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

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confirmed that most of the rebels had withdrawn from the capital.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