale than in the Libyan civil war. [24] Influential Iranian
parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi took the opposite tack, accusing Turkey of threatening the "stability" of the region by criticizing
the Syrian government and harboring the FSA and other political dissidents. Boroujerdi called for Ankara to modify its stance to be in
line with Tehran's approach of rejecting all international criticism of Damascus' handling of the uprising. [25] In Syria itself, the
government reported it had released 552 detainees "whose hands were not stained with blood". [23] Kurdish media reported the death of
a young Kurdish man in Harasta and three injuries to Kurds in Qamishlo, all allegedly at the hands of loyalist snipers. The accounts
could not be independently confirmed. [26] According to SANA, a policeman and two bystanders were killed in a drive-by-shooting in
Homs, while another two policemen were injured by an explosive device in al-Tarnabeh, Idlib province. Two rebels were allegedly
killed when a bomb prematurely exploded in Idlib city industrial zone. Meanwhile, the mayor of al-Sina'a, al-Tadamon and Basatin
Saleh district was shot dead outside his house in the city of Jableh, SANA reported. [27]
6 January – "Friday of Victory from God" Syrian state television reported that dozens of people died in a suicide bombing in the
al-Midan quarter of Damascus (see January 2012 al-Midan bombing). The attack allegedly targeted a police bus, [28] leaving 25 people
dead and 46 wounded. [29] The Syrian government immediately called the attack a "continuation of the terrorist acts targeting innocent
civilians" and said it "reflects the criminal mentality of perpetrators and their antagonism towards moral heritage and national
values", [30] while Colonel Asaad and the SNC both issued statements accusing the government of staging the attack to sully the
opposition's image and deter a planned protest in the area, one of the hubs of the uprising. [31] Later in the day, SANA reported that an
explosion caused by "terrorists" had severed an oil pipeline between Hama and Idlib governorates. [32] Meanwhile, according to Al
Arabiya, an Arab League team of monitors withdrew from the Damascus suburb of Arbeen after loyalist forces shot at them as they
toured the streets. [33] CNN reported that the incident occurred when protesters surrounded the monitors, chanting slogans against the
government, and security forces opened fire on them, endangering the observers. [34] A Syrian opposition member claimed that he
learned from anonymous security forces in Aleppo that the Syrian government was planning an orchestrated bombing in Aleppo. [35] In
Friday protests, activists said at least 35 were killed throughout Syria, including in the Kfar Souseh neighborhood of Damascus,
according to a witness who said he saw security forces open fire on unarmed demonstrators. [36] Major protests also took place in
Aleppo, Idlib, Qamishli, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, and elsewhere in Damascus, among other parts of Syria. [34][37][38] Three soldiers
attempting to defect were shot dead in Rastan, according to the LCC. [34] According to SANA, men in military uniform launched a gun
attack on Sur police station in Deraa Countryside, killing two policemen and wounding six. It also reported that a colonel and
lieutenant were shot dead as they drove through Homs, that a policeman was shot dead in Idlib city, and that the mayor of al-Amqieh
Municipality in Hama province was assassinated. [39] General Mustapha Ahmed el Sheick of the SA defected to join the FSA on 6
January; the highest-ranking defector so far. [40]
7 January Colonel Afeef Mahmoud Suleima of the Syrian Air Force logistics division defected along with at least 50 of his men,
ordering his men to protect protesters in the city of Hama. "We are from the Army and we have defected because the government is
killing civilian protesters. The Syrian Army attacked Hama with heavy weapons, air raids and heavy fire from tanks...We ask the Arab
League observers to come visit areas affected by air raids and attacks so you can see the damage with your own eyes, and we ask you
to send someone to uncover the three cemeteries in Hama filled with more than 460 corpses," Colonel Suleima said in a statement. [41]
In Damascus, thousands of pro-government protesters gathered at a mosque for the funeral of 11 policemen the government said died
in the previous day's bombing. [42] Opposition activists accused the government of making fake television footage of the aftermath of
the bombing, pointing to three clips they said were "mistakenly" aired by Syrian state TV. One shows what seems to be an injured
man on the ground standing up just before the end of the clip. Another shows a man with a microphone (allegedly a reporter for
Syrian state TV) placing "bags of vegetables" in the street to give the impression that some of the victims were civilians shopping in
the nearby market. The third video shows a person putting police shields in one of the damaged vans. [43]
8 January More than a dozen people, including 11 soldiers, were killed in clashes between rebels and loyalists in Basr al-Harir, a
town in southern Daraa Governorate, according to the SOHR. [44] The LCC reported shelling and gunfire in Deir ez-Zor. SANA
reported that rebels fired at a police vehicle in the al-Khalidiyeh neighborhood of Homs, wounding 11 policemen. It also reported that
another four policemen were wounded by gunfire near the National Hospital and that gunmen fired at a vehicle belonging to the
Military Housing Establishment in Ashireh neighborhood, wounding the driver. [45] A chief police officer was stopped by gunmen
while he was driving on the Harasta-Douma road. He was shot dead but his passenger was allowed to leave unharmed, SANA
reported. [45] In Cairo, Arab foreign ministers met at the Arab League to discuss the monitoring mission in Syria and hear the first
official report from Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, its leader. [46] The Arab League decided to extend their
mission after having heard the first rapports of their observers. They called for an end to the violence by both the Syrian government
and opposition. [47]
9 January Opposition activists said at least 21 people were killed in clashes throughout Syria. SOHR said most of the deaths were in
the city of Homs and Idlib province. [48]
10 January Opposition activists said that security forces killed at least 31 protesters, most of them in the cities of Deir al-Zour and
Homs. [49] SANA reported that rebels fired at a vehicle carrying Syrian soldiers in Rif Dimashq. It said that three soldiers (including a
colonel) were killed and three were wounded. [50] Syrian president Bashar al-Assad addressed a crowd at Damascus University in a
speech. He said that he would remain in power because he felt he had the support of the people of Syria. He claimed that victory was

near if Syrians had "courage". He blamed what he called "foreign conspiracies" for the unrest in Syria and said that restoring order
can only be done by fighting "terrorists" with an iron fist. He denied that he gave orders to shoot protesters. He also announced that he
plans a referendum in March for constitutional changes. [51][52][53]
11 January Opposition activists reported that 28 people were killed across Syria by security forces, 13 of them in Homs. [54] A French
reporter for the channel France 2 news was killed by a mortar shell or rocket while on a government organized trip to a progovernment
rally. The reporter was killed when he went to check on an explosion near the local hospital, only to be hit by an
additional mortar shell or rocket upon arriving there. Eight civilians were also killed in the attack. [55][56] SANA reported that a military
bus was struck by a roadside bomb and then fired upon in Ya'four, Rif Dimashq. It said that four soldiers were killed and eight
wounded. [57]
Other events- A former Arab League observer to Syria decried the organization's monitoring mission a "farce". Anwar Malek, an
Algerian Arab League observer who was part of the monitoring team, told Al Jazeera that he resigned because of what he saw, and
said that the mission was falling apart. "What I saw was a humanitarian disaster. The regime is not just committing one war crime, but
a series of crimes against its people," he said. "The snipers are everywhere shooting at civilians. People are being kidnapped.
Prisoners are being tortured and none were released". He said that security forces did not withdraw their tanks from the streets, but
just hid them and then redeployed them after the observers left. Malek also said "The regime didn't meet any of our requests, in fact
they were trying to deceive us and steer us away from what was really happening, towards insignificant things". He said that those
who were supposedly freed and were shown on TV, were actually people who had been randomly grabbed off the street. "They were
detained for four or five days in tough conditions and later released as if they had been real prisoners". Malek also said that he had
seen snipers on top of buildings: "On one, there were even army officers in front of the building, while snipers were on the roof. Some
on our team preferred to maintain good relations with the regime and denied that there were snipers". He said that Assad's government
"has gained a lot of time that has helped it implement its plan. Therefore I've decided to withdraw from this mission". The head of the
Arab League observer mission, Sudanese Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al Dabi, distanced himself from Malek's claims, saying
that Malek did not leave his hotel room because of illness. [55] This was later denied by Malek, who said that he is shown on many
videos taken by activists, as well as Syrian state TV coverage that showed him walking the streets of Homs. He also accused Dabi of
ignoring his requests to talk to him about his reasons for resigning. [58] The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Lynn
Pascoe, said that, since the Arab League mission began, an estimated 400 people have been killed, an average of 40 a day, a rate much
higher than before the mission began. [59] Israeli officials said that if Assad fell, Alawis might be forced to flee to the Israeli-occupied
Golan Heights. [60] Tens of thousands turned out in a show of support for the government in Omeyad Square and were greeted by
President Assad, who gave a short speech saying that his supporters would defeat what he called "a conspiracy against Syria". [61] The
archbishop of Aleppo, Jean Clément Jeanbart, said that he was very worried that Christians would suffer as much as they did in Iraq if
the regime fell. He said that he was in favor of giving Assad a chance and claimed that most Christians in Syria supported Assad. [62]
12 January Opposition activists reported that security forces killed 18 people, mostly in Homs and Idlib. [63] SANA reported that eight
policemen were killed in an attack on their bus near Jbala crossroads, 5 km north of Khan Sheikhoun. [64] Al Jazeera reported the
defection of Sheikh Abdul Jalil al-Saeed, said to be public relations director for Grand Cleric Ahmad Hassoun. Hassoun denied that
al-Saeed was ever employed by the state and asserted that that no such position existed. [65]
13 January – "Friday of Support for the Free Syrian Army" Weekly Friday protests occurred, with tens of thousands protesting in
Homs, Hama, Idlib, Aleppo and Damascus's suburbs. Protesters chanted in support of the Free Syrian Army as the Syrian National
Council announced that it would begin to co-ordinate with the FSA. Opposition activists reported that security forces killed at least 13
people during the protests, including three children. They also reported that the Syrian Army entered the outskirts of Zabadani, a town
30 km outside Damascus, and cut its communications. It was claimed that that tanks were bombarding Zabadani and the nearby town
of Madaya, but that government forces were meeting resistance from the FSA. [66][67][68] SANA reported that three Syrian Army
soldiers were killed and three wounded in a gun attack on a "Morse Code service center" in al-Mrah, Rif Dimashq. [69] It also reported
that two policemen were shot dead and 12 wounded in Wadi al-Saei'h neighborhood of Homs, while a soldier was shot dead in a gun
attack on a Syrian Army recruitment office in the city. [69]
14 January Opposition activists said that five civilians were killed by security forces throughout the country by noon. [70] SANA
reported that a bomb planted on the railway between Mahmabil and Bishmaroun stations in Idlib derailed a train drawing 20 tankers
loaded with 1000 tons of fuel. Some of the tankers caught fire and three of the train workers were injured. It also reported that
saboteurs destroyed a high-voltage electricity pylon in Deir Ezzor desert. [71] The government of Qatar suggested that Arab League
states should send in troops to end attack on civilians by Syrian government forces. [72] An SNC official said Brigadier General
Mostafa Ahmed al-Sheik, deputy commander of Syria's northern army, defected to Turkey two weeks prior. [73]
15 January Syrian security forces shot dead 27 people on Sunday across the country, most of them in the city of Homs and the
northwestern province of Idlib, the LCC reported. Meanwhile, 10,000 people marched in the town of Zabadani, in Damascus
province, where an Arab observer team has been deployed, calling for regime change, according to the SOHR. Several thousand
demonstrated in the Idlib town of Maaret al-Numan, calling for regime change and the trial of Bashar al-Assad when they met an
observer team there. [74] SANA reported that a bus carrying workers of an Idlib textile factory was struck by a roadside bomb on the
road between Ariha and al-Mastouma. It said that six were killed and 16 injured. [75] SOHR reported that five were killed in the
roadside blast near Ariha, while the LCC said that ten were killed "when pro-regime forces targeted their bus". [74] SANA also reported
that a 20 kg bomb was defused in an ambulance belonging to Homs National Hospital, and that four people were injured by mortars in
Ekrima neighborhood. [75] After a student protest at Aleppo University, security officers raided the campus, The Daily Telegraph
reported. [76]
16 January Twelve people across the country were reportedly killed by Syrian security forces on 16 January. [77] SANA reported that
five SA soldiers were killed and seven wounded in a rocket attack on a checkpoint near Sahnaya, Rif Dimashq. It also said that a
brigadier general was shot dead in Ghotta, while a policeman and railway engineer were shot dead in Homs. [78] The regime appeared
to suffer another high-profile military defection, with amateur video posted online showing a man dressed in the uniform of an army
general displaying his identification card and declaring his support for the revolutionary movement at a rally festooned with pre-
Ba'athist flags in Homs Governorate. A parliamentarian from Homs, Imad Ghalioun, gave an interview to Al Arabiya while visiting
Cairo announcing that he was also defecting from the regime. He described Homs as "disaster-stricken" and said, "The Syrian people
are living their worst period." [76]

17 January According to the LCC, at least 30 people were killed by security forces; 18 of them in Homs. It said that the dead
included two children and four SA defectors. [79][80] Both SANA and the LCC reported four people were killed and seven wounded
when a roadside bomb struck a minibus on the Idlib–Saraqeb road. SANA blamed "terrorists" while the LCC blamed government
forces. [80][81] SANA also reported two policemen were shot dead outside Idlib Central Prison and the bodies of three soldiers and a
civilian contractor were found with bullet wounds at a graveyard in Ariha. [81] In Zabadani, where a military assault was underway over
the weekend, anti-government insurgents and army troops reportedly reached an agreement to mutually withdraw armed fighters from
the city's streets. The ceasefire also halted the tank bombardment of Zabadani, an opposition leader claimed. He said the withdrawal
of regime forces from the city was set to begin on 18 January. [82]
18 January Anwar Malek, an Algerian ex-observer from the Arab League monitoring mission, said in an interview from his home in
Paris that Syrian officials tried to intimidate him and other observers. He called for military aid to the rebels by the United States and
other countries as the only way to resolve the conflict. [83] A European Union spokesman said the supranational body was weighing
new sanctions against the Syrian government. [84] Reuters reported that Lebanese Druze politician Walid Jumblatt expressed concern
during an interview in Beirut about a full-scale civil war in neighbouring Syria. Of Assad, Jumblatt said he was not listening to advice
from former allies like Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, adding, "Up 'til now he has refused to listen to the rightful
demands of the Syrian people for a new Syria." [85] The LCC said 21 people were killed by security forces during the day, including 13
in Homs. Meanwhile, SANA claimed 15 soldiers and policemen, including an army colonel, were killed in "recent" fighting. [84]
19 January The military withdrew from Zabadani to positions 8 km away, residents said, upholding their end of a deal brokered
between army and opposition representatives. The Arab League's observation mandate officially expired, but an official in Cairo said
observers would remain in Syria until at least 22 January, when Arab League ministers would meet to determine whether or not to
extend the duration of the mission. [86] The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Treasury Department officials said they had proof
that Iran was attempting to dodge an international embargo on exporting oil to Syria. An unnamed Iranian official quoted in the article
insisted that Tehran is not bound to comply with the embargo or any sanctions against Syria. [87] Leading Kurdish opposition figures
said anti-government Kurdish activists and political dissents planned to unite and present their vision for a post-Assad Syria to Arab
opposition members, citing distrust that Arabs would allow Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria if the government fell. Sources
reported as many as 25 were killed in Syria throughout the day, Al Arabiya said. [88]
20 January – "Friday for Revolutionary Detainees" Weekly Friday protests occurred, with the largest protests occurring in Idlib,
Aleppo, Damascus, and Homs. Other protests occurred in Daraa, Deir Ezzor, Zabadani, Hama, and Latakia. Security forces prevented
worshippers attending the Omari mosque in the southern town of Deraa. A security officer who had defected, was assassinated in
Deraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Activists said at least 12 people were killed on Friday, including seven in
Idlib. [89][90][91] French daily Le Figaro reported that FSA members mistakingly killed the French journalist Gilles Jacquier by firing a
mortar round into a Syrian Army-controlled neighborhood of Homs, citing interviews with rebel leaders. The Free Syrian Army
denied responsibility. [92][93] Ahmad el-Tayyeb, the grand imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, urged
"Arab rulers to take the necessary measures to halt bloodshed in Syria", the state news agency MENA quoted him as saying on Friday.
NATO's most senior officer said on Thursday that the alliance was not planning or even "thinking" of intervening in Syria. Burhan
Ghalioun, the leader of the opposition Syrian National Council, also headed to Cairo to lobby the Arab ministers to refer the observer
mission's findings to the United Nations Security Council for tough action. [89][94] SANA reported that the chief warrant officer of
Daraa was killed after being abducted by the FSA. [95] As many as 19 people were killed by shooting from Syrian security forces on
Friday, Al Arabiya reported, citing Syrian activists. [96]
21 January According to the Local Coordination Committees, 60 unidentified corpses were found in the morgue of the hospital in
Idlib. The corpses reportedly had signs of torture. [97] The LCC said that security forces opened fire inside and outside the hospital as
activists and residents found the bodies. A mass arrest campaign was reportedly underway in the area. [98] Including the corpses in
Idlib, the death toll for the day reportedly reached a total of 94 people, including 14 prisoners on a bus in Idlib, two people shot dead
by security forces in Douma, one in Deir Ezzor, and three in Homs. [97] SANA reported that police vehicles were attacked with
explosives at al-Mastouma. One of the vehicles was allegedly transporting prisoners. It said that 14 people were killed while 26
prisoners and at least six police were wounded. [99] SANA also reported that security forces clashed with gunmen trying to enter Syria
from Lebanon, near al-Msherfeh village. Three gunmen were reportedly killed. [100] The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights said that the FSA had temporarily seized parts of the town of Douma, near Damascus, during the night. Local activists reported
that the FSA built barricades and occupied the streets but eventually withdrew to their hideouts, "most likely because it could offer the
regime an excuse to storm the area". [101] However, the LCC denied that the FSA took control of Douma. [102] The United States
announced it was preparing to shut down its embassy in Syria. [103]
22 January The Arab League held a meeting at which the representative of Saudi Arabia announced the kingdom would withdraw its
funding and personnel from the observer mission, saying it had failed. The League also drafted a plan calling for Assad to relinquish
power to Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa and form a national unity government modeled off that of the Republic of Yemen, to
include opposition leaders and establish an independent commission of inquiry into the uprising and crackdown, similar to the
Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry established to investigate the uprising in Bahrain, as well as reorganize the security
forces with international assistance and prepare for free and fair parliamentary elections within three months of its formation. In the
United States, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced new legislation in the United States Senate to increase
pressure on the Syrian government with further sanctions. [104] Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said the Arab
League planned to ask the UN Security Council to endorse the initiative. [105] After the body of a 14-year-old Lebanese boy killed the
day before by security forces who stormed a fishing boat in Mediterranean waters disputed between Beirut and Damascus was
returned to his family, mourners threw stones at Syrian soldiers along the international border, calling Assad "the enemy of God".
According to news reports, the soldiers did not retaliate, and the mourners eventually dispersed. One of the boy's two uncles seized in
the attack on the boat said after his release that he had been interrogated and beaten in custody on suspicion of being an arms
smuggler. [106] Two Swiss journalists who were colleagues of Gilles Jacquier, the French reporter killed in Homs days earlier, said they
blamed Syrian authorities for Jacquier's death. They claimed there were indications the "ambush" may have been planned in
advance. [107] In Talfita, a village outside Damascus, three members of the SA, one anti-government militant and two civilians were
killed in clashes, the SOHR claimed. Citing opposition sources in Douma, Reuters reported that the FSA was said to be in control of
about two-thirds of the town's main streets, with off-and-on fighting continuing. [105]

23 January At least 22 civilians, five security forces and an SA defector were killed on 23 January, activists said. The LCC said
security forces killed 23 people including two children, a rebel soldier and two who died under torture. It said that five people were
killed in Daraa, six in Homs, eight in Idlib, two in Damascus, two in Hama, one in the north-western province of al-Hasakeh and
another in Deir al-Zour. [108] SANA reported that 11 people were killed and three wounded when a bus was attacked with RPGs and
gunfire in the Ashira neighborhood of Homs. An attack on two other minibuses at Homs Military Hospital reportedly killed a civil
employee. SANA also reported a brigadier general and first lieutenant were shot dead in Talfita, two polcemen and a civil employee
were shot dead on the Souran-Hama road, while a policeman was killed by a bomb in Atman. [109]
The head of Arab League observers, Sudanese General Dabi, rejected criticism of his team's work and said that the mission had
reduced the bloodshed in Syria. He also said that in some regions, the FSA attacked security forces, prompting them to return fire. [110]
Syria rejected the previous day's Arab League resolution calling on the Syrian government to quit violence and establish a national
unity government, calling it a "foreign conspiracy" that threatened Syria's "sovereignty". [111]
24 January Local Coordination Committees reported that the number of Syrian deaths on 24 January rose to 52, 39 of which were in
Homs, including 18 deaths from the Syrian army's artillery shelling of two buildings in Bab Tadmur neighborhood. Also 5 were killed
in Hama, 3 in Daraa and 2 in Idlib, and one death each in Damascus, Douma in Damascus's Suburbs, and Raqqa. [112]
25 January The Local Coordinating Committees in Syria stated that the number of those killed on 25 January had risen to 24, among
them 6 soldiers from the Free Syrian Army, 2 children, and 2 women. In addition, 5 were killed in Damascus Suburbs, 4 in each of
Homs and Hama, 3 in Idlib, 1 in Aleppo, and 1 in Daraa. [113] The secretary general of the Syrian Red Crescent, a non profit medical
service, was shot dead in Idlib. The Red Crescent commented that his was not the first time they were attacked, and that security
forces had shot at them before. [114]
26 January The Arab League chief has reportedly said that a peace plan that aims to end Syria's political crisis will be submitted to
the United Nations Security Council early next week. Nabil Elaraby, the secretary-general of the Arab League, told reporters in Cairo
that the meeting with UN officials will be held on Monday in New York city. [115][116] Syrian state television reported that tens of
thousands of Assad supporters showed their support in a rally held in Damascus. Various other pro Assad rallies happened across
Syria. [117][118] At least 34 civilians, including ten children, were killed Thursday by security forces in Syria, according to Syrian
Observatory of Human Rights. In addition, seven or eight army deserters were killed Thursday in clashes, including a colonel in
Homs, the London-based organization. In Homs, government forces launched an offensive on Thursday night at the district of Karm
al-Zeitoun, killing 26 civilians, including nine children, and leaving dozens injured. [119] In the city of Hama, where the Syrian army
launched a major offensive Tuesday, four civilians were killed including a woman, 58 years old, who was shot dead by snipers, the
source said. One was killed in the province of Idleb, and two more in the suburbs of Damascus. In the province of Deraa, a teenager
was killed and three others injured. [119] By evening, the Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported that the death toll of
civilians on 26 January reached 42. [120] In addition to the 42 killed, the LCC reported that 23 corpses were later found in the Bab Qebli
section of Hama. The corpses were handcuffed and shown signs of torture. [121] The centre of Douma, on the outskirts of Damascus,
was under the control of the Free Syrian Army during the night, with checkpoints set up on the outskirts and there were reports of
gunfire and explosions in some areas. [122]
27 January - "Friday of the Right to Protect Yourselves" Opposition activists alleged 102 people were shot dead by Syrian
security force across Syria, as Friday protests spread. The casualties included both protesters as well as defected soldiers. The death
toll of 102 included the 23 corpses found overnight in Homs. [123] Anti-government protests occurred primarily in Aleppo, Idlib,
Latakia, Daraa, and the Damascus suburbs. The cities of Hama and Homs also experienced mass protests, but were primarily under
siege by the Syrian army. Since the 23 January, both Hama and Homs have been under intensive siege and occupation by the Syrian
army, which wishes to take back neighborhoods in Hama and Homs recently controlled by the Free Syrian Army. Over the past week
intensive clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the government's forces lead to the FSA's takeover of large proportions of Homs,
Hama, and suburban Damascus, prompting retaliatory attacks by the Syrian army, which additionally lead to dozens of civilian
casualties. the majority of Friday's casualties were in Homs. [123][124][125] Gen. Mustafa al-Dabi warned of an escalation of the conflict in
recent days. The FSA announced that the group had captured around 7 Iranian men, 5 of whom were alleged to be Revolutionary
Guard members participating in the government crackdown (two others were civilians). A video was posted displaying the men and
their alleged Iranian military identity cards, it was too blurry to read the cards, [126] and shows one man, named Haidar Ali, [127][128]
pleading to Ali Khamenei to withdraw all Iranian military personnel from Syria. The FSA stated its intention to hold the men hostage
until military operations against Homs cease and FSA member Lieutenant Colonel Hussein Harmoush is freed. [129] Iran denied that
they were soldiers, and instead said that they were the engineers who had been kidnapped in the previous weeks. [126] Defected Col.
Hammoud estimated the FSA had gained control about 90% of the northern city of Idlib and just over half of Homs. [130]
28 January Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported number of 28 January's deaths rose to 50, among them three 3 children
and one 1 woman., 19 people were killed in Homs, 6 in Hama, 7 in Damascus Suburbs (Saqba, Douma, Moadamieh, Arbeen,
Zamalka, Baseemeh), 3 in Daraa, 2 each in Deir Ezzor and Idlib, and 1 in each of Damascus and Qonaitra, additional to 10 casualties
of the defected soldiers. Deaths in Rankous and Ghouta were also reported, but the number is as of yet unknown. [131][132] The Arab
league decided to suspend for the moment its mission because of the spike of violence in the recent days in the country. The secretary
general also asked the head of the mission to ensure the security of observers. At the same time interior minister Mohamed Shaar said
that Syria will continue to try to "cleanse" Syria of what he named outlaws. [133] By night, the LCC reported that the death toll for 28
January reached 98 people, including 20 unidentified corpses found in Hama's city hospital. [134]
29 January An estimated 2,000 troops backed by tanks attempted to retake rebellious Damascus suburbs, with a similar situation
occurring in the mountain town of Rankous to the north. At least 19 people were reported killed, including fourteen civilians and five
rebels during the government crackdown on the Damascus suburbs of Kfar Batna, Saqba, Jisreen and Arbeen [135] in what locals
described as "urban warfare." [136] The LCC reported one of the bloodiest days of the uprising, with 62 people claimed dead across
Syria. Of the dead, 19 were in Homs, 16 were in and around Damascus, and 15 were in Hama, the LCC said. At least 50 were injured
by government forces' shelling of Damascus' eastern suburb of Ghotta, the LCC claimed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
said a roadside bomb destroyed a military vehicle near Idlib, killing 10 soldiers. It also reported a rebel soldier was killed near
Zabadani. SANA said another roadside bomb near Damascus killed six soldiers and wounded six more. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov, said that he did not agree with the Arab League's decision to suspend its observing mission in Syria, claiming
it had reduced violence and was a "useful instrument" in gauging the situation in the country. [135][137] Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

head of the United Nations, called for an end to the violence in Syria and said it was the government's responsibility to end the
bloodshed. [138] After two days of clashes, oppositions and FSA sources confirmed that the Syrian army seized back the control of the
eastern suburbs of Damascus from the rebels and started to make house to house arrests. SANA said 51 soldiers were killed in recent
days of fighting. [139][140][141] Opposition activists claimed that close family members of Assad, including his wife, had tried to leave
Damascus via plane, but had been intercepted by the Free Syrian Army and forced to return to government held areas of Damascus.
The government refused to comment on the rumor. [142]
30 January On 30 January, the Syrian Army continued its offensive on previously rebel held area around Damascus. After seizing
back the eastern suburbs the previous day, the army entered the city of Rankous after several days of clashes forcing the rebels to
retreat and withdraw, according to the London based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. [143] On the night of 30 January, the
fighting subsided as Syrian army extended their control in Ghouta. An activist said that the FSA moved out of the suburbs and that the
Syrian army arrested 200 opposition members in Hammourya. The opposition death toll in Damascus given by the activist was 19
civilians killed and 6 FSA soldiers killed. [139] The Free Syrian Army returned to Saqba, and began conducting hit and run attacks
against the Syrian army. [144] Local Coordination Committees in Syria reported the number of people killed by the Syrian army on 30
January reached 100, including 8 children and a woman. 56 of the deaths were in Homs, 20 in Rastan, 15 in Daraa, 6 in Damascus
suburbs, 1 in Hasakah, and 2 in Idlib. [145] Despite the prior demand from the FSA, an official from the Syrian League for Human
Rights claimed to AFP that FSA colonel Hussein Harmush was executed by a gunshot wound to the head by an Air Force intelligence
unit. In June 2011, Harmush was the first military officer to defect from the Assad government, doing so by communicating such to
AFP in the Turkish town of Guvecci. He was later allegedly captured by intelligence from a refugee camp and forced to confess to
various "crimes," with the confessions broadcast on state television. [146]
31 January The Syrian Ministry of Interior issued a statement announcing that Assad's security forces had killed a number of
suspected "terrorists" and arrested several others in Douma, Harasta, Saqba, Hammouriyeh and Kfar Batna, seizing a large stockpile
of weapons. [147] The Syrian army continued its assault in the Damascus region with troops and tanks moving on Arbeen and Zamalka.
On another note, an activist claimed that the opposition fighters had captured the city of Rastan after a day of fighting with
government forces. [148] Further clashes occurred in Rastan, according to certain activists, who witnessed the destruction of an
unidentified structure by a tank. [149] Local coordination committees reported that the number of those killed on 31 January have
reached 34, including two children, a woman and 5 army defectors, 4 of whom were executed in Idlib. 14 were believed killed in
Idlib, 12 in Homs, and at least 3 in the Damascus Suburbs. [150]
February 2012
1 February While the army continued their operations, the Russian ambassador at the UN stated that Russia would veto the proposed
resolution if a clause explicitly excluding any military intervention was not included. [151] Eleven Iranian pilgrims were allegedly
kidnapped in Syria, and Iranian authorities accused armed opposition groups of being responsible. [152] The number of those killed by
Syrian security forces on 1 February has risen to 70 so far including 14 deaths from the Free Syrian Army, 2 women and 2 children.
35 were killed in Wadi Barada (Damascus suburbs), 8 in Daraa, 14 in Homs, 6 in Eastern Gharba (Daraa suburbs), 3 in Damascus
suburbs (Arbeen and Moadamiya), 3 in Idlib and one in Qamishli. [153][154]
2 February Heavy gunfire and shelling were reported to have occurred in Wadi Barada valley outside Damascus. Twenty four
people, including six army defectors were killed in the fighting according to activists. [155] At the United Nations, talks were
progressing toward a consensus. The text in Syrian resolutions being drafted have been watered down in an attempt to dodge a
Russian veto and do not explicitly call for Assad to step down although the UN reaffirms its support for Arab League proposals. The
new drafts also rule out foreign military intervention. [156] However, Russia continued to voice its disapproval. [157]
3 February - "Friday of Apologies to Hama" Protesters across Syria rallied in memorial of the 1982 Hama massacre. The largest
protests occurred within Homs, Aleppo, and Idlib. Protesters attempted to rally in Hama, but were dispersed by security forces
stationed to preempt mass protesting in Hama. Other protests occurred in Daraa and Latakia. Protests in Damascus's suburbs were
fired upon and dispersed the Syrian army stationed there. 42 protesters and civilians across Syria were reported killed by security
forces. [158] Opposition troops assaulted Syrian army positions in Anadan, just outside Aleppo. [159][160] Demonstrations in Syria on 3
February were seemingly amongst the most widespread of the entire uprising, including protests in over 600 towns and
neighborhoods.
4 February - Homs Massacre Government forces began an intense artillery bombardment of Homs, leading to over 400 civilian
deaths, according to activists in the city. Shabiha invaded some hospitals as well, with intent to kill or abduct the wounded. [161][162]
Syria strongly denied that such a shelling happened. They said that it was a fabrication from the opposition to try to influence the vote
at the UN the same day and accused the armed groups in Homs of killing soldiers and civilians. [163] However, activists posted web
videos which display burning structures believed to be hit by Syrian artillery. The authenticity of these films have not been
verified. [164][165][166] The Lebanese army deployed into the northern towns of Wadi Khaled and Akroum to root out possible Syrian
opposition forces and gunrunners. [167][168] A mass funeral was held in Khalidya, Homs, for those who lost their lives in the
neighborhood during the night. Elsewhere in Daraya, Damascus, a second funeral was attacked by security forces, who reportedly
shot 12 mourners. [169] Russia and China announced their veto to the contemporary UN resolution on Syria at the security council. [170]
5 February The Local Coordination Committees said the number of those killed by security forces on 5 February had risen to 43,
including 6 children and 3 women; of which, 29 of the deaths were in Homs, 6 in Idlib, 5 in Damascus Suburbs, 2 in Daraa and 1 in
Aleppo. [171]
6 February At least 300 rockets were reported to have landed in the city of Homs, with at least 15 initially reported killed on Monday
morning. [172] Great Britain recalled their ambassador. [173] A pipeline was damaged in the city of Homs. [174] The United States had
announced that they were closing their embassy. [175] The United Kingdom has also summoned its ambassador to the Foreign
Office, [176] and has suspended services in Syria. United States sent an official to Russia to talk about sanctions against Syria and
Iran. [177] Russia foreign minister Lavrov said western reactions to the Russian veto were too "hysterical". [178] Canada said that contrary
to the United States, they decided to keep their embassy open. [179] United nation secretary general Ban Ki Moon blamed the Syrian
government for the Homs bombardment. [180][dead link] The Local Coordinating Committees stated the number of those killed by security

forces on 6 February has risen to 74, among them 4 children and 4 women: 47 deaths were in Homs, 12 in the Damascus Suburbs
(Zabadany,Saqba, Madaya. Hazza, Daraya), 9 in Idlib, 3 in Damascus (Kafar Souseh, Dummar City), 2 in Aleppo, and 1 in Qalaat
Madiq in Hama. [181]
7 February Russian FM Lavrov made his visit to Syria. Russian wants a solution based on the Arab League plan. [182] Gulf Arab
states, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates joined countries pulling ambassadors from Syria.
These countries are also asking Syria to recall its ambassadors. [183] Unicef says more 400 children have died during the past 11 months
in Syria. [184] Unicef also demands Syrian officials to let in aid for the victims of the conflict. Local Coordination Committees in Syria
stated that number of those killed by security forces in Syria on 7 February was 35 including two women and 6 children, including a
mother and her three children. 19 were killed in Homs, 10 in Madaya (Damascus suburbs), 2 in Idlib, 2 in Daraa and 2 in Aleppo. [185]
8 February The Syrian army launched an intense bombardment of Homs with artillery shelling, primarily on the Bab Amr
neighborhood, reportedly killing 43 civilians. [186] By night, the civilian death toll from the Syrian army's assault on Homs reached
117. [187] The same day, 43 Syrian soldiers and security forces were buried, according to Syrian press agency SANA. [188][189]
9 February 110 civilians were killed in Homs by artillery shelling from the government's army on 9 February. [190][191] 137 civilians
were reported killed in total throughout Syria on 9 February. [192] Syrian press agency reported that 8 Syrian Army soldiers and
policemen were buried after dying in engagements in Homs, the Damascus countryside, and Idleb. [193]
10 February - "Friday of Russia is Killing Our Children" Two explosions rocked Aleppo, targeting a security building and the
Military Intelligence Directorate in the city, the state TV reported. [194] At least 25 people were killed and 175 were injured in the
blasts. [194][195] Defected General Aref Hamoud, a FSA member, told Al Jazeera reporter Rula Amin that the FSA carried out an attack
with RPGs and Mortars, while later other FSA leaders denied it and accused the government of manipulation, claiming that bombing
the attacking security headquarters would be too difficult given the number of checkpoints in the surrounding area. [196] The Syrian
army massed outside of Homs preparing another offensive, as activists reported food and medical supplies had become scarce. [194]
Mass protests occurred throughout Syria, with the largest occurring in Aleppo, Hama, and Idlib. Other protests occurred in Daraa,
Damascus and its suburbs, Deir Ezzor, Latakia, and neighborhoods in Homs that were not besieged. [194][197] Russia Today, citing
Chinese sources, reported that at least 15,000 elite Iranian troops from the Quds force were preparing to enter Syria to help the Assad
government. The Iranian government didn't confirm or deny the reports. [198] A fire fight broke out in the Lebanese city of Tripoli
between armed supporters and opponents of Syria's president Assad. The violence broke out between Sunni and Alawite sects after an
anti-Assad protest. RPGs and assault rifles were reportedly used in the clash that led to at least two soldiers and four civilians being
wounded. [199][200] The casualties later increased to three killed and twenty three wounded, including ten soldiers of the Lebanese
Army. [201] The Local Coordination Committees in Syria said the number of those killed by security forces on Friday has reached 51,
including five children and three women. 13 were killed in Aleppo, 11 in Homs, 8 in Domair in Damascus suburbs, 5 in Daraa, 1 in
Hama, and 1 in Deir Ezzor. [202]
11 February Government forces resumed shelling Homs, leading to at least seven deaths during the morning. [203] The Iraqi interior
minister said that armed jihadists were crossing the Syrian border to take part in the armed rebellion. [204] 40 Syrian Army soldiers and
policemen were buried after dying in fighting in Homs and Damascus, the Syrian press Agency SANA reported. [205] Among the dead
is Army Brigadier General Dr. Issa al-Kholi, who was assassinated outside his home in Rukin Eddin, Damascus. [206] The Local
Coordination Committees said the number of those killed by security forces on Saturday has risen to 30, including 2 women and a
child. 13 were killed in Daraa (Msaifra, Tseel, Deir Bekheit, and Daeel), 12 in Homs, 2 in each of Maaret Al-Nouman in Idlib and
Rankous in Damascus Suburbs, and 1 in Damascus proper. [207]
12 February The leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a video where he urged all Muslims to support the Syrian
rebels. [208] American officials blamed Al Qaeda elements for the suicide bombings which happened in Damascus in December. [208]
The Jordanian affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood called for a jihad against Assad and said Muslims should give support to the
rebels. [209] Ministers from the Arab League, which suspended Syria's membership in response to the crackdown, met in Cairo on
Sunday to discuss forming a joint UN-Arab League monitoring team in place of a league observer mission that was suspended last
month. Sources told Al Jazeera that the league is going to form a new mission of about 3,000 observers that has an international
character, under the supervision of the Arab League. [citation needed] Sudanese General Mustafa al-Dabi resigned from the observer
mission. [citation needed] The Arab League passed a resolution pledging to ask the United Nations to form a joint peacekeeping force in
Syria. [210] The resolution also called for “opening communication channels with the Syrian opposition and providing all forms of
political and material support to it.” [citation needed] It also urged the Syrian opposition to unite. The resolution said violence against
civilians in Syria had violated international law and “perpetrators deserve punishment.” The resolution reaffirmed a call for Arabs to
impose economic sanctions on Syria and decided on ending diplomatic cooperation with Damascus. Syria's ally Lebanon, which was
outvoted at the summit, rejected the statement. [211] Syrian government officials said that they completely rejected the Arab League
resolution. [212] Activists reported 23 were killed by security across Syria, primarily in Homs and Daraa. [213]
13 February Syrian opposition groups rejected any interference by al-Qaida in their uprising. "We categorically reject these
statements and any attempts by the al-Qaida network to interfere in our revolution," the General Commission of the Syrian Revolution
said. We are a people struggling for freedom and dignity and for a democratic state," it added. [214] Local Coordination Committees in
Syria said the number of those killed by security forces on 13 February had reached 30, including 4 children and a defected soldier. 9
were killed in Idlib, 4 in the Damascus suburbs, 11 in Homs, and 3 in Daraa, 2 in Aleppo, and 1 in Hama. [215]
14 February Local Coordination Committees said the number of those killed by security forces on 14 February has risen to 49,
including 3 defected soldiers (Damascus Suburbs) and 3 women. 11 were killed in Idlib, 9 in Homs, 4 in Daraa, 10 in Aleppo, 4 in
Deir Ezzor, 3 in Hama, 6 in Damascus Suburbs, 1 in Lattakia, and 1 in Damascus. [216]
15 February The Syrian government says that a referendum for a "new constitution" will be held on 26 February. [217] The Syrian
government began "deliberately jamming" Al Arabiya's broadcast in Syria. [218] The number of those killed by security forces in Syria
on 15 February has risen to 32, among them 3 children, 1 woman and one defected soldier. 12 were killed in Idlib, 5 in Damscus
Suburbs (Bloudan, Douma, Harasta), 4 were killed in Homs, 3 in Daraa, 3 in Hama, 2 in Hasakeh, and 1 in each of Lattakia,
Damascus and Aleppo. [219] The Syrian Revolution General Commission reported that by the end of the day, 54 people have been
killed by security force gunfire across Syria on Wednesday, with most of the deaths in Idlib and Homs. [220]
16 February

UNGA Resolution A/RES/66/253 green for- maroon against. gray abstain
Ban-ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, said that crimes against humanity had been carried out by government forces, saying "We
see neighbourhoods shelled indiscriminately, hospitals used as torture centres, children as young as 10 years old killed and abused.
We see almost a certain crimes against humanity," Ban said during a visit to Austria. [221] The Local Coordination Committees in Syria
said the number of those killed by security forces on 16 February reached 70 thus far, including 36 unidentified bodies, 13 soldiers, 3
woman and 2 pre-term infants. 38 were killed in Idlib, 12 in Hama, 5 in Homs, 6 in Damascus Suburbs “Zabadany,Madaya”, 7 in
Daraa, and 1 in Deir Ezzor and 1 in Raqqah. [222] The United Nations General Assembly approved a non binding resolution with 137
YES votes, 12 NO votes and 17 absenations. The resolution called for the resignation of Bashar al Assad and a halt to the violence in
the country. [223]
17 February - Friday of Popular Resistance The number of those killed by security forces on 17 February has risen to 39, including
12 defected soldiers executed on the site in Jassem. 15 civilians were killed in Daraa (Jassem, Hara), 4 in Homs, 5 in Mezze
(Damascus), 3 in Deir Ezzor, 3 in Aleppo, 3 in Hama,, and 3 in Damascus Suburbs (Yabrood, Douma). [224] By the end of the day, the
death toll had risen to 56 killed. [225] Mass protests occurred across Syria, primarily in Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Idlib. [225]
The Syrian opposition warned that the Syrian army was preparing for a massive assault on Bab Amr, Homs, and that the Syrian army
was prepared to "annihilate everyone". [225] US defence officials told a US network that "a good number" of unmanned US military and
intelligence drones are operating in the skies over Syria to monitor Assad's government forces attacks against civilians and armed
opposition. "The officials said this surveillance is not in preparation for US military intervention," NBC News reported. [226] Reuters
news agency has reported that two Iranian naval ships have sailed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, in a move
likely to be keenly watching by Israel. "Two Iranian ships crossed through the Suez Canal following permission from the Egyptian
armed forces," a source in the canal authority said. The destroyer and a supply ship could be on their way to the Syrian coast, the
source added. Iran and Syria agreed to cooperate on naval training a year ago, and Tehran has no naval agreement with any other
country in the region. [227] US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday that the UN General Assembly has shown an
"overwhelming international consensus" to demand the Syrian regime end its bloody crackdown. The vote "demonstrated an
overwhelming international consensus that the bloody assaults must end," Clinton said at a press conference with EU Foreign Policy
Chief Cathy Ashton. "In the face of this global condemnation the regime in Damascus, however, appears to be escalating its assaults
on civilians, and those who are suffering cannot get access to the humanitarian assistance they need and deserve," she said. "So we
will keep working to pressure and isolate the regime, to support the opposition and to provide relief to the people of Syria." [228]
18 February 21 People were killed across Syria by gunfire from security forces. 15,000 Anti-govemrent protesters assembled in
Mezzeh, Damascus 2 kilometres southwest from Ummayad square, Damascus. The protest was significant as it was the largest single
anti-Assad protest in central Damascus to date. Security forces fired on the protest in Mezzeh, killing at least one person. [229]
19 February Iranian state media reported that Iranian warships have crossed the Suez Canal and docked in Syria's port city of
Tartous. [230] Egypt calls home envoy from Syria. [231] Gunmen in Syria staged a guerrilla-style ambush that killed a senior state
prosecutor and a judge Sunday in an attack that suggested armed factions are growing bolder and more coordinated in their uprising
against Assad's regime. 23 people were killed by security forces in Idlib and Homs, and 11 were killed in the town of Atareb in the
Aleppo province when the Syrian army stormed the town. Communications and water were shut off in Atareb. [232]
20 February Local Coordination Committees in Syria said the number of killed by security forces on Monday has risen to 18
martyrs. 13 were killed in Homs, 2 in Hama, and 1 in each of Hassakeh, Idlib, and Douma in Damascus Suburbs. [233] 30 soldiers, as
well as an officer and a tank defected to the Free Syrian Army in the town of al-Qusayr. [234]
21 February There were reports that many people had been killed in renewed heavy shelling of the Baba Amr neighbourhood of
Homs following a buildup of forces the day before. Syrian tanks and troop have massed outside Homs for a possible ground assault,
which Rami Abdul-Rahman, head of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, warned would lead to a huge loss of life
just as the Red Cross was attempting to broker a cease-fire to allow humanitarian aid in. [235][236] Two Iranian naval ships returned from
Syria through the Suez Canal on Tuesday. [237] Iran says the real reason behind sending warships is that they will train the Syrian
navy. [238] By the end of the day, the number of those killed by security forces on Tuesday has reached 106, including 10 children, 3
women, 3 defected recruits: 45 were killed by artillery shelling in Homs, 55 in Idlib, two in Douma and Mesraba in Damascus
Suburbs, 2 in Deir Ezzor, and one in Aleppo. [239]
22 February Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin along with photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in Homs by the Syrian army's
artillery bombardment on the Bab Amr neighborhood. [240] At least 92 people have been killed across Syria after security force shelling
intensified in the rebel-held Baba Amro district in the city of Homs, the Syrian General Revolutionary Council said. [241]
23 February 88 people have been killed by Syrian army across Syria on Thursday, primarily in the cities of Homs, Idlib, and
Hama. [242] By the end of the day the LCC reported that 101 civilians were killed by Syrian army forces throughout Syria, with 47
killed in Idlib alone. [243] Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan appointed joint UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria. [244]
24 February - Friday of Rising up for Bab Amr The Friends of Syria meeting took place in Tunis, where 70 Western and Arab
Nations gathered to discuss and act on the ongoing events in Syria. The Friends of Syria meeting announced the recognition of the
SNC as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people", a step below recognition as the sole legitimate government, and requested
that any other opposition groups in Syria rally behind the SNC. The meeting also called for the UN and Arab league to establish a

peacekeeping force on the ground in Syria. The meeting called for tougher sanctions, as the European union announced that they
would freeze Syria's assets within their country. The Tunisian president proposed in addition that the Syrian conflict be resolved with
an amnesty deal for Bashar Assad, where Bashar Assad would resign take leave in Russia. The Saudi Arabian foreign minister left the
meeting, claiming that the Friends of Syria did not go far enough to try to solve the crisis, and further exclaimed that the Free Syrian
Army should be armed and supported to out-right topple the regime. [245][246][247] The leaders of Hamas announced that they were
completely abandoning support for the Syrian government, and announced their support for the armed rebellion. [248] The Free Syrian
Army announced that they had received their first supply of light arms and communication equipment from the gulf and neighboring
countries, purchased by Syrian exiles, but emphasized that it was only a limited number of light weaponry that they received. [249] Mass
Friday anti-government protests occurred in Syria, with the largest gatherings in Aleppo, Idlib, Daraa, Qamishli and the Damascus
suburbs. Activists reported that 50 people were killed on Friday by security forces, primarily in Homs, Aleppo, Hama and
Qamishli. [245] By the end of the day the LCC reported that 103 had been killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Hama. [250]
25 February Over 100 people were killed by the Syrian army across Syria, primarily in Homs, Hama, and Idlib. [251]
26 February At least 31 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed on Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new
constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028, Assad says the referendum shows his commitment to
democratic reform while Western powers and Syrians involved in an 11-month-old revolt against his rule have described it as a
farce. [252] By the end of the day, the death toll reached 65, primarily in Homs. [253] Tens of thousands of people have marched in
Morocco to demand an end to the Syrian regime's brutal crackdown on dissenters and to call for international intervention in the
crisis. The MAP news agency says Syrians residing in Morocco were among the marchers Sunday in Casablanca. The demonstrators
carried Moroccan and Syrian flags as well as signs calling on embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop killing those seeking
his ouster. [254]
27 February The European Union has agreed new sanctions against Syria. [255] Activists reported that 68 civilians in Homs were
summarily executed in a massacre when security forces arrested them as they tried to flee the neighborhood of Baba Amr. [256][257] By
the end of the day the death toll had risen to 125, including from artillery shelling and the massacre in Homs, with rest of the deaths
having occurred in Hama, Aleppo province, and Idlib. [258]
28 February The number of civilians killed by the Syrian army has reached 104 on 28 February, among them 35 in a regimeconducted
massacre in Halfaya in the Hama suburbs. In addition, 26 were killed in a massacre in Baba Amr, including 3 women and 2
children; 37 in the Hama suburbs; 50 in Homs; 7 in the Aleppo suburbs; 5 in the Idlib suburbs; 3 in Deir Ezzor; and 1 in Daraa and 1
in Hama. [259] Tunisia says ready to give asylum to Syria's Assad. [260] According to the UN more than 7,500 people have died in Syria
since beginning of the uprising. [261]
29 February Syrian security forces are advancing on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Baba Amr in the city of Homs. [262] The
Pentagon is going over plans for a potential operation in Syria. [263] U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says Syria has denied her
repeated requests to visit country. [264] Libya will donate $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Syrian opposition and allow them to
open an office in Tripoli. [265] The LCC reported that 30 people were killed by the Syrian army on 29 February, but could not include
the death toll from Baba Amr due to lack of communication. [266]
March 2012
1 March The FSA and the local civilians withdrew from Baba Amr, after running out of ammunition, food, and water. 4,000 civilians
refused to leave Baba Amr. The International Red Cross was given permission to send aid to Baba Amr. 42 civilians were killed by
the Syrian army, including 23 in Homs. [267] UK diplomats withdrawn from Syria. [268]
2 March-Friday of Arming the Free Syrian Army Mass Friday protests occurred throughout Syria, with the largest protesting
occurring in Aleppo, central Homs, Idlib, Qamishli and the Damascus Suburbs as well as the central Damascus area. [269][270] 75
protesters and civilians were killed throughout the day. Ten were killed in Baba Amr and 16 in Rastan after a protest was hit by
mortar shells. [271] France is closing its embassy in Syria. [272]
3 March 47 soldiers who were caught attempting to defect were executed in the Idlib province. 30 civilians were killed by the
security forces, including 8 in the Damascus suburbs. The Free Syrian Army claimed to have killed over 100 government soldiers in
the Damascus suburbs in hit and run attacks on 3 March. [273] Suicide bomber kills 2 in Deraa. [274]
4 March The Syrian army shelled Rastan, killing 7 civilians. [275] The Red crescent were denied access to Bab Amr, despite promises
given to them that they could enter. [276] The father in law of the Syrian President, Bashar al-assad, said he was "horrified" at his son in
laws brutal suppression of the Uprising and begged him to make democratic changes in the country before it was too late. As Syrian
troops renewed their ferocious bombardment of the city of Homs Dr. Fawaz Akhras revealed for the first time that he has been quietly
pushing for reform since before the revolution. Akhras said he feared for his daughter and his grandchildren, who could be killed by
opposition fighters in revenge if the government falls. Some rumors said that Asma was being kept under virtual house arrest in
Damascus by the presidents henchmen because they were scared she might leave the country, which would be a move that would
damage the Syrian regime. [277]
5 March Local Coordination Committees said that 15 people were killed by the Syrian army on 5 March. 6 were killed in Homs, 2 in
each of Idlib, Daraa and Aleppo, and 1 in each of Yabroud in Damascus Suburbs, Jableh and Raqqa. [278]
6 March At least 39 people were killed by the Syrian army, included 23 in Homs, according to the LCC. [279]
7 March The LCC reported that at least 40 civilians were killed by the Syrian army on 7 March, including 23 in Homs. [280] Russia's
ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, claimed that he has information that there is a special training center for the Syrian
revolutionaries in Libya. [281] The deputy oil and mineral wealth minister Abdo Hussameddin defected. [282]
8 March The LCC reported that 62 civilians were killed across Syria including 52 in Homs, of which 44 were found summarily
executed. [283]
9 March - Friday of the Kurdish Uprising 82 civilians were killed throughout Syria, including 33 in Idlib and 26 in Homs. [284] Mass
Friday protests occurred, particularly in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Daraa, Idlib, Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli. [285][286] Rebel groups reported
that four generals had defected to the FSA, and had crossed into Turkish territory. [287] Two other generals and four colonels had
defected a few days before this event, bringing a total of six generals, according to opposition sources. A high ranking defector told

eporters that the regime was detaining sunni officers. It was claimed 2,000 officers had been detained by their own army. "Just being
Sunni is suspect," he said. [288]
10 March President Assad met international envoy Kofi Annan and promised him that he would back any "honest" peace bid but
warned dialogue would fail if "terrorist groups" remained. [289] The LCC reported that 63 civilians were killed by the Syrian army,
including 47 in Idlib. [290]
11 March At least 80 civilians were killed throughout Syria, primarily in Idlib and Homs. [291] The Free Syrian Army and the Syrian
government clashed in central Damascus for the first time. [292]
12 March 50 civilians including children were massacred in the Karm al zhoutan and Bab Driad neighborhoods of Homs by the
Syrian army and Shabiha. An online video from Homs said to show the corpses of the massacre also identified some of the dead as
having been burnt to death. The city of Idlib came under siege by the Syrian army, with water being turned off and neighborhoods
under artillery shelling. [293] 19 other civilians were killed by Syrian army according to the LCC, including 7 from Idlib. [294]
13 March Activists reported that over 40 civilians were executed outside a mosque in Idlib by the Syrian army. [295] Separately, the
LCC reported that additionally 46 civilians were killed across Syria, including 12 in Homs, bring the day's death toll to 86. [296]
14 March Activists said that 76 were killed across Syria by security forces and the Syrian army. [297]
15 March Syrian took to the street for the 1 year anniversary of the uprising, amongst intensifying crackdown in Homs, idlib, and
Daraa. Pro-government counter rallies were also held in Ummayid square of Damascus as well as the Druze city of Sweida. Turkey
confirmed the reports about 6 generals defecting earlier in the week, and added that another general defected to Turkey on 14
March. [298][299] 55 civilians were killed across Syria, including 45 in Idlib. Activists reported that 23 bodies appearing to have been
tortured and summarily executed were found in Idlib's countryside. Turkish media announced that Shabiha had captured and tortured
two Turkish journalists who crossed into Syria. [300] A massacre took place in the Karm Allouz neighborhood in Homs in which 15
Syrians were killed, including a woman and her four children, one day before a Security Council session on Syria. According to the
Syrian government the perpetrators were terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda. This incident was cited by the government in the
aftermath of the 25 May Houla massacre to support its contention that there was a pattern of these terrorist attacks escalating before
Security Council sessions on Syria, or in that case, coinciding with UN special envoy Kofi Annan's announced visit to the
country. [301][302]
16 March - Friday of Immediate Foreign Intervention Syrian protests took to the streets in weekly Friday protests, with the largest
occurring in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Qamishli, Damascus and its suburbs, the Idlib province and the Daraa province. Large protests
also turned out in the Northeastern city of Raqqa, to which security forces fired on the crowd and reportedly killed a dozen people.
Soldiers defected in Raqqa and began clashing with the regime's army. An increase in FSA attacks in Damascus and its suburbs was
also noted. [303][304][305] Turkey requested that all its citizens living abroad in Syria return home to Turkey, and also publicly announced
for the first time that is considering establishing a buffer zone on the northern border of Syria. [306] The LCC reported mid-day that 46
civilians were killed across Syria by the Syrian army and security forces, 37 of which died in the Idlib province. [307]
17 March Syrian state television reported that twin bombs placed in two cars targeted Syria security offices and the aviation
intelligence building in Damascus reportedly killing at least 27 and wounding 97 people. [308] The LCC reported that 16 people across
Syria were killed by the Syrian army, including 6 in the city of Raqqa and 2 who died under torture. [309]
18 March At least three people have been killed and 25 injured in a car bomb explosion in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo,
according to reports. [310] The LCC reported that 37 people were killed by the Syrian army throughout Syria, including 12 in Idlib. [311]
19 March Army intelligence officer Abdel Barakat defected to Turkey, bringing with him hundreds of documents and files detailing
orders from Bashar al Assad to crackdown and kill protesters. Amongst the leaked documents included plans to attack protesters in
Syria major cities including Damascus and Aleppo, how security operations are planned, and orders for security forces spy on foreign
observers sent by the Arab league. Barakat's leaked documents also showed that the government spied on Arab League observers in
the country. Barakat was in charge of collecting information from across Syria at the secret joint crisis management cell in Damascus,
and had been one of Assad's most trusted officials. However, he had in fact been a mole for the opposition for months, before he was
compromised and was forced to go to Turkey to save his and any relatives lives. [312] Heavy fighting occurred between the Free Syrian
Army and government forces in central Damascus, particularly in the Mezzeh neighborhood. Explosions and gunfire could be heard
for several hours during the night, according to residents. [313] Turkey announced that two more generals defected to Turkey on 18
March. [314] The LCC reported that 30 civilians were killed across Syria by the Syrian army, including 9 in Dier Ezzor and 6 in
Homs. [315]
20 March The LCC reported that 57 civilians were killed across Syria by security forces, primarily in Homs and Deir Ezzor. [316][317]
21 March 70 civilians were killed across Syria by security forces and the Syrian army, included 40 in Homs, of which 25 were killed
in a reported massacre. [318]
22 March 63 civilians were killed by security forces and the Syrian army, including 12 who were killed while trying to flee to
Turkey. [319] The head of the ruling Ba'ath party in the north west city of Idlib announced his defection to the opposition, urging other
high ranking officials to do the same. [320]
23 March - Friday of Damascus Protesters took to the street for weeks Friday protests, amongst intense fighting nationwide between
the FSA and the Syrian army. The SOHR reported that several hundred thousand speople joined the protests across the country. The
largest protests occurred in Central and Suburban Damascus, Daraa, Qamishli, Hasakah, the Idlib province, Aleppo, Homs, and the
Hama province. [321] By the end of the day 59 protesters and civilians were killed by Syrian government forces. [322] A pilot from the
Syrian Army defected to Turkey. He had been ordered to kill civilian protesters, however, instead of this he targeted a military
building in Aleppo until he ran out of ammo. A member of the Syrian National Council (SNC) confirmed that the defected pilot has
reached Turkey, and said that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has become incapable in controlling the army. Fearing an attack
against the presidential palace, the army is sending military pilots without ammunitions, the SNC member added. [323]
24 March 45 civilians were killed by Syrian government forces, primarily in Idlib and Homs, the LCC reported. [324]
25 March 65 civilians were killed across Syria by the Syrian army, primarily in the bombardment of Homs. [325]
26 March The LCC reported that by mid-day 59 civilian were killed across Syria by the Syrian army, of which 33 died under artillery
shelling in Homs. [326] The Syrian army renewed shelling on Zabadani in the Damascus outskirts, killing 4. [327] By the end of the day
the 70 were killed across Syria, primarily in Homs. The opposition also reported that the FSA assassinated the head of Air force
intelligence, Iyad Mando, in Damascus. [328]

27 March 70 civilians were killed in Syria by the Syrian army, the LCC reported. 40 of which were killed in Idlib, including 23
reportedly summarily executed in a field in Saraqib, Idlib province. [329]
28 March The LCC reported that 30 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, 13 of which were killed in Homs. [330] Two British
journalists of Algerian descent were killed by Shabiha while crossing the border from Turkey into Syria. [331]
29 March 60 civilians were killed throughout Syria, primarily in Homs and Idlib. [332] The Free Syrian Army assassinated two
colonels in central Aleppo, and kidnapped an air force general in Damascus. [333] Three brigadier generals reportedly defected to the
Free Syrian Army upon releasing defection videos in which they showed their officer cards. [334]
30 March - Friday of "The Arabs and the Muslims failed us" Protesters took to the streets in mass in weekly Friday protests, with
the largest occurring in Damascus and its suburbs, Hama, Homs, the Idlib province, Aleppo and the Daraa province. 55 protesters and
civilians were killed by security forces across the country, primarily in Homs and Deir Ezzor. [335][336][337]
31 March 40 civilians were killed by the Syrian army across Syria, primarily in Homs. [338]
April
1 April 70 civilians were killed when the Syrian army launched artillery attacks on the central Homs neighborhoods and Deir Ezzor.
The Friends of Syria meeting recognized the SNC as the legitimate representative of Syria, one step under full recognition as the sole
government. The GCC countries announced that they intend to start paying and funding the Free Syrian Army and any army member
who defects. [339]
2 April 65 civilians were killed across Syria from artillery shelling by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Dier Ezzor. The Free
Syrian Army captured Homs's national hospital, where they found 75 unidentified corpses stored in the morgue. The combined death
toll of 2 April's shelling and the recently found corpses brought the death toll for Monday to 140. [340]
3 April 29 civilians were killed across Syria, primarily in the shelling of Homs and Damascus's suburbs including Zabadani. [341] By
the end of the day the LCC reported 80 civilians had been killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Idlib. [342][343]
4 April 101 civilians were reported killed by the Syrian army, primarily in the bombardment of Homs and sieges in the Idlib
province. [344]
5 April 70 civilians were killed across Syria by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Idlib. [345]
6 April - Friday of preparing the Free Syrian Army Protests took to the street in mass in weekly Friday protests, as ongoing sieges
and clashes took place across Syria. The largest protests occurred in Damascus and its suburbs, Homs, Daraa, Idlib province, Aleppo,
and Hama. [346] Thousands of people fled the Aleppo province to Turkey, as 51 civilians were killed, primarily in the Syrian army's
bombardment of Homs. [347] Separately, there have been reports that over 100 were killed in Taftanaz, Idlib, in a reported massacre by
the Syrian army. Refugees fleeing from Taftanaz to Turkey reported mass graves and intentional burning of homes by the Syrian
army. [348]
7 April By mid-day, over 150 people were reported killed, primarily in the artillery shelling in Homs, but also over 50 dead when the
Syrian army stormed rural villages in Hama. [349]
8 April The LCC reported 45 civilians killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Idlib. [350]
9 April 160 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 52 in Homs, 45 in the Aleppo Provence, and 36 in Hama. [351] A
journalist in Lebanon was killed by heavy machine gun fire from the Syrian army. Ali Shaaban, who works as a cameraman for Al
Jadeed TV station, was shot as he was filming in the northern Wadi Khaled area on the Lebanese side of the border. The gunfire
apparently came from the Syrian side of the frontier. [352] His colleague, reporter Hussein Khreis, said the team heard heavy gunfire
around them from all sides "falling like rain". Mr Shaaban was inside a car when he was struck, Mr Khreis said. "If you see the car
you would think it was in a war zone," Mr Khreis said on Al Jadeed TV. "It is completely destroyed from the bullets." He said they
waited for more than two hours for the Lebanese army and some residents to come and pull them out to safety. "I ask forgiveness
from Ali's family because I couldn't do anything for him," he said, breaking into tears. [353]
10 April 101 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 56 in Homs and 22 in Hama. [354]
11 April By mid-day the LCC reported over 100 civilian deaths, of which 57 were in Homs. [355]
12 April The Kofi Annan sponsored ceasefire came into effect, but there were several occurrences of ceasefire violations by the
Syrian army. Additionally the Syrian army did not withdraw its heavy weapons. At least 1 soldier and 24 others were wounded by an
improvised explosive device near Aleppo. [356] The LCC reported 22 civilians killed by the Syrian army, including 9 in Homs. [357]
13 April - Friday of Revolution for All Syrians Mass weekly Friday protests broke out, with larger-than-usual protests occurring in
Aleppo, Damascus and its Suburbs, Latakia, Deir Ezzor, Daraa, the Idlib province, Hama and Homs, despite no withdrawal of the
Syrian army and heavy weaponry from cities. 11 protesters were reported killed by the evening. Some places such as Zabadani and al
Quseir Homs were shelled despite a ceasefire. [358]
14 April 27 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 13 in Homs when the Syrian army shelled the central neighborhood of
Homs despite the cease-fire. Security forces opened fire on a funeral in Aleppo city, killing 8 mourners. [359]
15 April 28 civilians were killed, as the intense shelling of Homs continued. [360]
16 April By the end of the day 55 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 26 in Idlib. [361]
17 April By the of the end-day 77 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Idlib. [362][363]
18 April At least 32 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs, Idlib, and Damascus. Ten soldiers were also killed
by an IED near Idlib. [364] Also, Ban-Ki Moon, secretary-general for the U.N, said that the Syrian Government had "yet to fully
implement its initial obligations regarding the actions and deployments of its troops and heavy weapons, or to return them to barracks.
Violent incidents and reports of casualties have escalated again in recent days, with reports of shelling of civilian areas and abuses by
government forces." Ban also said that the U.N observers deployed to Syria had yet to visit Homs because the Syrian government
refused to give them permission to go there. Ban confirmed violent incidents when the UN observers went to Arbeen, in the
Damascus suburbs, and said that a crowd of opposition demonstarters that had protested around the passing UN cars had been shot at,
and one UN vehicle had been damaged. [365]
19 April More secret documents were leaked from the Syria government. Highly classified documents from a covert Syrian
government unit exposed attempts by the regime to contain the unrest sweeping the country, according to Al arabiya. These were

leaked by a defector from this covert unit who was called Abdel-Majeed Barakat. He leaked copies of the Crisis Cell’s official
documentation, which included security force reports on deaths across the country, statements which admitted the mistreatment of
Syrian civilians and prisoners and notes on the Syrian opposition. One month into the anti-government protests across Syria, this
“Crisis Cell,” was formed by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to monitor events and decide to tackle the unrest with military-led
solutions. The cell included top intelligence, government and security force figures who documented events across Syria, gathering
information which would reach the president directly on a daily basis. [366] 42 civilians were reported killed by the Syrian army,
including 27 in Homs. [367]
20 April - Friday of "The Revolution will be Victorious" Over 50 civilians were killed, primarily in the Idlib region, as weekly
Friday protests emerged in Syria, concentrating primarily in Aleppo city, Damascus and its Suburbs, the Daraa, Idlib, Homs, Deir
Ezzor, and Hama provinces, and the Raqqa and Hasakah provinces. The Syrian Army continued its heavy bombardment on the
Khalidya neighborhood of Homs, as state television reported that rebels killed 10 soldiers in Quneitra. [368]
21 April At least 40 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, mostly in Homs and Daraa. [369]
22 April 22 civilians were reported killed by the Syrian Army, as the Damascus suburbs came under artillery shelling. [370]
23 April 38 civilians alone were killed in a reported massacre by the Syrian army in central Hama, when the Syrian army launched a
barrage of mortars against a neighborhood. 20 civilians were killed when the Syrian army shelled Douma. Another 22 civilians were
killed throughout the country, primarily in Homs, Idlib, and Daraa, bringing the day's death toll to 80. [370][371]
24 April 38 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including over a dozen in Homs and 9 in the Damascus suburbs. [372]
25 April By the end of the day over 100 civilians were reported killed by the Syrian army, at least 70 of which were in Hama. [373] In
Hama, a rocket attack was reported to have completely destroyed a building. The Local Co-ordination Committees (LCC) said
security forces fired a rocket at the building in the Mashaa Attayar area. Activists said among the dead were 13 children and 16
women, with more bodies still under the rubble. Footage on YouTube of the blast showed a crowd of men pulling out the bloodied
body of a young girl. Another video shows the collapsed remains of the building, as ash-covered men dig through piles of masonry
looking for bodies amid the cries of onlookers. [374]
26 April At least 28 civilians were reported killed, primarily in Hama. [375]
27 April - Friday of "God is coming, no impatience" Weekly Friday demonstrations came out against the Syrian government, amid
16 people being gunned down across the country by security forces fire, and 9 were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up in
al-Midan Damascus targeting security forces. Protests were largest in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the Idlib and Daraa province, and
Damascus and its suburbs. [376][377]
28 April Hundreds of soldiers reportedly defected in Damascus and Latakia, amid clashes between rebels and the Syrian government.
15 civilians were reported killed by mid-day, and 9 soldiers and rebels were killed in fire-fights, Meanwhile the Rebels made an
amphibious attack near Latakia against the Syrian Regime's troops . [378][379]
29 April The LCC reported 29 civilians killed by the Syrian along with two defectors. [380]
30 April 20 government soldiers were killed in three coordinated bombings in Idlib targeting security and military buildings. A car
bomb exploded in Damascus Qudsaya causing unspecified number of casualties, and 28 civilians were killed across the country by the
Syrian army, primarily in Homs. [381]
Kurdish Mountains clashes
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External links

Wikinews has news related to:
2011 Syria anti-government protests
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 2011 Syrian protests
• The Syrian Revolution 2011 االسد بشار ضد السورية الثورة Facebook page
• Timeline: Syria unrest, Ahram Online
• Syria Unrest collected coverage with live blog at Al Jazeera
• Timeline of the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising (January–April 2012) collected news and commentary at The Guardian
• Live updates on Syria’s uprising at NOW Lebanon
• Syria protests (2011) collected coverage at The New York Times
• Syria Comment by Joshua Landis
(May-July 2012)
May 2012
1 May The Local Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC) reported 45 people were killed by the Syrian Army, including 18 in a
reported massacre in the Idlib province. [3][4][5] Hervé Ladsous, the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations, said that both sides had violated the 12 April ceasefire agreement. [6][7]
2 May The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 15 Syrian troops, including two colonels, were
killed in an ambush by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo. Two rebel fighters were also killed. [8][9][10] The New York-based
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that government forces had killed at least 95 civilians and demolished hundreds of houses in a
two-week offensive in Idlib during ceasefire negotiations. The report documented dozens of extrajudicial executions, killings of
civilians, and destruction of civilian property that qualify as war crimes, as well as arbitrary detention and torture by the Syrian
government. [9][11][12] 30 people were killed by the Syrian army across Syria, the LCC reported. [13]
3 May 25 people were reported killed by Syrian security forces, including at least 4 students from Aleppo University. [14][15] Around
1,500 students had been protesting in student dormitories next to Aleppo university's main campus when security forces and Shabiha
attacked them, firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the student protesters. 200 students were reportedly detained, and the
university announced the suspension of all classes as a consequence of the attack on campus. [16][17][18] The White House Press
Secretary Jay Carney said it may be time for the world to acknowledge the cease-fire in Syria is not holding and try a new approach to
stopping the violence. [19][20]
4 May - Friday of "our loyalty is our salvation" Anti-government protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers, with the largest
demonstrations occurring in Aleppo, Damascus, the Idlib and Daara provinces, and Homs and Hama. Syrian forces killed at least 12
people when they fired on demonstrators in Damascus and Aleppo. [21][22] The LCC reported that 37 people were killed across Syria by
the Syrian army. [23] Amnesty International senior crisis adviser Donatella Rovera, returning from a visit to Idlib, reported that Syrian
forces were executing scores of suspected opposition sympathisers in Idlib. [24][25] Kofi Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told
reporters in Geneva that the "peace plan is on track." [20][26] US officials say the plan is failing mainly because of Syrian government
violations. [27]
5 May SOHR reported that at least 5 people were killed in a bomb explosion at a car wash in the Al Sukari neighborhood of Aleppo.
A member of the Free Syrian Army claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the car wash was used by members of a pro-Assad
militia. [28][29] Reuters reported that the Syrian army had not withdrawn tanks in Douma in line with the 12 April truce agreement. [30] 25
people were killed by the Syrian army across Syria, the LCC reported. [31]
6 May The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that 9 civilians, including a woman and child, were killed by Syrian government
forces. In other incidents nationwide there were dozens of casualties as government forces shot randomly at protesters. The Local
Coordination Committees of Syria (LCC) reported that 20 people were killed by the Syrian army including 8 bodies found in a mass
grave in Idlib and a defected soldier. [32][33]
7 May The LCC reported 35 people killed by the Syrian army, this total including the discovery of a mass grave in Idlib. [34]
8 May The LCC reported 36 people killed by the Syrian army. [35][36]
9 May The LCC reported 20 people killed by the Syrian army. Several Syrian soldiers were killed by an ambush from the FSA as
well. [37][38]
10 May At least 55 people were killed and some 372 people injured by two powerful car bomb blasts in Damascus. [39] Opposition
groups denied responsibility while Haitham Maleh, a leading opposition figure, blamed the regime. Media attention focused on the
Al-Nusra Front, a little known jihadi-type group that had previously claimed responsibility for bombings in Damascus and Aleppo. [40]
Earlier in the week Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), had expressed
worries that Syria was rushing into an uncontollable spiral of sectarian violence and following the latest bombings urged the
perpetrators to refrain from violence and let the peace process move forward. [41][42] The United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
condemned the attacks and urged all sides to "immediately and comprehensively" implement the six-point peace plan of UN-Arab
League envoy Kofi Annan. [43][44] The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the bombings the work of "outsiders", alleging
that unspecified foreign states shared the blame. [45][46][47] The LCC responded by asserting that the Syrian government had orchestrated
and masterminded the bombings to bolster the Russian position. [48] The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice
said that it was too early to call the peace plan a failure. She confirmed that the US was providing logistical and communication
support to the Syrian opposition, but had shied away from providing arms. [49] Elsewhere, the LCC reported that 37 people were killed
by the Syrian army, including 10 in Homs. [50]
11 May - Friday of "Victory from God and Soon Relief" Anti-government protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers, with
the largest demonstrations occurring in Aleppo, Damascus, the Idlib and Daara provinces, and Homs and Hama. Syrian forces killed

at least 14 people by mid day when they fired on demonstrators in Damascus and Aleppo. [51][52][53][54] The Al-Nusra Front allegedly
claimed responsibility for Thursday's twin bombings in Damascus in a video posted online. [55][56] The Al-Nusra Front however denied
responsibility, saying the video was a fake and that any information regarding their operations would be announced through Jihadi
forums. Al Nusra denied responsibility for the attack. [57] Two Turkish journalists arrested in March were released following Iranian
mediation. [58]
12 May The LCC reported 20 people killed by the Syrian army by mid-day. [59]
13 May The LCC reported 30 people killed by the Syrian army. [60][61]
14 May The LCC reported that at least 22 people were killed by the Syrian army. [62] 23 soldiers were killed by the FSA when the
Syrian army attempted to assault Rastan, Homs Province. The Syrian army also began heavy artillery shelling of Rastan. [63]
15 May At least 21 people were killed when Syrian security forces opened fire on a funeral procession in the central town of Khan
Sheikhoun, during the U.N observer visit to the town. A spokesman of the rebel military council gave a higher death toll, saying at
least 50 people were killed. During this attack, cars belonging to the U.N team were hit and damaged and no monitors were injured.
One monitor and a member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said the team of seven observers was with FSA fighters, waiting for a U.N
pickup. [64] The LCC reported that at least 63 people were killed by the Syrian army including 33 in Idlib. [65]
16 May At least 40 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 21 summarily executed in the Shammas neighborhood of
Homs. [66] A former state Television producer has told Reuters that many of the "confessions" by alleged terrorists aired by the channel
are bogus. She was distressed at what she described as a campaign of misinformation and said "Some of the men are just normal
people who were arrested in anti-government demonstrations and others were thieves and criminals who were nearing the end of their
sentence," said the producer, "They were told they will be set free if they confess to the made-up crimes." [67]
17 May 34 people were killed by the Syrian army. [68] The Syrian army barraged Rastan with artillery fire. [69]
18 May - "Friday of the Heroes of Aleppo University" Protesters took to the streets for weekly Friday protests, this time with the
biggest protests at any single time in Aleppo. The Salahadin and Shukour neighborhoods saw tens of thousands, and tens of thousands
more protested in the other area of Aleppo. Damascus and its suburbs, the Idlib and Daraa provinces, the Homs and Hama provinces,
and Latakia and Deir Ezzor also saw large protests. Protesters were shot and killed across the country, including in the Tandamoun
area of central Damascus. [70] At least 33 people were killed by security forces by mid-day. [71]
19 May A car bomb at an intelligence complex in the city of Deir al-Zour killed 9 members of the security forces and left 100
injured. [72][73] The LCC reported 26 people killed by the Syrian army. [74]
20 May During the very early morning the Free Syrian Army (FSA) launched widespread attacks against the Syrian government in
Central Damascus. The Kafer Souseh, Mezzeh, Malki, and Ruk al Adn neighborhoods erupted with intense gunfire. Security forces
began closing off Umayyad square and absereen square, and blocked of Central Damascus's Al-Shami Hospital. The Free Syrian
Army's Damascus council announced that one of their operatives from the FSA's Al Sahabeh battalion had successfully poisoned all
eight members of Bashar Assad's Crisis Cell, a group of top military officials who currently run the Syrian army's daily operations.
Members of the Crisis cell include the interior and defense ministers, as well as Assef Shawkat. The Free Syrian Army's Damascus
council said they believed at least six out of the eight to have been killed. Mohammed Shaar, the interior minister, apparently denied
the assassinations by telephone, calling it "categorically baseless". He also denied the gunfire in Damascus which was confirmed by
all witnesses. [75][76][77] Adib Habb al-Rumman, the head of Idlib's Jish Shugour's Baath party branch, was assassinated by the FSA, the
SOHR reported. The SOHR also made note of increased political and military assassinations by the FSA in recent weeks. [78] At least
28 people were killed by mid-day in Syria, primarily in the Hama province. Soran, Hama, and Douma, Damascus, came under intense
artillery shelling by the Syrian army. By the end of the day more than 60 people were killed nation-wide. [79]
21 May 5 civilians, 11 rebels, and 22 soldiers were killed by mid-day. Much of the soldier deaths occurred when the Syrian army
attempted to storm Atrarib, Aleppo. [80] The LCC reported 33 people killed by the Syrian army by the end of day. [68] According to
S.O.H.R, 31 soldiers were killed by the end of the day. [81]
22 May An IED exploded in the Damascus neighborhood of Qaboun, killing at least five people. [82] The LCC reported that at least 25
people killed by the Syrian army. [83]
23 May 23 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 6 in Homs. [84]
24 May 40 people were killed by the Syrian army. [85] 203 soldiers reportedly defected to the opposition, including 3 officers. An FSA
officer said that the FSA was now present in all governorates and regions of Syria. [86] A Brigadier General in the Syrian army who had
defected to the FSA gave a speech in which he said that a safe zone or international intervention like air strikes was needed to stop
what he called the genocide the Syrian army was committing in Syria. [87]
25 May - "Friday of Rendezvous in Damascus" Main article: Houla massacre Protesters took to the streets for weekly Friday
protests, amassing in Aleppo, Damascus and its suburbs, Homs, Hama, Qamishli, and the Daraa, Idlib, and Deir Ezzor provinces.
Tens of thousands protested in central Aleppo, to which security forces responded with live fire, killing several. [88] Maj. Gen. Robert
Mood, head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), confirmed opposition group claims that at least 90
civilians were killed, including 32 children in Houla, Homs province. [89] General Mood declared the killings "indiscriminate and
unforgiveable" without explaining how they happened, but said the violence had begun Friday evening with the use of "tanks,
artillery, rocket-propelled grenades, and heavy machine guns", implying an attack by government forces since the FSA do not possess
heavy weaponry. [90] The official news agency of the Syrian government alleged that "Al-Qaeda terrorist groups" were responsible for
the killings, while opposition groups alleged that the Syrian military and government-linked militias known as Shabiha were the
perpetrators. [91][92] The Syrian National Council (SNC), Syria's main opposition bloc, put the death toll at more than 110 people, half
of them children. [93] State media claimed 17 had been killed. [91] A further 43 people were killed by the Syrian Army according to the
LCC. [94] On the same day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon blamed the Syrian government for the "unacceptable levels
of violence and abuses" occurring every day in Syria. Ban cited the government's continued use of heavy weapons, reports of shelling
and "a stepped-up security crackdown by the authorities that has led to massive violations of human rights by government forces and
pro-government militias". He said there was only "small progress" in implementing the UN peace plan. [95]
26 May The UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called for an urgent session of the UNSC following Friday's "appalling crime" at
Houla. He urged the regime to grant full and immediate access to Houla for UN monitors and stop all military options, as demanded
by special envoy Kofi Annan. [96][97][98] However General Mustafa Ahmed al-Sheikh, head of the Turkey-based Free Syria Army (FSA)

military council, said regime opponents had lost all faith in the UN Security Council, on which Damascus has Russia as a powerful
backer (see also Russia–Syria relations). [98] 65 people were killed by the Syrian army across the country, including 25 in Homs. [99]
27 May The Syrian army engaged in heavy artillery shelling in Hama and the Damascus suburbs, killing at least 30 according to LCC
. [100] 51 people were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day. [101]
28 May The Syrian army killed 28 people by the late afternoon, including 9 in Hama. [102] At the same time, the conflict has started
moving into the two largest cities (Damascus and Aleppo) that the government claimed was being dominated by the silent majority,
which wanted stability, not government change. In both places there has been a revival of the protest movement in its peaceful
dimension. Shopkeepers across the capital staged a general strike and in several Aleppo commercial districts mounted a similar but
smaller protest. This has been interpreted by some as indicating that the historical alliance between the government and the business
establishment in the large cities has become weak. [103]
29 May Another mass execution was discovered near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor. The unidentified corpses of 13 men had been
discovered shot to death execution-style. [104] This incident raised awareness that the violence in Syria was heading towards an
inexorable vicious cycle of tit-for-tat attacks between the different parties involved. [105] According to the opposition, the 13 people
who were shot at point blank range and later found in a field were employees at the electricity company in Deir Ezzor, who went on
strike in protest of the massacres committed by the Syrian regime. They all had their hands tied behind their backs and were shot in
the head according to a UN report. The head of a UN observer mission in Syria was “deeply disturbed” by the killings in Deir Ezzor,
calling it an “appalling and inexcusable act.” [106] Several days later, the dead were identified to be military and the opposition than
claimed they were army defectors killed by government forces. However, on 5 June, the jihadist group the Al-Nusra Front to Protect
the Levant claimed responsibility for the killings, stating that they had captured and interrogated the soldiers in Deir al-Zor and
"justly" punished them with death, after they confessed to crimes. [107]
30 May Early in the day 46 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 10 in Douma, Damascus. [108] The Free Syrian Army
announced that they were giving president Bashar al-Assad a 48-hour deadline to abide by an international peace plan to end violence.
"It ends on Friday at 1200 (0900 GMT) then we are free from any commitment and we will defend and protect the militants, their
villages and their cities.", the FSA spokesperson is quoted saying. [109] Syria’s Consul General Hazem Chehabi of the Syrian American
Council defected in California. He said that the Houla Massacre had been a tipping point and he could no longer support the "barbaric
Syrian regime". [110] Meanwhile, Syrian Army forces attacked Tadlu, Houla, the site of the Houla massacre days before. Machinegun
fire was followed by shelling, forcing villagers to flee heavy shelling in fear of more carnage. [111]
31 May 61 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 29 in Homs. [112] An army sniper killed a boy in Taldou, Houla, where the
Houla massacre took place. "Frightened residents of the area fled" for nearby towns, according to SOHR. [113]

June 2012
The first weekend of June witnessed the death of 80 security personnel throughout Syria. [114]
1 June - Friday of "Martyrs of Houla" Protesters took to the streets for weekly Friday protests with the largest protests occurring in
Aleppo, Damascus, Hama, Homs, idlib, Daraa, and the Deir Ezzor province. [115] 43 were killed by the Syrian army, including 13 in
the Damascus suburbs. [116] 13 people were killed in another mass execution by the Syrian army in Qusayr. The opposition reported 13
men were on their way to work at a state-owned fertilizer factory in Qusayr near the city of Homs when they came under fire. [117]
[full citation needed][118]
SOHR reports that 17 law enforcers were killed across the country in an explosion in Idlib, and clashes elsewhere.
Additionally, SANA reports that 22 security forces were 'laid to rest' (including: Retired Captain Taghreed Shahi Hamdan, First
Lieutenant Alaa Fayssal Jamous and Second Lieutenant Issam Nabih Abu Aqel.) [119]
2 June A total of 96 people were killed on Saturday according to SOHR. SOHR reported that the total number of civilian casualties
for the day was 33. [full citation needed][120] 2 army defectors were killed in Rastan and Homs. [full citation needed][120] A total of 61 soldiers killed
throughout the day in, predominantly, explosions; ambushes and clashes. Al Jazeera reported that Saturday was the worst day for
Syrian security forces since the start of the uprising [121] 29 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 12 in Homs. [122]
3 June By evening at least 42 people were killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Idlib and Homs. [123] At least 80 Syrian soldiers were
killed by the FSA over the weekend, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, citing local doctors, who confirmed this and their
names. [124] This was while the opposition Free Syrian army said that they had killed more than 100 soldiers and destroyed some tanks
over the weekend. [125]
4 June 42 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 16 in the Idlib province. [126]
5 June 51 people were killed by the Syrian army by evening, including 12 in Haffeh, Latakia. [127]
6 June Main article: Al-Qubair massacre 78 civilians were executed in a massacre by the Syrian army and Shabiha in the small
villages of Qubair and Maarzaf, Hama province, with 47 bodies identified so far. Over 140 people were killed across Syria, including
in the Qubair and Maarzaf massacres. [128][129] The village of Qubair is located directly east of Asilah and Abu Rubays. One Lebanese
man was killed and two-three were wounded in a gunfight with Syrian security forces while they were trying to infiltrate Syria across
the border from Lebanon at the town of Arsal. The soldiers were apparently waiting for the infiltrators to ambush them. The wounded
were reportedly missing after the incident. [130]
7 June Observers attempting to reach the site of the massacre in Qubair were shot at by government soldiers, and forced to turn
back. [131][dead link] 31 people were killed by the Syrian army, as reported by SOHR. 24 Syrian soldiers were killed by the FSA including
an assassination on a Major General (which also killed a military judge) in Dera'a. [118][132]
8 June - Friday of "Revolutionaries and Traders Hand in Hand" Fierce fighting between the FSA and Assad loyalists erupted in
central Damascus, as protesters took to the streets for weekly Friday protests. The largest protests occurred in Damascus, Aleppo,
Hama, the Idlib, Homs, Daraa, and Deir Ezzor provinces. At least 20 people were killed by the Syrian army by the evening. The
Syrian army continued heavy shelling on central Homs. [133][134] By the end of the day 65 people were killed by the Syrian army,
including 17 in the Idlib province. [135] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the UN security council that heavy weapons, armorpiercing
bullets and surveillance drones have been used against UN observers in Syria to hamper their efforts to monitor the conflict,
and that these tactics had been used to try to force the unarmed monitors to withdraw from areas where government forces have been
accused of staging attacks. montiors also saw Syrian military convoys and tried to stop tank assaults against populated areas, but had
been "ignored". [136] British journalist Alex Thompson claims to have been set up in a death trap by members of the FSA who tried to
have him killed by members of the Syrian Army for propaganda purposes. [137] A video was leaked online, which puported to show
soldiers mocking the dead in a town in Idlib. They were shown to be piling corpses in a building, and blowing it up afterwards. [138]
9 June Activists said Syrian troops killed at least 17 people in the southern city of Daraa, including women and children. [139] The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees told that dozens of people were also
wounded in the shelling early on 9 June. [140][141] According to SANA, more than 150 soldiers, police officer and other law enforcement
members killed by rebels were buried during the week. [citation needed] By the end of the day the LCC reported 96 people killed by the
Syrian army, primarily in Daraa and Homs. [142] The SOHR reports that 84 were killed; 70 people were killed across the country
including 29 in Homs. Bombardment took place in Homs, Dera'a, Latakia and Idlib provinces. 13 rebel fighters died across the
country, including 10 in clashes in Homs province. A total of 28 Syrian soldiers were killed following clashes across the country. [143]
10 June By the end of the day LCC reports that 53 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 26 from shelling in Homs. [144]
SOHR reported that a total of 41 people were killed across the country. [145] At least 16 soldiers were killed across the country. [145]
Dozens of Kuwaitis were reported to have joined the FSA according to the Al-Qabas newspaper [146] The FSA reported that they
briefly took the al-Ghanto air-defense base north of Homs that held advanced surface-to-air missiles and anitaircraft vehicles. FSA
commanders described in a series of online videos the organized defection of soldiers and officers from the base and the subsequent
government attack that followed. The FSA claimed that they seized a number of weapons and ammunition, and that a large part of the
base and its arsenal of weapons were destroyed in bombing by government helicopters that were used to retake the air-defense
base. [147]
11 June United Nations monitors confirmed that Syrian army helicopters fired on towns near Homs, including Rastan. For the first
time, the UN also verified repeated allegations by activists that government forces fired from helicopters in the military crackdown on
dissent. Kofi Annan said he was "gravely concerned" at this news and a UN spokeswoman said that "artillery and mortar shelling,
machine guns and smaller arms" were being used against the towns of Rastan and Talbiseh. [148] The US said that it feared the Syrian
government was planning a "new massacre" in al-Heffa, where a battle had been taking place that had killed 68 soldiers, 29 civilians
and 23 rebel fighters. The city endured heavy shelling from the army. The FSA said that they moved civilians away from the city
centre to protect them, but even the outskirts were shelled eventually. [149] 109 people were killed by the Syrian army by the evening,
including 36 in Idlib, of which a dozen were summarily executed. [150] SOHR reports the total death toll of civilians as 80 (excluding 2
rebels included in the count by SOHR), including 25 in Idlib province and 9 civilians slain in a car bomb in Dera'a province. At least
7 rebel fighters with killed, including 2 during clashes in Homs. In addition, 23 soldiers and a Ba'ath Party official were slain across
the country. [151]

12 June Herve Ladsous, the head of the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations, stated that the uprising has amounted for a
full-scale civil war. [152] LCC reports that 60 people were killed by the Syrian army by evening, including 23 in Homs and 16 in Deir
Ezzor from heavy artillery shelling. [153] 17 soldiers were killed in clashes throughout the country and when a military bus was targeted
in Rif Dimashq. [154] Dr. Marwan Arafat, the previous president of the Syrian Football Federation, was assassinated. [155]
13 June Riad al-As'ad from the Free Syrian Army announced that the FSA had made a tactical withdrawal from Al Heffeh
Latakia. [156] LCC reports that 77 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 23 in Homs, 12 in Hama and 10 in Deir Ezzor from
heavy artillery shelling. [157] SOHR said at least 51 people were slain by evening, including 20 in Homs, largely due to military
bombardment. 6 people were killed in each of: Idlib, Dera'a and Hama provinces. In addition, at least 9 rebel fighters were killed
including a rebel leader in Deir Ezzor. [158][page needed] [158][page needed]
At least 21 soldiers were killed across the country.
14 June LCC reported that 60 people were killed by the Syrian army by the evening, including 19 in Homs and 19 in a massacre
perpetrated by Shabiha in the Damascus suburb of Hamourieh. [159] SOHR reported that 51 people were slain including 21 in Rif
Dimashq and 15 in Homs. In addition, at least 11 rebels were killed including 6 in the town of Heit, Dera'a. An officer was killed in
Homs province. 24 soldiers were killed including at least 11 killed in clashes in eastern Ghouta. [160] UN monitors were met with the
'stench of death' as they entered the deserted town of al-Heffa after having been shelled for 8 consecutive days. [161] A bomb blew up a
vehicle near the shrine of Zaynab bint Ali, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammed; damaging the shrine and wounding 10
people. [162]
15 June - Friday of "Readiness of the Free Syrian Army" LCC reports that at least 48 people were killed by the Syrian army by
evening as protesters took to the streets, with protesting occurring primarily in Damascus and its suburbs, Aleppo, and the Idlib,
Daara, Hama, Homs, and Deir Ezzor provinces. [163][164] SOHR reports the deaths of 30 people; including a civilian journalist in Homs
province. 2 defected soldiers were killed in Homs. 8 soldiers were also killed. [165]
16 June LCC reports that 77 people were killed by the Syrian army evening, primarily in Damascus and Homs. [166] SOHR reports that
59 people were slain across the country; 34 in Damascus province, 15 in Homs province. 2 rebels died in Dera'a, including a defected
lieutenant. [167] 16 soldiers of the Syrian government were killed throughout the day. [168] Meanwhile the Free Syrian Army announced
that it regained control over al-Bayada. [169] The UN announced that they are suspending activities in Syria due to the increase in
violence. [170]
17 June LCC reported that 60 people were killed by the Syrian army by evening, including 17 in the Damascus suburbs and 15 in
Homs. Rastan, Talbiseh and central Homs came under renewed massive artillery shelling. [171] SOHR reported the deaths of 43 people;
including 13 in Reef Damashq and 13 in Homs due to regime bombardment. At least 2 fighters were slain in clashes in Homs
province. [172] 26 law-enforcers were killed; including a lieutenant assassinated in Damascus. [172]
18 June LCC reported that by night at least 90 people were killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Damascus. [173] SOHR
reported the deaths of 56 people; including 19 in Reef Damascus and 7 in Dera'a Province. At least 13 rebels were slain across the
country; 2 rebel commanders in Deir Ezzor and 2 defected first sergeants in Homs and Reef Damascus. [174] 28 soldiers were killed;
primarily in overnight clashes. [174] It was reported that two Russian warships are headed to Syria, according to a Russian officer, each
capable of carrying 300 marines and a dozen tanks, making it the largest deployment from Russia to Syria to date. Russia also has an
unspecified number of military advisers teaching Syrians how to use Russian weapons. [175] The United Kingdom said it had withdrawn
insurance for a Russian ship that was reportedly carring attak helicopters destined for the Syrian Government. UK Foreign Secretary
William Hague said the ship was returning to Russia and said that "We discourage anyone else from supplying arms to Syria." [176]
19 June LCC reported 52 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 10 in Homs. [177] SOHR reported the deaths of 46
opposition members; at least 6 were rebel fighters, the rest were civilians. 14 were killed in Homs and 16 in Damascus Province. [178]
At least 27 soldiers were killed across the country. [178] The FSA called on their “Kurdish brothers” to join rebels fighting President
Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while promising an end to injustices against Kurds in a future democratic Syria. The spokesperson for the
joint command of the FSA said; "“The Joint Command of the Free Syrian Army ... appeals to our Kurdish brothers, soldiers and
civilians, and invites them to join the ranks of the FSA inside the country, let us work together to transform the FSA into an
alternative national military institution to the army of the ruling gang.” The statement also emphazied that kurds are and have always
been "partners" working “hand-in-hand to build the country’s future and end discrimination for all Syrians, whatever their ethnic or
religious background.” The head of the Syrian National council is a Kurdish activist. [179] Clashes erupted at the Kurdish Mountain area
in Latakia Governorate. A series of confrontations between the Syrian Army and the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) resulted in
multiple casualties. A rebel leader claimed that clashes resulted in 5 rebels killed, while 28 Syrian soldiers were killed, dozens
wounded and several captured by the next day. [180]
20 June LCC reported that 66 people were killed throughout Syria by the Syrian army, including 17 in the Damascus suburbs. [181]
SOHR reported the deaths of 46 people; including 16 in Hama and 10 in Damascus Province. In addition, Sayyed Abdul Quddous
Jebara (a Shia cleric) was assassinated in Damascus Province. 8 rebels were slain; including 5 killed in Latakia and a defected
lieutenant in Madaya. [182][183] 35 law-enforcers were killed across the country, in addition to an officer assassinated in Damascus. [184]
21 June A Syrian MiG-21 pilot defected to Jordan with his plane, the country later granted colonel Hassan Hamada political
asylum. [185] SOHR reported the deaths of at least 121 people were killed including 107 people, with 32 killed in Homs and 30 in
Damascus Province, one of the highest death tolls in the entire uprising. In addition, at least 10 rebels were slain; including 5 in Dera'a
and a defected officer in Idlib. [186] 54 law-enforcers were killed, primarily in clashes. [186] The LCC reported that over 128 people were
killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, primarily in the Damascus suburbs, Hama, and Daara. [187]
22 June - Friday of "The governments let us down, but where are the people?" Protests were widespread after Friday prayers,
occurring primarily in Central Aleppo and Damascus and its suburbs, as well as the Homs, Hama, Idlib, Daara, and Deir Ezzor
governates. 87 people were killed by security forces and the Syrian army by the evening, primarily in the Damascus suburbs and
including at least 15 in Aleppo city. [188][189] Syrian army shot down a Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter jet near the Turkish/Syrian
border. [190] SOHR reported the deaths of 59 people; including 11 in a demonstration in Aleppo. Between 6-10 rebels were slain;
including 2 in Homs and a defected captain. [191] A total of 41 soldiers were killed; including 26 Shabiha killed in West Aleppo
Province. [191] The largest single officer defection took place; 5 officers, from Idlib province, announced their defection; 2 brigadier
generals, 2 colonels and a fighter pilot defected. [192]
23 June LCC reported the deaths of 131 people were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 31 in Deir Ezzor, 26
in the Damascus suburbs, and 24 in Idlib. [193] SOHR reported the deaths of 76 people; 22 in Deir Ezzor and 15 in Homs. At least 9

ebels were killed including a defected corporal was also killed in Latakia. [194] 28 soldiers were killed by the end of the day, according
to SOHR. [194] 10 soldiers were executed for attempting to defect from the army. [195] Three more fighter pilots from the Syrian Army
defected, crossing the border to Jordan. [196]
24 June LCC reported that at least 82 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 23 in Deir Ezzor and 14 in Hama. [197] 55
people were killed, according to SOHR; including 19 in Deir Izzor; primarily due to bombardment on the city. At least 13 rebels were
slain; including a defected sergeant and a defected first lieutenant in Deir Izzor. [198] 28 law-enforcers were slain; 27 during clashes and
1 in an IED attack. [199]
25 June 7 doctors in Aleppo were arrested, tortured, and burned alive by Syrian intelligence officers. [200] 40 soldiers, including a
general and two colonels, defected from the Syrian army and crossed the border to Turkey with their families. [201] This was while a
General of the FSA said that government forces are preparing to carry out a new massacre in Homs. [202] Turkey accused Syria of firing
at a second Turkish military jet aircraft, days after Syria shot down a Turkish F-4 jet. [203] SOHR reported the deaths of 61 people; 15
in Deir Ezzor, 17 in Dera'a. Regime forces bombarded a refugee camp and massacred a family of 4 in Dera'a. At least 5 rebels were
slain. [204] 31 soldiers were killed; including in IED attacks in Idlib and Dera'a. [204] LCC reported that by the end of the day 80 people
were killed by the Syrian army, including 20 in a massacre in Daara, and 17 from artillery shelling in Deir Ezzor. [205] Also, 7 doctors
in Aleppo were arrested, tortured, and burned alive by Syrian intelligence officers. [200]
26 June LCC reported that 113 people were killed by the Syrian army by evening, including 33 in Quddasaya and al Hami Damascus,
and 16 in Daara. [206] SOHR reported that 83 people were killed; including 28 in Damascus Suburbs and 19 in Idlib Province. [207] At
least 7 rebels died in fighting around the country; including a defected captain killed in Hama Province. [208] 46 soldiers were killed
across the country; mostly in clashes with rebels. [207] 280 soldiers and officers defected in Idlib near the main highway leading to
Aleppo whilst clashes between the defectors and the Syrian army resulted in one helicopter shot down and six tanks destroyed. [209]
Burhan Ghalioun was reported to have been smuggled into Syria to meet with rebel forces in order to raise morale. [210]
27 June A group of Syrian rebels attacked a pro-government TV station in the town of Drousha, just south of the capital Damascus.
The station's studios were destroyed with explosives. Seven people were killed in the attack on Al-Ikhbariya TV, including four
guards and three journalists. [211][212] The Free Syrian Army rebels claimed that defectors from Syria’s elite Republican Guard were
behind the attack. [213] However, this was later found to be untrue after the radical Islamist group, the Al-Nusra Front to Protect the
Levant, confirmed it carried out the attack and published photos of 11 station employees they kidnapped following the raid. [214] LCC
reported that 104 people were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 42 in Idlib and 15 in the Damascus
suburbs. [215] SOHR reported a death toll of 73 people by evening; 29 in Idlib and 14 in Deir Ezzor. At least 15 rebels were slain; 5 in
Dera'a and 9 in Idlib (including a commander). A citizen from Dera'a was excessively tortured, by regime forces, until death. [216] At
least 57 soldiers were killed; including many in an attack on heavy military vehicles in Idlib. [216]
28 June Two car bombs were detonated in Damascus, one in the car park of the Palace of Justice and the other targeting a police
station. 3 people were injured and several vehicles damaged. [217][218] LCC reported that by the end of the day over 139 people were
killed, suspected perpetrator was the Syrian army, including over 40 from the artillery shelling and summarily executions in
Douma. [219] SOHR reported the deaths of 103 people; including 41 in Damascus Suburbs (35 in Douma due to bombardment) & 17 in
Homs. Ahlam Khalid Imad, a lecturer at the Baath university, was killed (along with her family) in Al-Husun, Homs. A sheikh,
Mohammed Nour Zanzoul, was killed by security forces in Hama. At least 14 rebels were slain; 8 in Homs. A defected captain was
killed in Idlib. [220] 58 law-enforcers were killed; including a lieutenant colonel, a lieutenant & 2 officers. [220]
29 June - Friday of "Trust in God's Victory" "Massive" protests erupted across the central neighborhoods and suburban
neighborhoods of Damascus, Aleppo city, Hama, and the Homs, Daara, and Idlib provinces. [221] The Free Syrian army captured a
major general, Farag Shehada, head of central command in the Syrian military. This is thought to be the highest-ranking official to be
captured. Another brigadier general in the intelligence department was captured. [222] By the end of the day LCC reported 104 people
killed by security forces and the Syrian army. 9 of which in Souran, Hama were knifed to death in a massacre suspected to be
perpetrated by shabiha. [223] SOHR reported the deaths of around 47 people; including 10 in Deir Izzor & Damascus Suburbs. At least 9
rebels were slain; including 5 bodies found dead in Kafar Shams, Dera'a. [224] 23 law-enforcers were killed; 5 in an attack on a military
truck in Latakia. [224]
30 June By the end of the day, LCC reported 174 people killed by security forces and the Syrian army including 85 people in a
massacre in Zamalka, Damascus suburbs. [225] SOHR reported the deaths of 90 people; 41 in Damascus Suburbs & 13 in Deir Ezzor.
30 civilians were killed during an explosion that targeted a funeral procession in Zamalka, Damascus Suburbs. 2 doctors were killed
in Damascus & Deir Ezzor. An activist was also killed in Hama. A total of 11 rebels were killed; including 4 in Dera'a & a defected
first sergeant in Deir Ezzor. [226] 27 soldiers were killed during clashes & during an assault on a military truck in Rankous. [227]
July 2012
1 July 69 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 14 in the Damascus suburbs. [228]
2 July By evening the Syrian army killed at least 114 people, including 30 in the damascus suburbs, 27 in Hama and 23 in
Homs. [229][230] 85 Syrian Army soldiers, including a General, a Colonel, and other ranking officers, defected to Turkey along with their
families. Other accounts said that there was no general amongst the defectors. [231]
3 JulyLCC reported the deaths of 71 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 14 in Deir Ezzor and 13 in Homs. [232] SOHR
reported the deaths of 52 people; 15 in Damascus Countryside, 10 in Homs & 10 in Dera'a. 7 rebels were killed; 4 in Homs & 2 in
Douma. [233] 25 Syrian soldiers were killed throughout the country. [233]
4 July A Free Syrian Army spokesman claimed that opposition forces were in control of around 40% of Syria, although others
claimed that up to 60% was out of government hands. [234] The bodies of two Turkish air force pilots shot down by Syrian forces were
discovered by an American deep sea exploration vessel. [235] LCC reported the deaths of 70 people were killed by the Syrian army,
including 17 in Idlib. [236] SOHR reported the deaths of 55 people by evening; 15 in Idlib & 11 in Damascus Countryside. 8 were killed
during regime bombardment on Al Misraba in Damascus Countryside. 10 rebels were killed; 4 in Homs. A leader of a rebel battalion
was slain in Hama Province & another commander killed during bombardment in Idlib. [237] 34 soldiers were killed; including 3 highranking
officers. [237]

5 July 63 civilians were killed; 28 in Idlib & 11 in Damascus Countryside. 2 civilians were killed by an IED in As-Suwayda
Governorate. 3 rebels were slain; a rebel leader was shot by a sniper in Ariha. A leader of a rebel battalion was slain in Dera'a. [238] 24
soldiers were killed; a brigadier-general was assassinated in Homs Province. [238]
6 July - Friday of "People's Liberation War" Protests were widespread after Friday prayers, occurring primarily in Central Aleppo
and Damascus and its suburbs, as well as the Homs, Hama, Idlib, Daara, and Deir Ezzor governates. At least 89 people were killed in
clashes by noon. [239][240][241] The Syrian Army captured the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province after opposition
forces retreated the previous night. [242] A high-ranking military official and brigade commander in the Republican Guard, Manaf Tlass,
son of the former defense minister Mustafa Tlass, defected to Turkey. This was because anger over civilian deaths during the
uprising. [243] SOHR reported the deaths of 67 civilians; 13 in Damascus Countryside & 11 in Homs. 5 civilians were killed during
regime bombardment of Nawa. 6 rebels were slain; 3 in Idlib. [244] 27 soldiers were killed, including a first lieutenant in Aleppo. [244]
7 July LCC reported the deaths of 71 people were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 21 in Deir Ezzor. [245]
SOHR reported the deaths of 37 civilians; 15 in Deir Ezzor & 6 in Hama. Also, 5 bodies were found in Hamourieh. 13 rebels were
slain; 5 in Aleppo. A defected lieutenant was killed in Aleppo, a defected lieutenant colonel was blown up in Idlib & a defected first
sergeant was killed in Damascus Countryside. [246] 21 soldiers were killed. [246] Rebels downed a surveillance aircraft, marking an
increase in rebel military capabilities. [246]
8 July LCC reported the deaths of 57 civilians and 3 rebels were killed by the Syrian army by evening, primarily in the Damascus
suburbs and Homs. [247] SOHR reported the deaths of 53 civilians; 11 in Hama & 9 in Deir Ezzor. A doctor was assassinated in
Damascus. 17 rebels were slain; 5 in Homs. A rebel leader was killed during an opposition operation in Dera'a Province. [248] 36
soldiers were killed across the country. [248]
9 July 51 civilians were killed by the evening; 10 in Idlib & 7 in Aleppo. 5 rebels were killed along with a defected soldier. [249] 36
soldiers killed; including an officer killed in an attack in Idlib. 10 soldiers were killed, in Deir Izzor, when a procession of military
vehicles was targeted. [249] NBC reports that the rebels have gained significant territory over the past few weeks, and now control much
of the rural countryside. [250]
10 July 68 civilians were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 19 in Deir Ezzor and 11 in the Damascus
suburbs. [251] 18 soldiers and 9 rebels were killed by the end of the day. [252]
11 July The Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares defected to the opposition. [253] He is the most senior diplomat to defect so far
in the entire conflict. [254] He gave a statement to Al Jazeera, saying "I urge all honest members of this party to follow my path because
the regime has turned it to an instrument to kill people and their aspiration to freedom." Fares also called upon the military to join the
ranks of the Syrian revolution. His defection dealt a "moral and political blow" to the Syrian Government and another diplomat, the
Syrian ambassador to Sweden, Mohammad Bassam Imadi defected in December 2011. [255] 78 people were killed by the Syrian army
by the end of the day, including 22 in Homs and 13 members of the Palestinian liberation army. [256] 28 soldiers were killed; including
three officers. 9 rebels and 44 civilians were killed by the Syrian army; according to SOHR. [257]
12 July Following a rebel ambush against a military convoy near Hama, the military made a counter-attack that led to a battle with
the Free Syrian Army in Tremseh, Syria leading to a reported death of dozens of rebels, and an unknown amount of civilians. [258] Two
days later, the UN observer mission issued a statement, based on the investigation by its team that went to the town, that the Syrian
military mainly targeted the homes of rebels and activists, in what the BBC said was a contradiction of the initial opposition claims of
a civilian massacre. They said that the number of casualties was unclear and added that they intend to return to the town to continue
their investigation. [259][260] Four days after the battle, the Free Syrian Army backtracked on their initial death toll of 200, saying it had
been overblown because many of the wounded were counted as dead, and reduced the list of those confirmed killed to 68-103 names.
But still, activist Abu Adnan, continued to claim 150 died, with the rest of the bodies allegedly being unidentifiable or stolen by the
military during their assault. [261] In all the LCC reported 287 people killed across Syria, including in the Battle of Tremseh. [262]
13 July - Friday of "down with Annan, servant of Assad" US officials say that Syria is moving chemical weapons out of
storage. [263][264] 71 people were killed by Syrian army gunfire and shelling, primarily in Idlib and Homs. [265] "Massive" demonstration
came out against the Syrian government in Aleppo, with other big protests occurring in Damascus, its suburbs, Hama, Daara, and the
Idlib and Deir Ezzor province. [266] SOHR reported the deaths of 59 civilians; 13 in Damascus & 12 in Idlib. 32 rebels were slain;
including a first lieutenant in Aleppo. 18 fighters were killed in Idlib Province during regime assaults on villages in the area. [267] 37
soldiers were killed across the country. [267]
14 July SOHR reported the deaths of 49 civilians by evening; 13 in the Damascus Countryside & 11 in Deir Ezzor. An IED explosion
hit the Fatima al-Saqqa school, in the al-Karama neighbourhood of Hama, killing 4 civilians including 2 children. 24 rebels were slain
throughout the country; 8 in Aleppo. 10 rebels were killed in Homs; including a defected lieutenant colonel. A defected first sergeant
was also killed in Deir Ezzor. [268] 39 Syrian soldiers were killed; 13 were killed in Aleppo, including an officer. 12 soldiers were killed
during an attack on a ZiL truck in Idlib Province. [268] 75 civilians were killed by the end of the day, including 20 in Homs. [269]
15 July See also: Battle of Damascus (2012) SOHR reported the deaths of 59 civilians by evening; 16 in Homs, 8 in Dera'a & 8 in
Deir Ezzor. A nurse from was tortured to death, by security services, in al-Qouriya, Deir Ezzor. A refugee camp was bombarded in
Dera'a, killing one. 16 rebels were slain; 2 rebel fighters, including the leader of a battalion, were killed during clashes by the al-Omar
oil field, Deir Ezzor. [270] 41 soldiers were killed across the country. [270] By the end of the day the LCC reported 72 people dead,
primarily in Homs, Hama, and Idlib. [271] The rebels have started the operation to liberate Damascus, an operation called "Damascus
volcano and Syrian earthquake". [272]
16 July For a second day, heavy clashes in the southern Midan and Tadhamon districts of Damascus raged [273] with the military
managing to surround the rebel forces in the area and sending tanks and other armored vehicles into the neighborhoods. The rebels
called the clashes a raid by them against the capital, [274] while the government called it a 48-hour military operation to clear the area of
any opposition forces. There were also indications that the government knew about the planed rebel raid and acted on the information.
According to state TV, the military killed over 80 rebel fighters during the fighting. [275] On their part, the rebels would claim, by the
following day, to had killed 70 soldiers and pro-government militiamen [276] and that they had shot down a military helicopter. [277]
Morocco expelled the Syrian ambassador from the country, Syria retaliated by declaring the Moroccan ambassador there persona non
grata. [278] By the end of the day, the LCC reported 97 killed by the Syrian army, including 30 in Hama, 21 in Homs, 13 in Aleppo, 11
in Damascus, 8 in Daraa, 7 in Deir Ezzor, 4 in the suburbs of Damascus, and 3 in Idlib. [279] SOHR reported the deaths of 84 civilians,
including 43 in Hama. 34 of these were slain in al-Hamidiyeh neighbourhood due to regime advancements. 14 civilians were killed in

Homs. 28 rebels were slain; 5 defectors were executed in a medical complex in Hama. [280] 41 soldiers were killed, including 2 officers,
throughout the country. [280] The former head of Syria's chemical weapons, Major General Adnan Silu, defected to the opposition. Silu
said that the rebels controlled 60 per cent of the country and that all they needed was limited military intervention from NATO to help
them topple President Bashar al-Assad. "All we need from NATO are two air attacks on the presidential palace to topple the regime
and we will be able to control all the Syrian cities," Silu told Asharq al-Awsat. [281] Two Iraqi journalists were shot and stabbed in
Damascus and then handed over to an Iraqi border post by Syrian intelligence and police. [282] A total of 525 Syrians, including several
military officers who defected from the Syrian army, fled to Turkey on Monday. [283] This included a brigadier general, bring the
number of defected generals staying in Turkey to 18. [284]
17 July The Israeli army intelligence chief said on Tuesday that Syrian army forces has moved from the Golan Heights area next to
Israel toward Damascus and other internal conflict zones. [285] 82 civilians and 6 FSA were killed by the Syrian army, including 23
civilians in Damascus. [286] SOHR reported the deaths of 54 civilians; 9 in Homs and 8 in the Damascus countryside. 16 civilians were
slain in the city of Damascus, 12 in the Qaboun neighborhood which is witnessing heavy fighting. An Egyptian national was among
the dead. 20 rebels were slain; a defected captain was killed along with 2 defected soldiers in Aleppo province. A defected sergeant
major was tortured to death in Dera'a. 3 defected officers were killed during an explosion in Yabrud. A defected first sergeant was
slain in Homs. 29 soldiers were killed. [287]
18 July See also: 18 July 2012 Damascus bombing According to Turkish officials, two Syrian brigadier-generals were among some
600 Syrians who fled from Syria to Turkey overnight, [288] bringing the total number of defected generals to twenty. [289] Orient TV
reported that Syrian vice president Farouk al-Sharaa, along with 13 other officers, had defected to neighboring Jordan. [290] A suicide
blast at a National Security Building in Rawda Square in Damascus seriously wounded several Syrian government officials and killed
Syrian defense minister General Daoud Rajha, Syrian president Bashar Al Assad's security advisor Hasan Turkmani, and President
Assad's brother-in-law, who was also deputy defense minister, Assef Shawkat. The interior minister, Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar,
was also killed in the blast. [291] It was alleged the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who had worked as a bodyguard for
President Assad’s inner circle. [292] The Syrian opposition claimed responsibility for the attack; the FSA claiming that the explosion
was remote-controlled and not a suicide attack. [293] According to Syrian state television, General Fahad Jassim al-Freij, previously the
Chief-of-Staff of the Armed Forces, was appointed as the new Defense Minister. [294] The U.S Department of Treasury announced new
sanctions, specifically targeting individuals within the Assad regime. [295] By the end of the day, 188 civilians were killed by the Syrian
army, including 60 civilians in Set Zaynab, Damascus when helicopters shelled a funeral. [296] SOHR said that 62 government soldiers
and 28 rebels were killed throughout the day. [297]
19 July Assets worth £100 million belonging to Syrian leaders were reported located and frozen in Britain. [298] The Kurdish city of
Ayn al-Arab was taken over, peacefully, by the Kurdish Popular Defense Committees, after the Syrian military pulled out of the
town. [299] Rebels claimed full control over the town of Azaz in the Aleppo Province. Reportedly, rebels had taken control of the
majority of the city back in March. [300] Three border crossings with neighboring Turkey fell under rebel control. [301] Al Jazeera
confirmed that the Bab al Hawa crossing was amongst others to be within rebels hands the next day. [302] According to Iraq´s deputy
interior minister, Adnan al-Assadi, Syrian rebels took control of all border crossings (though not all border outposts) between Iraq and
Syria. [303] Roughly 21 or 22 border guards, including their commander, were reportedly captured at one post and executed while Iraqi
border troops watched from the other side of the border. [304][305] Both Russia and China were alone in vetoing the third UN Security
Council resolution which would have enacted Chapter 7 consequences against the Assad regime for non-compliance. All other UNSC
votes were in favor, except for two abstentions. [306] The UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, condemned the Russian and Chinese
veto as "inexcusable and indefensible". [307] By the end of the day, LCC reported the deaths of 217 civilians were killed by the Syrian
army, including 70 from Deir Ezzor and 40 from greater Damascus area. [308] SOHR reported a huge death toll of over 280 deaths. 124
civilians were killed; 33 in Damascus Countryside & a further 10 in Damascus City. 20 civilians were slain due to mortar fire on the
town of Irbeen, in Damascus Countryside, alone. A car bomb exploded in Jdeida al-Khas, Damascus Countryside, killing a child. 22
civilians were killed in Deir Ezzor & 14 in Hama. An additional 14 were slain in Homs Province; including a citizen journalist. [309] 63
rebels were slain; 15 in Hama & 15 in Idlib. 14 were slain in the Damascus Countryside. 6 rebels were killed in Homs Province,
including a rebel commander. [309] 98 soldiers were killed. [309]
20 July - Friday of "Ramadan for Victory in Damascus" More than 30,000 Syrians crossed into Lebanon between Thursday and
Friday. [310] "Massive" demonstrations against the Syrian government occurred after Friday prayers, most notably in the center districts
of Aleppo and Damascus cities, their suburbs, and the Idlib, Hama, Daara and Homs provinces. [311][234] LCC reported the deaths of 215
civilians killed by the Syrian army's artillery shelling. 55 were killed in the Damascus suburbs, and 26 in Damascus city itself,
including at least 10 protesters when security forces fired on a large crowd in the Baramkeh district of central damascus. [312] SOHR
reported the deaths of more than 130 civilians. 46 fell in the environs of Damascus and a further 12 in the city itself. Rockets were
fired into Yarmouk Camp, killing a civilian. 17 civilians were slain in Homs and 15 in Idlib. [313] 38 soldiers & 19 rebels were slain. [314]
In Deiz ez Zor city it was claimed that Government forces used toxic gas to attack civilians. Nawaf Fares, who defected from his post
as Syrian ambassador to Iraq, said in an interview with the BBC that he was “convinced” that Assad would draw on his stocks if
cornered, and he and the FSA stated that gas attacks had been used already. A few days earlier, the Wall Street Journal said that
intelligence reports suggested some chemical weapons were on the move, [263][315] while a senior Syrian defector said that Assad's
forces were moving chemical weapons across the country for possible use in a military retaliation for the killing of four top security
officials. [316]
21 July LCC reported 140 people were killed in Syria by the Syrian army including 18 defectors. 34 civilians were killed in Homs,
and 28 in Damascus and the suburbs. [317][318] Assad's forces were reported to have retaken control of Damascus. [319] The FSA began
widescale fighting in Aleppo for the first time, capturing several neighborhoods. [320] SOHR reported the deaths of 164 people across
Syria, including 86 civilians, 49 soldiers and 29 rebels. [321]
22 July LCC reported the deaths of 111 civilians were killed by evening by the Syrian army, including 65 in Damascus and its
suburbs. [322] Alex Thomson, reporting from Midan suburb describes a 'familiar pattern of heavy shelling followed by militia going
house to house looting and massacring' - an organised ground and air assault by Assad soldiers and Shabiha, followed by 'an orgy of
looting'. Residents speak off-camera of a massacre. Anti-Assad graffiti is painted over in the suburb, but the Assad forces leave their
own; - 'The Soldiers of God were here.' [323] SOHR reported the deaths of 76 civilians; 18 in Damascus City & a further 16 in the

Damascus Countryside. 22 rebels were killed. [324] 34 soldiers were slain. [325] The weekly death toll, according to SOHR, resulted in a
body count of 209 rebels & 351 soldiers. [326]
23 July 175 civilians were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 90 in Damascus and its suburbs alone. [327] At
least 35 soldiers and 17 rebels died. [328]
24 July The Syrian ambassador to Cyprus, Lamia al-Hariri, defected to the opposition bringing the total number of ambassadors to
defect publicly to 3. She is the niece of Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa. The former ambassador to Sweden, Bassam Imadi
said that the envoys to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Belarus, had defected already, but have not announced it publicly due to
fears over government reprisals. [329] 150 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 46 in Hama, of which over 30 died in a
massacre in Latamna. [330] 26 soldiers and 4 opposition fighters were killed. [331] Regime MiG-23s [332] bomb eastern areas of the
commercial capital of Syria, Aleppo, the first solid claims of war planes being used by Assad. Sarah Leah Whitson, the director of the
Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, said the use of fighter jets in populated areas was of great concern. [333]
25 July Turkey closed all border gates with Syria due to worsening security conditions, though it would still let refugees cross. [334]
Syria’s ambassador to the UAE, Abdelatif al-Dabbagh defected to Qatar, where his wife, Lamaya al-Hariri who defected earlier was
also staying. [335] A military attache to the Syrian embassy to Oman defected. [336] Also two more Brigadier Generals defected, going to
Turkey, bring the total number of defected generals to 27. [337] 129 people were killed by the Syrian army by evening. 27 were killed
Damascus and its Suburbs, where most killed in a massacre in the Qaboun neighborhood, their bodies were discovered today. [338] At
least 41 soldiers and 32 opposition fighters died throughout the country. [339] Fighting continued much of the day in the southern suburb
of Kadam, and young men report the Syrian Army setting people's houses on fire. [340] A long column of dozens of Assad's tanks,
brought in from Idlib and Hama, [341] approached Aleppo in an attempt to crush the opposition forces there. [342]
26 July Ikhlas al-Badawi, Syrian legislator for the Aleppo Governorate, defected from the city of Aleppo and into Turkey, [343]
blaming the 'savage torture' of the Assad regime and becoming the first member of the rubber-stamp assembly dominated by the
Ba'ath party to defect. [344] As the Free Syrian Army holds western and eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, Assad's army bombards the
western neighborhoods with mortars, and bombards the eastern neighborhood with Russian Mi-25 helicopter gunships. [345] Over 200
civilians were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day. 47 were killed in Aleppo, while 46 were killed Damascus and its
Suburbs, where most killed in a massacre in the Yalda and Saynab neighborhoods. [346]
27 July - Friday of "The Revolt of the Two Capitals" Over 100 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 30 in Daraa. [347]
The Syrian ambassador to Belarus and the Baltic states announced his defection to the opposition. [348] Protests occurred throughout
Syria, as the Syrian army prepared to converge onto Aleppo, in a bid to try to retake the city from the Free Syrian Army. [349]
28 July A Syrian TV presenter on state TV defected, citing crimes against civilians committed by the state. [350] Over 180 civilians
were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, primarily in Aleppo, Daara, and the Damascus suburbs. [351] Assad's forces
bombarded FSA-held areas of Aleppo, and then sent in tanks supported by helicopter gunships. However, the FSA attacked the
invading tanks with rocket-propelled grenades, causing the tanks to withdraw, so Assad's forces went back to bombarding FSA-held
neighborhoods from afar. [352][353]
29 July 114 civilians were killed by the Syrian army by the end of the day, including 41 in Damascus and its suburbs, of which 36
were killed in a massacre in Moadamiyeh. [354] The Syrian opposition ask allies for heavy arms to stop tanks and aeroplanes. [355]
30 July Syrian rebels seize strategic checkpoint between Aleppo and Turkey after a 10-hour battle. [356] Deputy police chief in Syria's
Latakia, a brigadier general, flees and defected to Turkey with 11 other Syrian officers. [357] Syria closes Australian embassy. [358] Syrian
Chargé d'Affaires, Khaled al-Ayoubi, has informed the Britain's Foreign Office today that he has left his post in the Syrian embassy in
London because he is "no longer willing to represent a regime that has committed such violent and oppressive acts against its own
people." [359] At least 100 people were killed by the Syrian army, including 30 in the Damascus suburbs and 25 in Aleppo. [360]
31 July Syrian rebels overran two police stations in Aleppo city, killing at least 40 policemen. [361] The defenders of the police stations
and posts were Mukhabarat and Shabiha, both of whom have been accused of abuses including torture and rape and summary justice
appears to have been meted out in some instances. Continued rebel resistance against armour and artillery in districts of Salheddine
and Hamdanuyeh. A militia loyal to Assad carried out an assault near the city's airport which made the road viable for regime soldiers
and supplies to be brought from Damascus. [362] Syrian rebels capture military base in Al-Bab, near to Aleppo, effectively freeing the
city, after withdrawal of government forces. [363] 97 civilians were killed by the Syrian army, including 22 in Aleppo and 15 in
Homs. [364] while the Syrian consul in Armenia, Mohammad Hussam Hafez, defected to the opposition. [365]
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"Он отметил, что некоторые страны не только не помогают урегулировать конфликт в Сирии, но и "подстрекают"
оппозицию к тому, чтобы ситуация в Сирии потребовала военного вмешательства. (He noted that some countries not
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322. ^ "Syria is Bleeding 22-7-2012". Local Coordination Committees of Syria. http://www.lccsyria.org/9513. Retrieved
23 July 2012.
323. ^ Alex Thomson report from Midan, Channel 4 News, 23 July 2012. [24]
324. ^ http://supportkurds.org/news/sunday-22-july-2012/
325. ^ http://supportkurds.org/news/sunday-22-july-2012/
326. ^ (See death tolls within the article)
327. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9525
328. ^ http://supportkurds.org/news/monday-23-july-2012/
329. ^ Syrian envoy to Cyprus defects
330. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9549
331. ^ http://supportkurds.org/news/tuesday-24-july-2012/
332. ^ "Syria crisis: clashes and prison mutiny in Aleppo - Tuesday 24 July 2012". The Guardian. 24 July 2012.
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333. ^ The Independent, 25 July 2012 [25]
334. ^ http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-close-all-border-gates-withsyria.aspx?pageID=238&nID=26293&NewsCatID=338
335. ^ Syria’s ambassador to the UAE defects, joins his defected wife in Qatar
336. ^ Syrian diplomats 'defect' as Aleppo fighting worsens
337. ^ Two more Syrian generals defect to Turkey, foreign ministry diplomat says
338. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9568
339. ^ http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-25-july-2012/
340. ^ Channel 4 News, 25 July 2012 [26]
341. ^ Channel 4 News, 25 July 2012, [27]
342. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57480062/syria-rushes-reinforcements-to-its-largest-city
343. ^
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m=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
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345. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-forces-pound-aleppo-damascus-083803528.html
346. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9595
347. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9600
348. ^ http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=423156
349. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/28/syria-aleppo.html
350. ^ Syrian TV presenter defects, says Assad trying to provoke sectarianism
351. ^ http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/29/228958.html
352. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-forces-move-retake-aleppo-141522367.html
353. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-survive-regime-onslaught-aleppo-192314241.html
354. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9618
355. ^ http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global[_id]=85272
356. ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint-between-aleppo-and-turkeyaccording-rebel
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358. ^ http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=423612&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
359. ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=794833282

360. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9623
361. ^ http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-rebels-overrun-two-police-stations-aleppo-city-killing-least-40-
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363. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2012/07/201273154349545922.html.
364. ^ http://www.lccsyria.org/9633
365. ^ Senior Syrian diplomat in Armenia leaves his post

3. Major Operations
in July 2012
1. Battle of Tremseh (12 July 2012)
Date 12 July 2012
Location
Tremseh, Syria
Result Syrian Army victory [1][2]
Free Syrian Army
Saleh al-Subaai † [3] Ibrahim Zuait al-Tarkawai †
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Belligerents
Syrian government Syrian Army Shabiha
Commanders and leaders
Strength
Unknown
250–300 (government claim) [4] 800 (opposition claim)
Casualties and losses
37 [5] –50 [6] rebels killed 3 soldiers killed (government claim) [7]
39 killed overall (government claim) [5][8]
150 claimed killed overall, 68-103 confirmed (opposition claim) [3]
The Battle of Tremseh was led by the Syrian Army against the Free Syrian Army in Tremseh, Syria, in the late hours of 12 July 2012
during the Syrian civil war leading to a reported death of dozens of rebels, and an unknown number of civilians. [9] On 14 July, 2012
the UN observer mission issued a statement, based on the investigation by its team that went to the town, that the Syrian military
mainly targeted the homes of rebels and activists, in what the BBC said was a contradiction of the initial opposition claims of a
civilian massacre. They said that the number of casualties was unclear and added that they intend to return to the town to continue
their investigation. [10][2]
On 16 July 2012, the Free Syrian Army backtracked on their initial death toll of 200, saying it had been overblown because many of
the wounded were counted as dead, and reduced the list of those confirmed killed to 68-103 names. But still, activist Abu Adnan,
continued to claim 150 died, with the rest of the bodies allegedly being unidentifiable or stolen by the military during their assault. [3]
A Syrian Army convoy was ambushed by rebels near Hama, which led to a counter-attack from the Syrian Army, and reports
suggested government troops were trying to take back the town from rebel forces. [11][12] According to opposition activists, Tremseh
was surrounded by government tanks and artillery, after which, the Syrian military launched a full-scale attack against the opposition
Free Syrian Army inside the town. Tanks entered Tremseh after forces had shelled the town continuously from 5 a.m. until noon.
Syrian army forces, whose numbers were bolstered by the pro-government militias called "Shabeha", accompanied the tanks into
Tremseh. The opposition claimed that, as the government forces rained artillery rounds into the town, a number of village residents
fled their houses into the streets, where many of them were shot dead by the government militias. [13] Major General Robert Mood,
head of the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria, said in Damascus that a U.N. team had observed the fighting from three or four miles
outside Tremseh, adding that it involved “mechanized units, indirect fire as well as helicopters.” [14] According to sources close to the
government, the attack on Tremseh was part of a larger offensive decided by the Syrian government, with the aim to crush all rebel
resistance in the next two months. One police agent successfully infiltrated an Idlib armed group and was able to notify the military
about the rebels who were gathering at Tremseh and preparing the convoy attack. [15] The Local Coordination Committees in Hama
and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Syrian Army and the Shabiha, backed by tanks and attack helicopters,
entered the town of Turaymisah, after a rebel withdrawal, and summarily executed [16] over a hundred people. Initial reports put the
death toll at more than 100. [17][18] Later reports said the death toll of the massacre to be between 220 and 250, [19][20] when over 150
dead bodies were found in the local mosque after Syrian army forces left. [21] The people in the mosque, who tried to find shelter there,
apparently died when the building was shelled and then collapsed on them. [22] At one point, the LCC claimed a figure of 280 dead and
200 missing. [23] A number of the dead were reportedly rebels, [24] which was confirmed by the opposition group SOHR by stating that
dozens of the dead were rebel fighters, [25] including Lieutenant Ibrahim Zuait al-Tarkawai. [26] Jaafar, a Sham News Network
opposition activist, said that only seven civilians and 30 rebels were killed. [27][14] This was in line with the military's claim of killing a
"big number of terrorists". [28][29] SOHR put the overall death toll at 150, with only 40 confirmed dead by name thus far. [30][31] A
villager who managed to escape the area said, on condition of anonymity, that Alawite militiamen entered after Syrian rebels retreated
from the area and committed the massacre. The survivor said that houses and mosques were set ablaze by the government forces. [32]

The Syrian government denied responsibility, saying that the massacre was perpetrated by "armed gangs" and that three members of
the security forces were killed fighting them. The government also gave a lower figure of 50 civilians being killed. [24] The Syrian
government subsequently retracted the claim and denied that any civilians died at all, saying that they "had carried out a special
operation against rebel forces killing many rebels and capturing dozens of others," adding that no civilians were killed. [33] According
to the Syrian government residents called security forces for help after the terrorist groups raided the neighborhood. The security
forces then arrested some of the members of the terrorist groups and confiscated their weapons. A military source quoted by the staterun
Syrian Arab News Agency said an operation by armed forces destroyed "terrorists' dens," killed many of the people they found
there, and led to the arrests of scores more." The account added, "Armed forces successfully dealt with the terrorists without casualties
taking place among the citizens. They searched into the terrorists' dens where they found the dead bodies of a number of citizens who
had been abducted and killed by the terrorist groups." [34] Kofi Annan, the UN special envoy, accused the Syrian government of using
heavy weapons and helicopters in the village. Jihad Makdissi, spokesman for Syria's Foreign Ministry, denied that heavy weapons
were used in the village and said the heaviest weapon used was an RPG. [35][36] A local opposition member, Fadi Sameh, was quoted as
saying, “It appears that Alawite militiamen (Shabiha) from surrounding villages descended on Turaymisah after its rebel defenders
pulled out, and started killing the people. Whole houses have been destroyed and burned from the shelling." [37] Another [who?] was
quoted as saying, "Around 6:00 AM of Thursday morning, Assad forces surrounded the village with heavy weaponry and tanks, more
than 800 soldiers of Assad forces were in the mission, after couple of hours, they started arbitrary artillery shelling on the village.
People fled their home to seek shelters in school and the mosque. Assad forces shelled the school and the mosque causing collapses in
the buildings which resulted in tens of deaths. Shabiha from the surrounding villages came to support Assad forces and to kill more of
the village people, which escalate the number of victims in this massacre." [38] The UN observer mission head, Robert Mood, said that
the Syrian army was still conducting assaults with heavy weapons around the town the following day. [39] By the evening of 13 July
2012, the opposition Syrian National Council claimed a new total figure of 305 killed. [40] However, at the same time, other opposition
activists backed away from their earlier estimates of over 200 dead. One local activist stated that he had confirmed 74 deaths, but had
only 20 names. Another provided a list of 103 names. [41] Others also said the death toll may have been less but was certainly over
100. [42] A group of UN-observers had entered Tremseh on July 14, 2012 with a convoy of around 11 vehicles on reconnaissance
mission. According to a local activist in Hama province they inspected bombed places and where there were traces of blood. [43] The
UN observers found evidence of an attack, including a burned school, damaged houses, and proof that artillery, mortars and small
arms were used according spokeswoman for the head of the U.N. Supervising Mission in Syria, Sausan Ghosheh. [44][45] "The attack ...
appeared targeted at specific groups and houses, mainly of army defectors and activists. There were pools of blood and blood spatters
in rooms of several homes together with bullet cases," Ghosheh said in a statement. [44][45] On the same day the head of the UN
monitoring mission, Major General Robert Mood, told reporters in Damascus that a group of observers, deployed few kilometres from
Tremseh, confirmed the use of heavy weaponry and attack helicopters in Tremseh and thereby implicated the Syrian government
according to Al Jazeera. [43] On 14 July 2012, the facts over the event remained unclear with new details emerging that would indicate
that what was called a massacre was more of a battle between the military and opposition fighters that ended in a defeat for the
rebels. [24] Videos, televised confessions of captured fighters and reports from non-local activists backed up this version. The videos of
the victims that have emerged showed mostly young men of fighting age. Another video was said to show a group of rebel
reinforcements heading to Tremseh, all of them armed young men in civilian clothes. A team of UN observers was sent to the town to
investigate. It was pointed out that while previous massacres were usually followed by long lists of names and videos of killed
civilians emerging at the same time, as well as corroboration by UN observers who would fault the Syrian Army, this was not so in
this case. Some opposition groups still claimed a large number of civilian deaths happened while others put the death toll at far less
and stated most were rebels. The opposition activist group SOHR stated that it had been able to confirm only 103 deaths, 90 percent
of them young men, and the group's director, Rami Abdul-Rahman, said that the majority of people killed in Tremseh were either
rebel fighters from the town or from surrounding towns. [1][46] Later, he was more precise, stating that at least 50 rebels were killed. [6]
The opposition activist group VDC confirmed, by this point, the names of only 63 people to have been killed. [47] Late on 14 July, the
UN observer mission issued a statement, based on the investigation by its team that went to the town, that the Syrian military mainly
targeted the homes of rebels and activists contradicting claims of a civilian massacre. [48][10] Opposition activists gave a new revised
figure of 103 to 152 dead but stated they were expecting the number to rise because, according to them, hundreds of people were
unaccounted for and locals believed many bodies remained in the fields that were close to army checkpoints or were disposed of into
the Orontes River. The UN observers could not immediately determine the total number of casualties and announced they would
return to the area the next day to further investigate. [6] On 15 July, the government stated that 37 of the dead were rebels and only two
were civilians. [24][5] Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi told a news conference in Damascus that no helicopters,
aircraft or armoured tanks were used in the attack - only troop carriers and small arms, including rocket-propelled grenades. "It was
not a massacre but a response by regular military forces against heavily armed groups that do not want a political solution," Mr
Makdissi said. [49] Meanwhile the International Committee of the Red Cross declared it sees the fighting in Syria as a "noninternational
armed conflict", which is the technical term for civil war. This would have the effect that, from that point on, all those
fighting in Syria are officially subject to the Geneva Conventions and could end up at a war crimes tribunal if they disobeyed
them. [50][2] On 16 July, rebels gave a revised death toll of approximately 150. They said higher numbers in the past were because of
mistakingly counting the wounded as dead, and that only 68 bodies were present due to others being "stolen" by the Syrian army. By
Sunday they had the names of 103 of those who died, and about 30 of the bodies were too badly burnt to be identified. 5 children and
1 woman were amongst those killed, the rest were all males. Free Syrian Army (FSA) leader, Saleh al-Subaai, was also confirmed
killed in the battle. [3]
Reactions
The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (July 2012)
International
• United Nations – U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the massacre, stating that he is “outraged” by reports
of horrific mass killings. [51] UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan also condemned the massacre and stated that Syrian
forces had used heavy weaponry. [36]

• Canada – Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird noted Canada was appalled by the killings, and encouraged further
action from the international community. "Canada urges all members of the UN Security Council to come to agreement on a
resolution that will impose tough, binding economic sanctions against the regime." [52]
• France – The French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero argued that the Syrian government must take the "first
step towards a cessation of violence" as evidenced by the tragedy. [53]
• Iraq – Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the killings and described the deaths as an "ugly massacre". In a
statement on his official website he said "The ugly massacre that took place in Tremseh town, in Hama province, provokes
feelings of concern and condemnation. This reprehensible crime, which we condemn strongly ... should be an additional
incentive for everyone to abandon the methods of violence, murder, revenge and terrorism in solving problems." [54]
• Malta - Malta Foreign Minister Tonio Borg strongly condemned the massacre which occured in the Syrian town of
Tremseh. [55]
• People's Republic of China - China strongly condemned the massacre. Liu Weimin, spokesman of Chinese Foreign
Ministry said "China has always strongly denounced actions that harm innocent civilians. We hope the concerned Syrian
parties should take concrete measures and fulfill their commitment to cease violence as soon as possible". [56]
• Russia – Russian Foreign Ministry said the massacre served the interests of those who supported a sectarian conflict in
Syria, but did not directly apportion blame. [39]
• Turkey – Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the massacre saying "This is another example of
Syrian regime's attacks and massacres on its own people. We strongly condemn and curse the killing of nearly 200 innocent
civilians, most of them women and children". The statement said the massacre had shown that the Syrian regime had lost all
legitimacy and it had to be stopped at once for the sake of regional and international security. The statement also urged
Security Council "to take necessary steps immediately". [57]
• United Kingdom – UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the alleged massacre in Tremseh as "shocking
and appalling". [58]
• USA – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a press release and stated that she was deeply saddened and outraged
to learn of reports of yet another massacre committed by the Syrian regime in Turaymisah. [59] She added: "Credible reports
indicate that this unconscionable act was carried out by artillery, tanks, and helicopters -- indisputable evidence that the
regime deliberately murdered innocent civilians. Syria cannot be peaceful, stable, or democratic until Assad goes and a
political transition begins." [34]
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http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/death-grief-in-syrian-village-us-cries-murder-/119990/. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
a b
43. ^ "UN monitors visit Syria 'massacre site'". Al Jazeera English. 14 July 2012.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/201271491127470299.html. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
44. ^ a b CNN Wire Staff (15 July 2012). "U.N. team inspects site of reported Syrian massacre". CNN.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/14/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?hpt=imi_c1. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
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45. ^ "Syria: Tremseh killings targeted rebels, UN says". BBC News Middle East. 14 July 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18840535. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
46. ^ "Syria: UN observers probe Tremseh killing". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-07-14. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middleeast-18840535.
Retrieved 2012-07-18.

47. ^ "Violations Documenting Center" (in Arabic). Violations Documenting Center. 14 July 2012. http://www.vdcsy.org/.
Retrieved 14 July 2012.
48. ^ Tremseh killings targeted rebels – UN monitors, RT, 2012-07-15
49. ^ "Syria denies UN claims it used heavy arms in Tremseh". BBC News Middle East. 15 July 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18846958. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
50. ^ "Syria in civil war, Red Cross says". BBC News Middle East. 15 July 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldmiddle-east-18849362.
Retrieved 15 July 2012.
51. ^ "Ban and UN-Arab League envoy condemn latest attacks on Syrian civilians". Global Security. 13 July 2012.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/syria/2012/syria-120713-
unnews02.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e555%2eau0ao03epe%2ei35. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
52. ^ "UN blames Syrian massacre on regime forces - World - CBC News". CBC News. 13 July 2012.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/07/13/syria-shelling-tremseh.html. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
53. ^ Constantine, Zoi (14 July 2012). "Syrian regime condemned for Tremseh massacre". The National.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/syrian-regime-condemned-for-tremseh-massacre#page2. Retrieved 14
July 2012.
54. ^ Maliki’s Syria stance slammed
55. ^ "Malta condemns Tremseh massacre". Times of Malta. 17 July 2012.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120717/local/malta-condemns-tremseh-massacre.428959. Retrieved 17 July
2012.
56. ^ "China strongly condemns Syria massacre". CNTV. 14 July 2012.
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20120714/103355.shtml. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
57. ^ "Turkey condemns massacre in Syria's Hama". Anadolu Agency. 14 July 2012.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/64636--turkey-condemns-massacre-in-syria-s-hama. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
58. ^ "Syria crisis: Tremseh 'massacre' - Friday 13 July 2012". The Guardian. 13 July 2012.
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59. ^ "Assad Regime Massacre in Traymseh" (Press release). US Departent of State. 13 July 2012.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/195003.htm. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
External links
• Timeline: Syria's massacres as provided by BBC News, 13 July 2012
2. Battle of Damascus (15-29 July 2012)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Date 15 – 29 July 2012
Location Damascus, Syria
Syrian Army victory
Result • Syrian army repels rebel attack and forces the rebels out of some Damascus neighbouhoods
• Four senior government officials killed in a bombing attack
Belligerents
Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army
Commanders and leaders
Qasem Sadedine
Units involved
Elements from Idlib, Raqqa, Hama and Homs
groups [2]
Strength
2,500 [3] -5,000 [4] fighters
• 1,500 Idlib fighters [5] Unknown
Casualties and losses
176 killed 15 wounded 145
captured [6][7][8][9][10][11] 14 vehicles destroyed [12]
(government claim)
84 civilians killed** [21]
*Figures updated to July 19. **Figures updated to July 21.
Syrian government Syrian Army Shabiha
Bashar Al-Assad Dawoud Rajiha † [1]
Assef Shawkat † Fahd Jassem al-Freij
Maher al-Assad Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar (WIA)
Hasan Turkmani † Hisham Ikhtiyar †
3rd Armoured Division 4th Armoured Division Republican
Guard Elements of other divisions
92-97 killed* [13]
130 wounded, [14][15] 3 tanks [16] and 1 AV [17] destroyed 1 AV
captured [18] 3 helicopters shot down [19][20] (opposition claim)

The Battle of Damascus, also known as Operation Damascus Volcano, started on 15 July 2012 during the Syrian civil war. It is
unclear who started the battle. Thousands of rebels infiltrated the capital from the surrounding countryside. Following this, according
to some reports, the opposition forces launched an operation to capture the capital, while according to other reports, the military
learned of the large-scale rebel operation beforehand and made a preemptive strike. Some reports even suggested the rebels launched
the operation prematurely due to their plans being discovered by the security forces.
After the rebels initially captured half a dozen districts and killed four high-ranking government ministers in a bombing, opposition
forces were forced to retreat following a military counter-attack, leaving the army in control of the capital after two weeks of fighting.
It was the first time tanks and helicopters had been deployed in central Damascus and left parts of the city as a warzone.
Operation Damascus Volcano On 15 July, fierce fighting was reported in some quarters of central Damascus as the army moved in
to dislodge rebels. The rebels fighting were the ones who were routed from Douma and other suburbs and fled to Damascus itself.
Fighting also closed the road leading from central Damascus to airport. [22] The rebels were also on the offensive, attacking the Hajar
al-Aswad district. [23]
On 16 July, for a second day, heavy clashes in the southern Midan and Tadhamon districts of Damascus raged [24] with the military
managing to surround the rebel forces in the area and sending tanks and other armored vehicles into the neighborhoods. The FSA had
reportedly taken control of the two districts earlier and the military was making attempts to overrun it. [25] The rebels called the clashes
a raid by them against the capital, [26] while the government called it a 48-hour military operation to clear the area of any opposition
forces. There were also indications that the government knew about the planned rebel raid and acted on the information. According to
state TV, the military killed over 80 rebel fighters during the fighting. [6] On 17 July, shooting was reported in one of the main central
streets and machine-gun fire was reported in nearby Sabaa Bahrat Square, site of the Central Bank of Syria, which was the scene of
several major pro-government demonstrations. [27] A brief firefight also erupted near the Syrian parliament building. [28] Fighting was
ongoing in the southern Midan and Kfar Sousa districts and the northern Barzeh and Qabun districts. Artillery shelling was reported in
all of them and specifically in Midan it was reported to be "hysterical", according to activists. At the same time, in Barzeh and Qabun,
helicopter rocket strikes were reported. [27] Later, helicopter strikes were reportedly hitting all four neighborhoods. [29] The state-run
news agency reported that rebel forces had retreated from the Nahr Aisha district to Midan, where fighting was continuing. [30] Army
reinforcements were sent from the Golan Heights to help defend the capital. [31] This was confirmed by Israeli army intelligence. "The
Syrian military is acting very brutally, which shows the regime is desperate. Its control of Damascus is getting weaker," Major
General Aviv Kochavi told a parliamentary committee in Israel. [27] The rebels claimed to have killed 70 soldiers and pro-government
militiamen in the previous two days of clashes, [14] while the government reported 14 rebel vehicles were destroyed [12] and an army
officer stated that they killed 33 rebels, wounded 15 and captured 145 in the day's fighting in the Qaboun area, where the majority of
opposition forces were reportedly. [7] An activist, Shakeeb al-Jabri, claimed that more than 200 soldiers had been killed or wounded in
total. A deputy police chief, Brigadier General Issa Duba, was said to have died from wounds sustained during the clashes, according
to a pro-Assad website. [15] The FSA stated they destroyed one armored vehicle and captured another and that, among the members of
the Syrian military who were killed, were several rooftop snipers. [17][18] The opposition also claimed to have shot down an army
helicopter in the Qaboun district. [19][27] There were contradictions among the rebels themselves on the nature of the conflict. One FSA
commander declared that the Battle for liberation of Damascus had begun, [32] with another dubbing it Operation Damascus
Volcano. [27] But Tarek, the rebel spokesman in Damascus, stated the clashes were still only skirmishes. He also said the FSA didn't
start the battle, which would be in line with earlier reports that the military made a preemptive strike on the opposition forces, after
learning of their plan for the attack on the capital. [33] Government Information Minister Omran Zoabi stated that the military
confronted rebel forces who infiltrated the city, surrounded them and forced many to retreat, while the rest were still being dealt
with. [19] RT reporter Maria Finoshina stated that fighting was nowhere near the level she experienced during the government assault
on the suburb of Douma the previous week. She said that except for continuing occasional gunfire and military patrols “it doesn't
seem like final or decisive battle for the capital". [34] Several videos of the fighting in the capital emerged during the day. [35][36]
Damascus bombing Main article: 2012 Damascus bombing On 18 July, Syrian state TV reported that a suicide attack that targeted
National Security headquarters in Damascus killed Syrian defense minister General Daoud Rajha during a meeting of ministers and a
number of heads of (security) agencies. Many other VIPs were wounded and killed in the attack as well. [1] Also killed were Assef
Shawkat, Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law and deputy defense minister, [37] the assistant to the vice president general Hassan
Turkomani [38][39] and Hafez Makhlouf, head of investigations at the Syrian Intelligence Agency. [40] The country's intelligence chief
Hisham Bekhityar was seriously wounded. [41] There were conflicting reports on the fate of the Interior minister Mohammad Ibrahim
al-Shaar with initial accounts stating that he had also been killed, but later state TV reported that he survived although wounded. [42]
Additional reports stated that he was in stable condition. [43] The bomber was reportedly a bodyguard of one of the meeting
attendant. [44] The opposition meanwhile claimed that the cause of the explosion was not a suicide bomber, but that a rebel insider
planted bombs inside of the building and detonated it remotely from a distant location. [45] Also, during the night, residents reported
that an army barracks near Qasr Asha'b (Palace of the People), about a hundred meters from the presidential palace itself, came under
heavy fire with residents posting video showing a fire, but no explosions were heard. [1] Earlier in the day, SANA stated that
government troops were pushing into the Midan district. At the same time, SOHR relayed that the Barzeh and Qaboun districts were
under helicopter attack. [46] Fighting was also reported in the Kfar Souseh and Nahr Aisha districts. [47] After the bombing, the Free
Syrian Army claimed that army troops had withdrew from the Midan district. However, less than an hour later, state TV was claimed
to be broadcasting live footage of clashes in the neighborhood. According to Al-Jazeera, the military shelled the district. Early in the
evening, opposition activists reported that Midan was raided by the military. The FSA meanwhile moved its troops to the al-Sabina
area. [48] Residents in the Barzeh district, where rebels were holding out earlier, reported that only government troops were to be found
in the neighborhood's streets. [49] Opposition activists claimed that Syrian army commander Mohammad al-Bardan defected to the rebel
side along with his soldiers [48] and Al Arabiya reported that soldiers from 3rd Armored Division were withdrawing from several
Damascus districts and leaving their tanks behind following the bombing. [50] However, this was not independently confirmed or
relayed by other news media. Reuters reported that the Syrian Army escalated its response to the bombing by firing on suburbs from
artillery batteries located on a mountain overlooking Damascus. [51] Al Jazeera meanwhile reported that FSA was able to shot down
two helicopters that have been shelling Tadamon and Al-Hajjar al-Aswad districts. As before, this report could not be independently
verified due to restrictions placed on the journalists. [48] A monitoring group, SOHR, reported that 60 soldiers had been killed on the
third and fourth day of fighting. [52] The security forces gave resident 48 hours to flee the fighting area. One military source told that

the army exercised restraint in its response in Damascus but that after the bombing, they would use all their weapons to finish the
rebels. [53]
Military counter-attack On 19 July, the military launched an offensive to push back rebel forces that infiltrated Damascus. [54]
Damascus residents reported ongoing shelling of several districts, including Midan and Kafr Souseh. Residents were meanwhile
arming themselves, with many citizens fleeing districts which were hit by ongoing battles. The army removed its checkpoints around
Midan district and the ancient Old City for reasons unknown. [55] Afterwards, opposition groups accused the Syrian army in massacring
100 civilians that had been shot and killed by security forces gunfire during a funeral procession in al-Sayida Zainab on the outskirts
of Damascus. However, later reports by opposition groups revised the toll to at least 60. Meanwhile, the FSA reportedly shelled the
Damascus international airport with mortars 20 times. [20][54] It was reported that the president, Bashar al-Assad, was in the costal city
of Latakia, directing the fighting in Damascus. However, it was unclear if he traveled there from Damascus before or after the
bombing attack. One opposition official stated that they had information he may have been in Latakia for days. Meanwhile, following
the Damascus bombing, his mother and sister went to Tartus. [56] Also, rumors circulated around Damascus that al-Assad's wife, Asma,
had gone to Russia. [57] During the day, al-Assad was shown on state TV attending the swearing-in of his new defense minister. [58][59]
An activist based in the eastern Damascus district Mezze said in interview with The Guardian that rebels had taken control over the
Midan and Qaboun districts with fighting raging in Kafr Souseh and Mezze. He also claimed three tanks were destroyed in Kafr
Souseh by the FSA. [16] Later that day, the Syrian Army stormed the Qaboun district with a large amount of tanks, according to the
opposition group Syrian Observatory, who said the army's move stoked fears of an imminent massacre in the area. Earlier, rebels
attacked the central police command in Old Damascus, killing five officers. [60] That night, Syrian State TV broadcasted footage of
Qaboun, showing the corpses of about 20 dead rebels. [61][62] The opposition group, Syrian Observatory, said that 23 rebels and 47
alleged civilians were killed in Damascus during the day. [8] The following day, security sources told AFP that the Army had launched
a general offensive in Damascus. [63] The Syrian Army continued its counter-attack, storming the quarter of Jobar in Damascus,
searching for rebels. [64] The Syrian official press agency stated that the army inflicted heavy losses on the rebels in Qaboun and that
the Syrian Army regained control of Midan. [65] The rebels confirmed this stating they had been forced to withdraw from Midan after
the army assault. [66][67][68] Rebel fighters stormed and burned the Sa'iqa military camp, which was being used as a training facility, in
the Basateen al-Mezzeh district in central Damascus according to activists. [69] At the end of 20 July, Damascus center and areas
beyond were reported to be under firm government control with some fighting continuing only in the outskirts. [70] The rebels who
were fighting near the Yarbouk camp were overrun by the Army and the Palestinian factions loyal to the government. [71] On 21 July, a
security source told AFP that the Army took control of Tadamoun, Qaboun and Barzeh, in addition to Midan, the previous day, but
that fighting was still ongoing in the Jobar, Kfar Sousa and Mazeeh quarters. It was later confirmed that Barzeh was still rebel-held. [72]
Activists claimed that fighting was still reported in Damascus proper, with clashes in the northern Barzeh and Rukneddine districts
and that a police station was attacked on Khaled bin Waleed street, with an activist saying rebels in Damascus were staging hit-andrun
attacks as opposed to controlling areas. [73] Still, during the morning, the city was largely calm according to residents. SOHR said
the military bombarded the Al-Kaddam and Assali neighborhoods of Damascus. Residents also reported fighting in the Al-Hajar Al-
Aswad and Tadamon districts. [74] Undated online video posted by activists appeared to show the local police station being overrun at
Yarmouk and clashes were reported in the Northern suburb of al-Tal, where the head of the local Political Security Directorate (PSD)
branch and all his staff reportedly surrendered to FSA fighters. [75] 12 civilians were reported killed during the day, seven of them by
sniper fire. [76] However, Reuters confirmed that the city was calm and that the police checkpoints which had been abandonned during
the fighting were back. [77] During the day, Brig. Gen. Nabil Zougheib, a Christian, was assassinated along with his wife and two
sons. [78] Islamic radicals from the rebel group Liwa al-Islam, a Wahhabi group, claimed responsible for the killings. Islamist fighters
from the Muslim Brotherhood also reportedly attacked Iraqi refugees in the southeastern part of the city. [79] On 22 July, fierce fighting
was reported along with intense shelling by reporters. Activists said that helicopter gunships fired rockets into a southern Damascus
neighbourhood. [80] A journalist reported that helicopters were also shelling Barzeh. [81] Later, the Syrian Army led by the Fourth
division stormed the district of Barzeh. [82][83] The Fourth division also routed the rebels out of Mezzeh [84][85] after 1,000 troops entered
the district backed-up by armoured vehicles, tanks and bulldozers. [86] The military continued their advance by forcing the rebels to
withdraw from Rukn al-Din. [87] State media reported that the soldiers were pursuing the last remnants of the rebels. [88] By the end of
the day, activists confirmed that Barzeh was also overrun by government troops and that at least five young men, possibly rebels,
were summarily executed. [86][89] The rebel operation to capture Damascus seemed close to collapse according to a journalist [90] and
activists reported that army soldiers executed at least 20 unarmed men in Mezzeh that they suspected of aiding rebels. [91] Syrian State
media showed graphic images of foreign Arab fighters killed in Qaboun, including two Egyptians and three Jordanians, identified by
their identity papers. [92] The next day, the bodies of 23 people, who were reportedly "executed" in Mezze and Barzeh, were found,
some of which had torture marks. [93] Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that president Assad, along with his family, was still in
the capital, contradicting earlier reports that they left the city for Latakia. [94]
FSA retreat On 23 July, the government declared most of the rebel forces that attacked the capital to be defeated. [79][95] An opposition
activist confirmed this by saying that government troops had taken control of almost all of the capital. [96] Following this, there were
disagreements between rebel commanders about the opportunity of having launched the Damascus battle as rebel colonel Riad Al
Asaad disagreed with rebel colonel Qassim Saadedine who started the operation. [97] The opposition activist group SOHR stated that
94 people were killed during the previous two days of fighting. [10] A man claiming to be a civilian from Midan said "Midan is back to
normal. There were some militias who tried to control the neighbourhood, but the army came in. The [rebel] fighters were from
outside Midan. Now it is free of all military opposition presence." In regards to the reported executions he said "I can't confirm or
deny it. But I don't think execute is the right word. These people are fighters. They are not civilians. If they were killed it doesn't mean
they were executed, and they were not captured and then killed. They were killed during the operation." He also added that Mezzeh
was not fully under government control, with the eastern orchard being a hideout for rebels. He added "People are being encouraged
to come back to Damascus. There's been a big media campaign by al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya making people believe that the whole
area was under rebel control, but they only controlled some streets." Asked about Assad's whereabouts he said "I know he is in
Damascus. The new minister of defence took the oath of office in the presidential palace with the president. This is the same room
they have used for years." [98] However, other civilians were terrified for Government reprisals to speak openly in front of a camera.
Alex Thompson stated that in his journey to Midan terrified locals told him that "They used cannons, mortar, machine guns, tanks,
they used helicopters – they use everything against us." Others said that the pro-Government milita, shabiba, massacred a family of

sixteen in the district. Thompson claimed that the incident resembled the same "story we heard of Al-Houla" with "The familiar
pattern of heavy shelling and bombardment followed by militia going house to house looting and massacring." Thompson described a
scene in Midan of pulverised buildings and bodies lying on the streets. [99] The corpses of 24 executed rebel fighters were found on 24
July in the suburb of Daraya. Meanwhile, several shells hit the southern suburb of Hajar al-Aswad. [11] The opposition reported that the
Syrian Army attacked the last rebel pockets in the Damascus districts of Qaddam and al-Aswad. [100] In other parts of the city,
journalist Alex Thompson described that the battle was a comprehensive victory for the Syrian Army, and a morale boost as
triumphing soldiers were cheering victory in their trucks passing on the main roads of Damascus. [101] In the evening, activists
confirmed that most of the rebels had withdrawn from the capital. [102]
The battle concludes The rebel-held town of Al-Tal, on the outskirts of Damascus, was heavily bombarded on 25 July by the 216th
Mechanized Battalion of the Syrian Army. Residents and opposition activists reported that residential buildings were hit. [103] On the
same day, opposition activists released amateur footage of what they claimed were the bodies of 23 people in various houses who
were "massacred" during the previous days in the Qabun district. [104] On 26 July, fighting was reported in the Hajar al-Aswad district
of the capital, a place described as one of the last rebel strongholds in Damascus. [105] The FSA withdrew to the district which was
subsequently shelled by government forces. According to an opposition activist, clashes continued across most of the southern part of
the city. [106] Five civilians were reportedly killed. [107] The army also attacked the Yarbouk Palestinian refugee camp, despite there
being no rebel presence. Residents mentioned tanks, helicopter gunships and snipers who shot at anyone in the street. The FSA were
reported to be in the district of Tadamon and shelling was still reported in the neighbourhoods of Orouba and Thalathin. [108] On 29
July, SANA reported that government troops had cleared the Hajar al-Aswad district of rebel forces [109] and declared official victory
over rebel forces in the capital. [110]
See also
• Battle of Tripoli (2011)
• Summer 2012 Damascus clashes
References
1. ^ a b c Syria’s defense minister killed in Damascus suicide bombing: state TV
2. ^ Syrian battles rage, rebels destroy Army helicopter
3. ^ Rebels start ops to free Damascus, Assad sends in helicopters, tanks
4. ^ 5,000 rebel fighters 'heading to Damascus to topple Bashar al-Assad'
5. ^ In Syria, Rebels Celebrate Stunning Assassinations–and Send More Forces to Damascus
6. ^ a b Syrian capital's clashes continue in southern part
7. ^ a b Syrian rebels battling to ‘liberate’ Damascus
8. ^ a b Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Over 300 dead in Syria Thursday; highest toll of revolt, activists say
9. ^ Friday 20 July 2012
10. ^ a b Fighting in Syria indicates Bashar Assad's end isn't imminent
11. ^ a b Syrian forces battle rebel push on central Aleppo
12. ^ a b Syrian soldiers jump through flaming hoops as helicopters fly over capital
13. ^ 65 [1]-70 [2] killed (16–17 July), 4 killed (18 July),[3] 23 killed (19 July),[4] total of 92-97 reported killed
14. ^ a b Syria fighting rages in capital, Russia pressed
15. ^ a b 11.09am: Syria
16. ^ a b The Guardian Middle East Live Blog 19.7.2012
17. ^ a b Assad loses grip on Damascus as rebels begin to close in on regime
18. ^ a b 4.23pm: Syria
19. ^ a b c Syrian rebels converge on capital, Russia pressed
20. ^ a b Around 100 Syrians in a mass funeral killed by Assad regime: opposition group
21. ^ 6 killed (16 July),[5] 8 killed (17 July),[6] 47 killed (19 July),[7] 11 killed (20 July),[8] 12 killed (21 July),[9]
total of 84 reported killed
22. ^ Guardian live updates
23. ^ How "Damascus Volcano" erupted in Assad's stronghold
24. ^ Syria unrest: Second day of fierce Damascus clashes
25. ^ Damascus fighting a 'turning point'
26. ^ Syrian forces surround rebels fighting in capital
27. ^ a b c d e Syria conflict: Central Damascus hit by clashes
28. ^ Damascus sees heavy fighting, activists say
29. ^ Syrian Regime Uses Attack Helicopters In Damascus; Defections Continue
30. ^ Clashes spread to new areas in Syrian capital
31. ^ 3.20pm: Syria
32. ^ FSA: 'Battle for liberation' of Damascus has begun
33. ^ 1.44pm: Syria
34. ^ Scattered gun fights sound ‘Battle for Damascus’ (VIDEO)
35. ^ Syrian capital, Damascus, hit with fiercest fighting yet [Video]
36. ^ Syrian armed rebels take fight to government troops in Damascus
37. ^ Syrian TV confirms Assef Shawkat was killed in bombing
38. ^ Syria blast strikes at heart of Assad's rule
39. ^ Profiles of Syria officials Asef Shawkat, Daoud Rajiha and Hassan Turkomani
40. ^ Bomb kills Syria defense minister, Assad’s brother-in-law and key aides
41. ^ Syrian defense minister killed in Damascus blast, as fighting comes within sight of Assad's palace
42. ^ The End of the Political Solution
43. ^ Assad's top three aides killed in blast
44. ^ Damascus bomber was bodyguard for Assad's inner circle: Syrian security source

45. ^ Syria Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha killed in explosion in Damascus
46. ^ Syrian defense minister Dawoud Rajha killed in suicide blast, other senior officials wounded
47. ^ Syrian rebels, government forces battle in Damascus
48. ^ a b c NOW Lebanon - NOW Syria 18.7.2012
49. ^ Damascus Fighting Rages On After Deadly Bomb Attack
50. ^ Celebrations, defections follow Damascus blast
51. ^ Syrian army artillery hit Damascus from mountain
52. ^ Damascus blast 'kills' top Assad officials
53. ^ Hundreds flee Damascus fighting, NGO says
54. ^ a b Syria conflict: Fresh offensive against rebels
55. ^ Rebels keep pressure on Assad, fight near government buildings
56. ^ Syria: Bashar al-Assad 'flees to Latakia'
57. ^ Is this the end game for Assad? Syrian dictator flees to coast and his British-born wife 'escapes to Russia'
58. ^ Syria conflict: West 'appalled' by Russia China UN veto
59. ^ First sign of Syria's Assad emerges after attack
60. ^ Syria tanks storm Damascus district
61. ^ Syrian forces stretched, intelligence chief dies
62. ^ 2012 7 19
63. ^ Syria Live Blog - Al Jazeera Blogs
64. ^ Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Syrian regime forces storm Jobar area of Damascus, activists say
65. ^ Syrian troops clash with armed rebels in Qaboun district of capital - Trend
66. ^ Syria attack: Security chief Ikhtiar dies from wounds
67. ^ Assad Troops Force Rebels to Retreat in Damascus Battle
68. ^ Syria crisis: Assad forces retake Midan and border crossing - live updates | World news | guardian.co.uk
69. ^ Syrian rebels storm military camp in Damascus district
70. ^ 3.22pm
71. ^ 4.27pm
72. ^ Syrian forces launch all-out Damascus assault | The Jakarta Globe
73. ^ Syria strikes back at rebels in Damascus
74. ^ Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Clashes in Syria's Aleppo, tense calm in Damascus
75. ^ Syria crisis: Heavy clashes in second city of Aleppo
76. ^ At least 90 killed in Syria Saturday: Rights group
77. ^ Syrian forces battle rebels in Aleppo, families flee
78. ^ Syrian Conflict Draws In Christians
79. ^ a b Islamists attack Christians, Iraqi refugees in Damascus
80. ^ Fierce fighting in Damascus, Ban Ki-Moon sending peacekeeping chief to Syria
81. ^ Damascus neighbourhood shelled by 'helicopter gunships'.
82. ^ Lebanon news - NOW Lebanon -Feared forces launch new assault on Damascus
83. ^ Syria government forces, rebels battle in Damascus, Aleppo | Reuters
84. ^ LBCI News | Damascus heavily shelled as Turkey deploys missiles on Syria border
85. ^ Govt helicopters bombing Damascus districts not confirmed — RT
86. ^ a b Syria: Assad regime retakes control of Damascus suburbs
87. ^ BBC News - Syria crisis: Fresh clashes rock Damascus and Aleppo
88. ^ Syrian forces bombard Damascus, fight rages in Aleppo | Reuters
89. ^ Syrian Army Forces overrun northern Damascus district of Barzeh and summarily execute five young men
90. ^ Syrian troops driving rebels out of Damascus strongholds
91. ^ Syria army launches fierce attacks on rebels
92. ^ Syrian TV Shows Bodies of Terrorists of Arab Nationalities Killed by the Syrian Army in al-Qaboun
Neighborhood
93. ^ At least 23 "summarily executed" on Sunday
94. ^ Syrian forces bombard Damascus; IDF says Assad still in capital
95. ^ Syria Conflict: Damascus Suffers Destruction, Hunger As Fighting Hits Country's Heart
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98. ^ Syria crisis: chemical weapon warning - Monday 23 July 2012
99. ^ After the battle of Midan
100. ^ Syria army attacks Damascus rebel districts, activists say
101. ^ Assad's 'iron-fist defence' of Syrian capital
102. ^ Top general, friend of Syrian president, defects
103. ^ Syrian forces have reportedly fired artillery and rocket barrages at rebel-held Damascus suburb of al-Tal
104. ^ UN's Ban Ki-moon urges end to Syria 'slaughter'
105. ^ Syria bolsters troops in battle for Aleppo
106. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/jul/26/syria-crisis-aleppo-battle-loomslive?intcmp=239#block-8
107. ^ Syrian forces gather for Aleppo assault
108. ^ Syrian forces reportedly attack Palestinian refugee camp, killing at least five civilians
109. ^ Syrian Army Disbands Tens of Terrorist Cells in Damascus
110. ^ Syrian government declares victory over rebels in Damascus as onslaught continues in country's largest city

3. Damascus bombing 18 July 2012
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Location
Coordinates
Rawda Square, Damascus, Syria
33°31′16.09″N 36°16′58.15″E33.5211361°N 36.2828194°ECoordinates: 33°31′16.09″N
36°16′58.15″E33.5211361°N 36.2828194°E
Date 18 July 2012
Target Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Cabinet members [1]
Attack type
Bombing, assassination
Weapon(s) Remotely detonated bomb, TNT [1][2]
Deaths At least 4 [3][4][5][6]
Injured At least 2 [7][8]
On 18 July 2012, during the Syrian civil war, a bombing occurred at the National Security headquarters in Rawda Square, Damascus.
Syrian state-owned television reported that it was a suicide attack while the opposition claims it was a remotely detonated bomb.
Bombing The attack, during a meeting of ministers and a number of heads of security agencies, resulted in the death of the Syrian
Defense Minister General Dawoud Rajiha. [3] Also killed were Assef Shawkat, President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law and deputy
defense minister, [4] the assistant to the vice president General Hasan Turkmani, [5][11] and Hafez Makhlouf, head of investigations at the
Syrian Intelligence Agency. [6] However, Hafez Makhlouf was also reported to be wounded. [12] The country's intelligence and national
security chief [13] Hisham Ikhtiyar was seriously wounded. [14] There were conflicting reports on the fate of the Interior minister
Mohammad al-Shaar with initial accounts stating that he had also been killed, but later state TV reported that he survived although
wounded. [15] Additional reports stated that he was in stable condition. [16] Al-Shaar was reported dead later, according to al Jazeera. [17]
Mohammad Said Bakhtian, the national secretary of the Ba'ath Party, was also wounded in the bombing. [7] Press TV provided a
conflicting report, indicating that Hisham Ikhityar had died in the bombing and that Mohammad al-Shaar had been wounded. [8] On 20
July 2012, the death of Hisham Ikhtiyar was confirmed by Syrian authorities. [18]
Victims
• General Dawoud Rajiha, Syrian Defense Minister – Dead.
• Assef Shawkat, President Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law and Deputy Defense Minister – Dead.
• General Hasan Turkmani, Assistant to the Vice President and former Defense Minister – Dead.
• Hisham Ikhtiyar, Syria's Intelligence and National Security Chief – Dead.
• Hafez Makhlouf, Bashar al-Assad's cousin and head of investigations at the Syrian Intelligence Agency – conflicting reports.
• Mohammad al-Shaar, Interior Minister – conflicting reports of being deceased or seriously wounded.
• Mohammad Said Bakhtian, National Secretary of the Ba'ath Party, reports of being seriously wounded.
Perpetrator The bomber was reportedly a bodyguard of one of the meeting's attendants. [19] The opposition meanwhile claimed that
the cause of the explosion was not a suicide bomber, but that a rebel insider planted bombs inside the building and detonated it
remotely from a distant location. [2] The Islamist Liwa al Islam ("The Brigade of Islam") [9] and the Free Syrian Army both claimed
responsibility for the bombing. [10] Louay al-Mokdad, the Free Syrian Army’s logistical coordinator, claimed that the attack was
perpetrated by a group of Free Syrian Army members in coordination with drivers and bodyguards working for Assad’s high-ranking
officials. [1] Others, such as The Independent's chief Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk, speculated that the bombing was carried
out by forces (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or an organization) outside the country. [20] It was further stated that the two explosive devices, one
made of twenty-five pounds of TNT, and the other a smaller C-4 plastic-explosive device, had been put in the room days before the
meeting by a person working for Hisham Ikhtiyar. [1]
Reaction
Domestic Although there were no statements from President Assad himself, Syrian TV said after the attack that a decree from him
named Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij, who used to be the army chief of staff, as the new defense minister. [21] Syrian state television said
foreign-backed terrorists had carried out the attack. The country's armed forces said in a statement that Syria was "determined to
confront all forms of terrorism and chop off any hand that harms national security". [22] On 19 July 2012, Syrian state television
broadcasted images of President Assad at the Presidential Palace in Damascus, cutting short speculation fueled by his silence
following the attack against his inner circle the previous day. In the images broadcast by the television, Assad was seen in blue suit,
receiving the new defense minister, Fahd Jassem al-Freij, after the swearing ceremony. [23][24] According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz,
the state TV announcement appeared aimed at sending the message that Assad is alive, well and still firmly in charge. It said Assad
wished the new defense minister good luck but it did not say where the swearing-in took place. Nor did it show any photos or video of
the ceremony, as it usually would. [25]
International
• Iran – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the bombing, adding that "the only way of resolving the current crisis
in Syria is through talks." [26]
• Israel – Defense Minister Ehud Barak urgently summoned intelligence and security officials to discuss possible
implications of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria. They included Chief of the General Staff of the IDF Lt. Gen.
Benny Gantz and heads of the Northern Command, Military Intelligence Department, the Planning Directorate and the
various IDF branches. [27]

• Jordan – King Abdullah II stated that this assassination of members of Assad's inner circle is a "tremendous blow to the
regime." [28]
• Lebanon – Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour condemned the Damascus bombing. [29]
• Russia – Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement "Moscow strongly condemns terrorism
in all of its forms and manifestations. We hope that the organizers of the Damascus terrorist act will be found and
punished". [30] Press secretary of Russian President Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said "As a whole the existing exchange of opinions
shows that the appraisals of the situation in Syria and final goals of regulating (violence) for both sides coincide". [31]
• South Africa – South Africa strongly condemned the attack and stated that it is opposed to all forms of terrorism and
violence. [32]
• Turkey – Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reacted negatively to Syria's explanation of the event. [33]
• United Kingdom – Prime Minister David Cameron said that Assad should step down and added "It is time for the United
Nations Security Council to Pass clear and tough messages about sanctions, I believe under Chapter 7 of the U.N., and be
unambiguous about it." [34] Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the "incident, which we condemn, confirms the urgent
need for a chapter VII resolution of the UN Security Council on Syria." [35]
• United States – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that the country was "rapidly spinning out of control", adding that
"the international community must bring maximum pressure on Assad to do what's right, to step down and to allow for that
peaceful transition". [31]
• Venezuela – The Foreign Ministry condemned the bombing in Damascus and urged foreign powers against military
intervention. [36]
• United Nations – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the attack and reminded that "acts of
violence committed by any party are unacceptable and a clear violation of the six-point plan". [37]
See also
• Syrian uprising (2011–present)
• Damascus bombings and other attacks
References
1. ^ a b c d Blomfield, Adrian (18 July 2012). "Syria: Assad 'facing the end' after Damascus bomb attacks". The
Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9410184/Syria-Assad-facing-the-end-after-
Damascus-bomb-attacks.html. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
2. ^ a b Reals, Tucker (18 July 2012). "Syria Defense Minister Gen. Dawoud Rajha killed in explosion in Damascus".
CBSNews.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57474510/syria-defense-minister-gen-dawoud-rajha-reportedlykilled-in-explosion-in-damascus/.
Retrieved 18 July 2012.
3. ^ a b "Syria's defense minister killed in Damascus suicide bombing: State TV". Al Arabiya News. 18 July 2012.
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/18/227035.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
4. ^
a b
"Syrian TV confirms Assef Shawkat was killed in bombing". ynetnews.com. 18 July 2012.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257338,00.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
5. ^
a b
"Syria blast strikes at heart of Assad's rule". Al Jazeera English. 18 July 2012.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/20127189355415804.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
6. ^ a b "Bomb kills Syria defense minister, Assad's brother-in-law and key aides". Al Arabiya News. 18 July 2012.
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/07/18/227035.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
7. ^ a b El Basha, Thomas (19 July 2012). "Suicide attack kills Assad's brother-in-law, two top generals". The Daily
Star. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Jul-18/181002-suicide-bomber-targets-damascus-securitybuilding-syria-tv.ashx#axzz2114QzivD.
Retrieved 19 July 2012.
8. ^ a b "Damascus blast: More than meets the eye". Press TV. 19 July 2012. http://www.presstv.ir/detail/251727.html.
Retrieved 19 July 2012.
9. ^
a b
"Syria blast strikes at heart of Assad's rule". Al Jazeera. 18 July 2012.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/20127189355415804.html. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
10. ^ a b Cutler, David (18 July 2012). "Factbox: Fighting in Syria's capital Damascus". Chicago Tribune.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-syria-crisis-damascus-killingsbre86h12q-20120718,0,5691151.story.
Retrieved 18 July 2012.
11. ^ "Profiles of Syria officials Asef Shawkat, Daoud Rajiha and Hassan Turkomani". BBC News. 18 July 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18889030. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
12. ^ Jansen, Michael (19 July 2012). "Syrian bombing: Key regime figures killed in attack". Irish Times.
http://m.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0719/1224320381809.html?via=frontpage. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
13. ^ "4th member of Assad regime, Syria security chief Gen. Hisham Ikhtiyar, dies after Damascus bombing". CBS
News. 20 July 2012. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57476393/4th-member-of-assad-regime-syria-security-chiefgen-hisham-ikhtiyar-dies-after-damascus-bombing/.
Retrieved 21 July 2012.
14. ^ "Syrian defense minister killed in Damascus blast, as fighting comes within sight of Assad's palace".
Haaretz.com. 18 July 2012. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/syrian-defense-minister-killed-in-damascus-blast-asfighting-comes-within-sight-of-assad-s-palace-1.451946.
Retrieved 19 July 2012.
15. ^ Weiss, Michael (18 July 2012). "The End of the Political Solution". FP.com.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/07/18/the_end_of_the_political_solution. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
16. ^ "Assad's top three aides killed in blast". TNN. 19 July 2012. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middleeast/Assads-top-three-aides-killed-in-blast/articleshow/15038142.cms.
Retrieved 19 July 2012.
17. ^ "Damascus blast 'kills' top Assad officials". Al Jazeera English. 19 July 2012.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/07/20127189355415804.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
18. ^ "Syria blast: Security chief Ikhtiar dies from wounds". BBC News. 20 July 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18920733. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

19. ^ "Damascus bomber was bodyguard for Assad's inner circle: Syrian security source". Reuters. 18 July 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/18/us-syria-crisis-bomber-idUSBRE86H0G620120718. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
20. ^ "Aleppo is far from won: Fisk." 12:30 mark. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 28
July 2012.
21. ^ "Rebel bombing strikes at heart of Syrian regime". Associated Press. 17 July 2012.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jaMDslAuWFOCZ20z4eSQz8fw4hpw?docId=bf5da986da3b47249a
8531d948e2bd95. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
22. ^ "Syria rebels kill top chiefs of Assad regime in Damascus bomb strike". The Guardian. 18 July 2012.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/18/syria-rebels-kill-elite-damascus. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
23. ^ "Syrian TV Shows Assad after Deadly Attack". RIA Novosti. 19 July 2012.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20120719/174688478.html. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
24. ^ "Assad appears in Damascus as Russia, China veto UN resolution". albawaba.com. 19 July 2012.
http://www.albawaba.com/news/assad-appears-damascus-russia-china-veto-un-resolution-434717. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
25. ^ "Syria TV: Assad swears in new defense minister in first sighting since attack". Haaretz. 19 July 2012.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/syria-tv-assad-swears-in-new-defense-minister-in-first-sighting-since-attack-
1.452288. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
26. ^ "Iran condemns Damascus bombing, says talks needed". Reuters. 18 July 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/18/us-syria-bombing-iran-idUSBRE86H0WV20120718. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
27. ^ "Assad’s top four men killed by hidden bomb. Urgent consultations in Washington, Jerusalem". 18 July 2012.
http://www.debka.com/article/22187/Assad’s-top-four-men-killed-by-hidden-bomb-Urgent-consultations-in-Washington-
Jerusalem. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
28. ^ "Jordan's king calls Syria attack 'a tremendous blow' to al-Assad regime". CNN. 18 July 2012.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/18/world/meast/syria-reaction-king-abdullah/. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
29. ^ "Berri Condemns Damascus Bombing: This Terrorist Act is Aimed at Fragmenting Syrian Army". Naharnet. 19
July 2012. http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/47110. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
30. ^ "Syrian Defense Minister Killed In Damascus Bomb Attack". RIA Novosti. 18 July 2012.
http://en.rian.ru/world/20120718/174662928.html. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
31. ^
a b
"US warns Syria is 'spinning out of control'". The Telegraph. 18 July 2012.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9410143/US-warns-Syria-is-spinning-out-of-control.html.
Retrieved 19 July 2012.
32. ^ Oluwarotimi, Oluwaseun (19 July 2012). "South Africa Clarifies Position on Syria". All Africa.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201207200595.html. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
33. ^ "Şam'da çatışmalar devam ediyor" (in Turkish). BBC Turkish. 19 July 2012.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/2012/07/120719_syria_fresh_clashes.shtml. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
34. ^ "British PM says Assad must step down". Newsday.com. http://www.newsday.com/news/world/british-pm-saysassad-must-step-down-1.3847145.
Retrieved 2012-07-21.
35. ^ Glaze, Ben (18 July 2012). "William Hague condemns Syria bombing". independent.co.uk.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/william-hague-condemns-syria-bombing-7956577.html. Retrieved 18
July 2012.
36. ^ "Venezuela condemns Syria bombing, warns against intervention". Reuters. 19 July 2012.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/syria-bombing-venezuela-idINL2E8IJ0YB20120719. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
37. ^ "Secretary-General, alarmed by the intensifying violence in Syria, strongly condemns today’s bomb attack at the
National Security Headquarters in Damascus". Department of Public Information (United Nations) – press release. 18 July
2012. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2012/sgsm14418.doc.htm. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
4. Syrian Kurdistan campaign
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Date 19 July 2012 - ongoing
Location Syrian Kurdistan, Syria
Result • Kurdish fighters take control of 10 towns and 2 districts in Aleppo in July 2012
Belligerents
Kurdish Supreme Committee Popular Protection Units
Supported by: Iraqi Kurdistan [1] Peshmerga [2] Syrian Arab Republic Syrian Army Shabeeha
Commanders and leaders
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown
1 YPG fighter killed [3] Unknown
2012 Syrian Kurdistan campaign is an ongoing military campaign by the armed wing of Syrian Kurdish forces, waged against
government forces in order to take control of Kurdish inhabited areas in Syria.

Background Further information: 2004 Al-Qamishli riots, Kurds in Syria, and Human rights in Syria Anti-government sentiment
was present among the Kurdish population for a long time. The Syrian government does not officially acknowledge the existence of
Kurds in Syria and all Kurds were stripped of the citizenship, instead being registered as foreigners. Kurdish language and culture was
suppressed as well. However the government attempted to rectify this in 2011 by granting all Kurds citizenship, but only an estimated
6,000 out of 150,000 stateless Kurds have been given nationality and most discriminatory regulations, including banning the teaching
of Kurdish, are still on the books. [4] Kurds have participated in the Syrian civil war uprising in smaller numbers than their Syrian Arab
counterparts. This has been explained as being due to the Turkish endorsement of the opposition, and Kurd underrepresentation in the
Syrian National Council. [5] "The regime tried to neutralize Kurds," said Hassan Saleh, leader of the Kurdish Yekiti Party. "In the
Kurdish areas, people are not being repressed like the Arab areas. But activists are being arrested." [6] According to Ariel Zirulnick of
the Christian Science Monitor, the Assad government "has successfully convinced many of Syria’s Kurds and Christians that without
the iron grip of a leader sympathetic to the threats posed to minorities, they might meet the same fate" as minorities in Lebanon and
Iraq. [7] Kurds make up about eight percent of Syria’s 22.5 million people. The government considers the northeast of the country
where many Kurds live strategically important, because it contains most of the country’s limited oil supplies. [8] The National
Movement of Kurdish Parties in Syria, which consists of Syria's 12 Kurdish parties, boycotted a Syrian opposition summit in Antalya,
Turkey on 31 May, stating that "any such meeting held in Turkey can only be a detriment to the Kurds in Syria, because Turkey is
against the aspirations of the Kurds, not just with regards to northern Kurdistan, but in all four parts of Kurdistan, including the
Kurdish region of Syria." Kurdish Leftist Party representative Saleh Kado stated that "we, the Kurds in Syria, do not trust Turkey or
its policies, and that is why we have decided to boycott the summit." [9] During the August summit in Istanbul, which led to the
creation of the Syrian National Council, only two of the parties in the National Movement of Kurdish Parties in Syria, the Kurdish
Union Party and the Kurdish Freedom Party, attended the summit. Kurdish leader Shelal Gado stated the reason they did not
participate was that "Turkey is against the Kurds … in all parts of the world," and that "If Turkey doesn’t give rights to its 25 million
Kurds, how can it defend the rights of the Syrian people and the Kurds there?" Abdulbaqi Yusuf, representing the Kurdish Freedom
Party, however, stated that his party felt no Turkish pressure during the meeting and participated to represent Kurdish demands. [10]
Democratic Union Party (PYD) chairman Salih Muslim Muhammad said that the lack of participation is due a tactical decision,
explaining that: "There is a de facto truce between the Kurds and the government. The security forces are overstretched over Syria's
Arab provinces to face demonstrators, and cannot afford the opening of a second front in Syrian Kurdistan. On our side, we need the
army to stay away. Our party is busy establishing organizations, committees, able to take over from the Ba'ath administration the
moment the regime collapses." [11] Senior Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Cemil Bayik stated that if Turkey were to intervene
against Assad, the PKK would fight on the Syrian side. The PKK's Syrian branch is alleged to be involved in the targeting of Kurds
participating in the uprising. [12] Murat Karayılan, the PKK's number one in command has threatened to turn all Kurdish populated
areas in Turkey into a war-zone if Turkish forces were to enter Syria. [13] As of 10 March 2012, 40 or approximately 0.38% of the
10,553 casualties during the Syrian uprising had occurred in the primarily Kurdish Al-Hasakah Governorate, [14] although the
Governorate is home to nearly 7% of Syria's population. [15] On 10 June 2012, the Syrian National Council, a major opposition group,
announced Abdulbaset Sieda, an ethnic Kurd, as their new leader. [16] On 7 October, prominent Kurdish rights activist Mishaal al-
Tammo was assassinated when masked gunmen burst into his flat, with the Syrian government blamed for his death. At least 20 other
civilians were also killed during crackdowns on demonstrations across the country. [17]
Campaign Anti-government protests had been ongoing in the Kurdish inhabited areas of Syria since March 2011, as part of the wider
2011–2012 Syrian uprising, but clashes started after the opposition Kurdish Democratic Union Party and Kurdish National Council
signed a seven-point treaty on 11 June 2012 in Erbil, under auspice of the Iraqi Kurdistan president Massoud Barzani. This agreement,
however, failed to be implemented and so a new cooperation agreement between the two sides was signed on 12 July which saw
creation of Kurdish Supreme Committee as a governing Kurdish body of all Kurdish-controlled territories. [18][19][20] The newly created
Popular Protection Units (YPG) stormed the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kurdish: Kobanê) on 19 July, followed by the capture of Amuda
(Kurdish: Amûdê) and Efrîn (Kurdish: Efrîn) on 20 July. [21] The KNC and PYD afterwards formed a joint leadership to run the
captured cities. All cities fell without any major clashes, as Syrian security forces withdrew without any major resistance. [21] YPG
forces pressed the momentun on 21 July as well and reportedly captured Al-Malikiyah (Kurdish: Dêrika Hemko), which is located just
10 kilometers from the Turkish border. [22] Although another report stated that fighting was ongoing in the city. The rebels were also
intending to capture Qamishli, the largest of the Kurdish cities. [23] The Syrian Government attacked a patrol of Kurdish YPG members
and wounded one on 21 July, [24] and on 22 July, it was reported that Kurdish forces were still fighting for Al-Malikiyah (Kurdish:
Dêrika Hemko) where one young Kurdish activist was killed after government security forces opened fire on protesters. YPG forces
also took control over the towns of Ra's al-'Ayn (Kurdish: Serê Kaniyê) and Al-Darbasiyah (Kurdish: Dirbêsî), after the security and
political units withdrew from these areas, following an ultimatum issued by the Kurds. In the biggest Kurdish-inhabited city,
Qamishli, clashes erupted between YPG and government forces in which one Kurdish fighter was killed and two were wounded along
with one government official. [25] On 23 July, a report indicated that the ease with which Kurdish forces captured the towns and the
government troops pulled back was due to the government reaching an agreement with the Kurds so military forces from the area
could be freed up to engage rebels in the rest of the country. [26] On 24 July, PYD announced that Syrian security forces withdrew from
the small Kurdish city of 16,000 Al-Ma'bada (Kurdish: Girkê Legê), located between Al-Malikiyah and Turkish borders. YPG forces
afterwards took control of all government institutions. [27]

Towns under Kurdish control
As of 29 July 2012, the following towns are under Kurdish control:
1. Afrin (Efrîn) [28]
2. Al-Darbasiyah (Dirbêsî) [25]
3. Al-Ma'bada (Girkê Legê) [27]
4. Al-Malikiyah (Dêrika Hemko) [28]
5. Al-Qahtaniya (Tirbespî) [29]
6. Ashrafiyeh (district of Aleppo) [30]
7. Amuda (Amûdê) [28]
8. Ayn al-Arab (Kobanê) [28]
9. Jindires (Cindirês) [29]
10. Qamishli (Qamişlo) [31]
11. Ra's al-'Ayn (Serêkanî) [28]
12. Sheikh Maqsoud (district of Aleppo) [30]
References
1. ^ "Iraqi Kurdistan training Syrian Kurds". Al Akhbar. 31 July 2012. http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/iraqikurdistan-training-syrian-kurds.
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4. ^ "Minority Kurds struggle for recognition in Syrian revolt". The Daily Star Lebanon. 31 March 2012.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Mar-31/168622-minority-kurds-struggle-for-recognition-in-syrianrevolt.ashx#axzz21XpGFIlr.
Retrieved 27 July 2012.
5. ^ Weiss, Michael (16 November 2011). "New Republic: Will Kurds Determine Syria's Fate?". NPR.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/16/142387417/new-republic-will-kurds-determine-syrias-fate. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
6. ^ Erlich, Reese (27 October 2011). "In Syria, Kurds Split Over Support for Assad Regime". Pulitzer Center on
Crisis Reporting. http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/syria-kurdish-groups-armed-forces-assad-controversy. Retrieved 16
February 2012.
7. ^ Zirulnick, Ariel. "Who backs Syria's Assad? Top 4 sources of support". The Christian Science Monitor.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/1005/Who-backs-Syria-s-Assad-Top-4-sources-of-support/Christianand-Kurdish-minorities.
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Retrieved 16 February 2012.
9. ^ Furuhashi, Yoshie (29 May 2011). "Syrian Kurdish Parties Boycott Syrian Opposition Conference in Antalya,
Turkey". Monthly Review. http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/kb010611.html. Retrieved 13 November 2011.

22444 شھيد في 500 يوم لغاية تاريخ
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2011.
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Retrieved 30 July 2012.
14.
" 29/7/2012 ^ syrianshuhada.com/. ‏."عدد الشھداء الموثقين syrianshuhada.com/. http://syrianshuhada.com/. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
15. ^ "Syria: Administrative Divisions (population and area)". World Gazetteer: Syria. http://www.worldgazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gadm&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-202&srt=pnan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500.
Retrieved
30 July 2012.
16. ^ "Syrian Forces Shell Cities as Opposition Picks Leader". New York Times. 10 June 2012.
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30 July 2012.
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Retrieved 1 February 2012.
18. ^ "Syrian Kurds Try to Maintain Unity". Rudaw. 17 July 2012. http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4964.html.
Retrieved 27 July 2012.
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24. ^ "Clashes between Kurds and Syrian army in the Kurdish city of Qamişlo, Western Kurdistan". Ekurd.net. 21 July
2012. http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2012/7/syriakurd542.htm. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
a
b
25. ^ "Armed Kurds Surround Syrian Security Forces in Qamishli". Rudaw. 22 July 2012.
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a
b
27. ^ "Girke Lege Becomes Sixth Kurdish City Liberated in Syria". Rudaw. 24 July 2012.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4992.html. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
a b c d e
28. ^
"Liberated Kurdish Cities in Syria Move into Next Phase". Rudaw. 25 July 2012.
http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/syria/4999.html. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
a b
29. ^ "Tyrkisk avis: Kurdistan nr. 2 bliver dannet" (in Danish). Jiyan.dk. 22 July 2012.
http://jiyan.dk/2012/07/tyrkisk-avis-kurdistan-nr-2-bliver-dannet/. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
30. ^ a b "SYRIA WITNESS: Aleppo Braces for Onslaught From Assad’s 4th Brigade". Middle East Voices. 27 July
2012. http://middleeastvoices.voanews.com/2012/07/syria-witness-aleppo-braces-for-onslaught-from-assads-4th-brigade-
69086/. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
31. ^ "Aleppo: The last battle for Syria". Al Jazeera. 31 July 2012.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/07/2012730103733476503.html. Retrieved 31 July 2012. "...he state of the
emboldened Kurdish community in northern Syria and the sight of Kurdish flags in Qamishli where the Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) and its local affiliate, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), may be in control of territory lost by the Assad
regime must be giving Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sleepless nights"
5. Battle of Aleppo (19-31 July 2012)
Date
Location
Result
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
19 July 2012 – ongoing
Aleppo, Syria
• By 28 July, rebels reportedly control 33%-50% of the city [1]
• By 31 July, FSA claims to be in control of the southern and eastern parts of the city. [2]
• Kurdish YPG takes control of two northern districts [3]
Belligerents

Free Syrian Army
Units [4]
Commanders and leaders
Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi [6]
(Salaheddine district) [7]
Units involved
Popular Protection
Abu Abdu Bakri
18 battalions [8] Brigade of Unification [9] Sham
Falcons [10]
Strength
Syrian government Syrian Army Syrian Police Syrian
Air Force Shabiha Al-Berri clan [5]
Unknown
Unknown
2,000–4,000 fighters [11][12][13] 10,000 soldiers (1,500 Shabiha; including the
12,000 foreign
fighters (Syrian state media claims) [14] countryside) [15][11]
100 tanks [11] 400 armored personnel carriers [11]
Casualties and losses
100 killed, 13+ technicals destroyed [16] 80 killed, [17] 125 captured, 12–15 AFVs destroyed and 4–7
captured
142 civilians killed [18][19][20]
The Battle of Aleppo (described by the Syrian government as the mother of all battles), [21] is an ongoing military confrontation in
Aleppo, Syria between the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian military. The battle began on 19 July 2012 as a part of the Syrian civil
war. Clashes began with an offensive by the Free Syrian Army against the city, which is the largest in Syria and holds great strategic
and economic importance. [22]
Background Large demonstrations against the government took place in Aleppo on 20 July, [23] and were fired upon by Syrian army
soldiers. [24] North of Aleppo city, the Free Syrian Army had already established control of several cities and towns, including Tal
Rifaat, Azaz and Al-Bab. The FSA had previously reached within nine miles of Aleppo. The battle began when dozens of FSA rebels
penetrated deep inside the city. Residents had painted walls with the pre-Ba'athist flag, the symbol of the revolution. [22]
Battle
Rebel attack Violent clashes began on 19 July in several Aleppo districts. [25] On 20 July, according to a report from Bloomberg news,
the military shelled the city, a Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) spokesperson said in an e-mail that 190 civilians and at
least 43 Syrian soldiers were killed and a Local Coordination Committee (LCCs) spokesperson added that "dozens of missiles fell in
the city, and many houses were destroyed and flattened." Five explosions were heard in Aleppo early the next morning. [26] On 21 July,
fighting was still raging in the southwestern Salaheddine district, with the army trying to storm it with troops and armored vehicles.
Meanwhile clashes started in the poorer, tribal northeastern district of al-Sakhour. Hundreds of families were forced to flee as the
commercial city had been slowly turned into a war zone. [27] Violent clashes also took place in the northeastern Haydariya area in
Aleppo. [28] The head of intelligence in Aleppo, Major General Mohamed Muflih, reportedly defected to the opposition and went to
Turkey. [29][30] On 22 July, the fourth day of major fighting in Aleppo, the Syrian army started to push into the Salaheddine district,
which had been in rebel hands for two days, with armoured vehicles. [31] Battles took place near the main intelligence headquarters of
Aleppo. [32] It was reported that rebels controlled three neighbourhoods in Aleppo. The al-Zabadia police station and the immigration
and passport building in Aleppo saw clashes as well as the areas of Saif al-Dawla, al-Jameeliya and al-Meridian. [29] It was further
reported that the FSA had set up checkpoints in the city. A brigadier general defected inside Aleppo. According to The Guardian UK,
General Adelnasser Ferzat made a video address in fluent Russian to Russia, urging Russia to stop backing Assad and back "freedom"
and the rebels' side. [22] On 23 July, renewed fighting in Aleppo was reported, with rebel fighters attacking the main TV station of the
city. The Free Syrian Army aired a live steam video on Al Jazeera showing their fighters moving freely in the Tareeq al-Bab district
of Aleppo city. [33] 33 people were reportedly killed in the city in the previous two days. [34] State media reported that dozens of rebels
had been killed by the Syrian Army north of Aleppo, among them Mahmoud al-Ashqar, leader of a rebel group. [35] A rebel
commander inside Aleppo told Al-Jazeera via Skype that his fighters had captured five districts in the city, but that these districts
were still being heavily shelled by artillery and attack helicopters. [36] During the night, eight people were reported killed at Aleppo
central prison. The Syrian National Council said that security forces "opened fire with bullets and tear gas on the detainees at Aleppo
central prison in response to a peaceful sit-in organised by prisoners because of the great injustice of which they are victims," and that
a fire broke out at the prison. [37] Another report said that 15 prisoners were killed and over 40 were injured, according to Al Arabiya
who were citing activists at the Aleppo Revolution Council. Furthermore, the group also said that security forces refused to hand over
the dead bodies to relatives and that heavy clashes between the FSA and security forces took place around the prison after the
killings. [38]
City centre fighting and Army reinforcements sent On 24 July, FSA fighters began a new offensive in Aleppo, aimed at taking the
city centre. Heavy clashes broke out near the gates of the Old city between rebel fighters and government forces. [39] Also, a resident of
the Aleppo suburb of al-Sahkour said that the FSA had set up checkpoints in the district. [40] In addition, Al-Arabiya reported about
clashes between rebels and army soldiers in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al-Arqoub. [41] The Sham news network said that 30 security
force members were killed or injured and three tanks destroyed in a neighbourhood of Aleppo the previous day. [42] Later during the
day, for the first time since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Syrian war planes bombed Aleppo (with videos showing L-39
attack aircraft over the city). The coordinated attack started with a 10-minute artillery attack on the eastern Tariq al-Bab district, after
which, fighter jets hit rebel positions, reportedly leaving dozens of fighters and civilians dead. [43] Government soldiers and rebels were
still engaged in heavy fighting near the Old city, while the Free Syrian Army stated it had control of at least six districts of Aleppo, a
claim partially supported by a BBC journalist outside Aleppo. [44] Two rebels were reported killed during the day. [45] Opposition
activists stated that thousands of government troop reinforcements were moving from Idlib toward Aleppo. [46] One of the

einforcement's convoys was attacked with a roadside bomb while it was on its way to the city, killing eight soldiers. [47] On 25 July, a
BBC reporter inside Aleppo confirmed that parts of the city (most notably the eastern suburbs) were under Free Syrian Army
control. [48] Heavy fighting raged at a police station in the city, during which three rebels were killed. The rebels managed to capture
and burn the station in the end. [18][49] Meanwhile, FSA commanders called on rebels to attack the approaching Syrian Army of 2,000
soldiers. Rebels from all over Aleppo governorate were reported to be gathering ammunition and moving towards Aleppo. [49] Two
alleged pro-government Shabiha militiamen, who were captured by the rebels, were executed in the Salaheddin district. [50] On 26 July,
the Free Syrian Army claimed to be in control of 40–50% of Aleppo city. Government forces bombarded rebel-held districts with
fighter planes, helicopters and artillery. [13][51] Two rebel fighters were killed during clashes. [52] Rebels were waiting for the military
assault, most of them expecting to die in the battle. [50] Among the government troop reinforcements that were massing on the outskirts
of Aleppo were also special forces units. [13] The Syrian Army had reportedly amassed 10,000 soldiers around Aleppo and its
countryside. [15] On 27 July, rebels captured a military base in Aleppo's city centre [15] along with 100 soldiers and pro-government
militia. [53] It was reported that 15 people were killed by helicopters and bombs in the al-Fardous district. An activist, Omar, said that
"We woke up to a huge massacre this morning at 7am. Fifteen people were killed as a result of the regime forces' bombs and
helicopters ... I witnessed the massacre myself and helped rescue 25 injured people. I carried bloodied body parts in my own hands.
The bombing stopped at 10am." and the FSA later took control of the Sour al-Hajj roundabout in the district, capturing a five-storey
building which was holding 75 detainees. [54] State TV reported that five rebel pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns
("technicals"), that were heading from the countryside towards Aleppo, were attacked and destroyed by special forces units, killing
and wounding a number of rebel fighters. A rebel commander partially confirmed this by saying opposition forces had skirmished
with the military in the areas surrounding the city. [8] Meanwhile, six soldiers were killed during clashes with a Kurdish rebel force, the
YPG, who attacked them in retaliation after government troops attacked their convoy on the airport road the previous day, killing
three and wounding 11 YPG members. [4]
Syrian Army counter-offensive On the morning of 28 July, the Syrian Army started its offensive to retake rebel-held parts of
Aleppo. Troops attacked the Salaheddin district, which held the largest concentration of rebels. [55] The assault commenced with an
eight-hour artillery bombardment, which started at four in the morning, after which tanks and ground troops moved in. [56] An
estimated 80–100 tanks were seen on the southern outskirts of the city before the attack started. [57][58] The opposition stated that 12
rebels and 10 soldiers were killed during the fighting, that dozens of soldiers were wounded, and that 8–10 tanks and armored vehicles
were destroyed or damaged. They also confirmed that one of the killed rebel fighters was a battalion commander. [18][58] Meanwhile,
rebels from Salaheddin attacked a police station in the city center where 50–100 government troops were holding out for the past three
days, in an attempt to link up with opposition forces in the northeastern Sakhur district six kilometers away. [58][59] By the end of the
day, the rebels had repelled the assault with government troops pulling back and the bombardment resuming. [60] On 29 July, a Turkish
journalist reported that Syrian soldiers defected to the opposition in Aleppo with four tanks. [61] Luke Harding from the Guardian
reported that a rebel commander was pessimistic about the chances of victory for the rebels. [11] In the evening, state media reported
that the Salaheddin district was recaptured by the Army; however, journalists were not able to reach it and confirm the report.
Opposition SOHR activists said that fighting was still ongoing in the district. [62] However, Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, head of
the Free Syrian Army military council of Aleppo, denied the report and insisted government troops had "not progressed one meter."
"We launched a new assault from Salaheddin during the night, and we destroyed four tanks," the rebel commander told AFP by
phone." Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, said that regime forces were on Monday "just
reaching the outskirts of the [Salaheddin] neighborhood." [63] On 30 July, SOHR said that clashes erupted early morning near the Air
Force intelligence headquarters in Aleppo's Zahraa district. [64] Meanwhile, a general in the FSA said that they had seized a strategic
checkpoint 5 km from Aleppo after 10 hours of fighting. This meant that the FSA controlled a direct route between the Turkish border
and the city of Aleppo. During the battle it was reported that four or five rebels and six soldiers were killed, with an additional 25
soldiers taken prisoner. An AFP journalist on the ground said that the rebels captured seven tanks and armoured vehicles, and
destroyed an eighth vehicle. [65][18] According to another rebel claim, four tanks were captured and two destroyed in the attack on the
checkpoint. [66][67] The BBC reported that thre rebels commander were killed in Aleppo the same day, when one unit was pinned down
by loyalist gunfire. FSA reinforcements manage to breakthrough and relieve their besieged comrades and pull back to safety. [68] On 31
July, Syrian state media reported that nine rebel technicals were destroyed in the Aleppo countryside and 23 rebels were killed in
Aleppo city. Three other rebels were arrested when the army captured a truck loaded with explosive devices. [69] One day earlier, four
other rebel technicals had been destroyed. [70] British Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said that there was evidence government
forces had recaptured some territory in the city, but the opposition forces were still strong. [71] Meanwhile, the rebels were still on the
offensive when they launched an assault before dawn on a major Air Force Intelligence Unit in Aleppo's Zahraa district. Rebels armed
with rocket propelled grenades attacked Aleppo's main military court as well as a police station and a branch of the ruling Baath Party
in the city's southern Salhin district. Fighting continued in the Sallahaddin district. The opposition group, Syrian Observatory,
reported that 40 policemen had been killed when rebels overran two police stations [20] in fighting that also killed eight rebel
fighters. [72] A local Aleppo tribe, al Berri,carried out an assault on a rebel held road, killing 16 rebels. It was reported that they
executed people with their hands behind their backs near the airport. [73] The rebels also summarily executed members of al-Berri
tribe. [74] Later during the day, the Free Syrian Army continued operating in the Salaheddine district, which the government admitted it
did no longer fully control. "The regime has tried for three days to regain Saleheddine, but its attempts have failed and it has suffered
heavy losses in human life, weapons and tanks, and it has been forced to withdraw," said Colonel Abdel-Jabbar al-Oqaidi, head of the
Joint Military Council, one of several rebel groups in Aleppo. He announced the the FSA's primary objective was to secure the city
centre "within days" by advancing district by district towards it, clearing out government forces. He confirmed that opposition troops
controlled the southern and eastern parts of the city or, as he described it, as some 35%-40% of the city. [2][12] State media later claimed
that a rebel leader Ahmad Haj Qasem bin Abdul-Rahman was killed in Aleppo. It was also claimed that the Syrian Army ambushed a
group of 400-500 rebels with 30 technicals in the town of Handarat, north of Aleppo, inflicting "heavy losses" on them and
"destroying their cars". [69] International media has however reported that the Syrian offensive has "stalled", [75] amid Free Syrian Army
gains in surrounding areas such as the capture of the city of Al Bab. [76] Reuters reported that neither the governement or the rebels
were in full control of salaheddin, despite their claims. [77]
Foreign reactions

• France - The French foreign ministry said that "With the build-up of heavy weapons around Aleppo, Assad is preparing
to carry out a fresh slaughter of his own people", while Italy and the UN peacekeeping chief also accused the government of
preparing to massacre civilians. [78]
• Russia - The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated "Our Western partners ... together with some of Syria's
neighbours are essentially encouraging, supporting and directing an armed struggle against the regime". He also added that it
would be unrealistic to expect Syrian forces not to fight when armed fighters were occupying Aleppo. "How can you hope
that in such a situation, the government will simply reconcile itself and say 'All right, I was wrong. Come on and topple me,
change the regime'?" [79]
• Turkey - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged international action, saying it was not possible "to remain
a spectator" to the government offensive on Aleppo. [80] Reuters reported that Turkey had set up a base with allies Saudi
Arabia and Qatar for the purpose of directing military and communications aid to the Free Syrian Army from the city of
Adana. Reuters also quoted a Doha-based source which stated that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were providing weapons
and training to the rebel fighters. [81]
• United Kingdom - William Hague, the British Foreign Minister, also said that "the world must speak out to avert a
massacre in Aleppo". [82]
• United States - The United States said it feared a new massacre in Aleppo by the government: "This is the concern: that
we will see a massacre in Aleppo and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for." [83]
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External links
• Satellite map of the Battle of Aleppo