Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare
Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare
Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare
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15 April – "Friday of Determination" On the "Friday of Determination" (Arabic: جمعة اإلصرار ), tens of thousands of people held<br />
protests in several <strong>Syrian</strong> cities, inclu<strong>di</strong>ng Baniyas, Latakia, Baida, Homs, and Deir ez-Zor. [180][181] Al Jazeera reported that up to<br />
50,000 protesters trying to enter Damascus from the Douma suburb were <strong>di</strong>spersed by security forces using tear gas, while in the<br />
Barzeh <strong>di</strong>strict of the capital violence erupted when dozens of armed men in plain clothes surrounded about 250 protesters rallying in<br />
front of a mosque. [182] On the other hand, thousands demonstrated in Daraa, but security forces were not visible in the city, as the<br />
authorities reportedly allowed the uprising to take place. [181]<br />
16 April Thousands of people marched in Deraa chanting anti-regime slogans, while in the Damascus suburb of Douma, 1,500<br />
residents staged a sit-in, deman<strong>di</strong>ng the release of 140 people arrested a day earlier. [183] In Majdal Shams in the Israeli-controlled area<br />
of the Golan Heights, almost 200 people demonstrated in opposition to Assad and the regime. [184][185] On the same day, Assad spoke to<br />
the People's Assembly in a televised speech, stating that he expects his government to lift the emergency law the following, and<br />
acknowledging there is a gap between citizens and the state, and that government has to "keep up with the aspirations of the<br />
people". [186] Later in the day he welcomed his new cabinet with a speech containing more specifics (full text). He spoke of the<br />
importance of reaching "a state of unity, unity between the government, state institutions and the people"; stressed the need for<br />
<strong>di</strong>alogue and consultation in multiple channels, popular support, trust and transparency; explained the interrelatedness of reform and<br />
the needs of citizens for services, security and <strong>di</strong>gnity. He stated the first priorities were citizenship for Kurds, lifting the state of<br />
emergency in the coming week or at the latest the week after, regulating demonstrations without chaos and sabotage, political party<br />
law, local administration law in both structure and elections, and new and modern me<strong>di</strong>a law, all with public timeframes. The next<br />
topics were unemployment, the economy, rural services, attracting investment, the public and private sectors, justice, corruption, petty<br />
bribery, tax reform and reducing government waste, followed by tackling government itself with more participation, e-government,<br />
decentralization, effectiveness and efficiency, as well as closer cooperation with civil society, mass organizations and trade unions.<br />
17 April About 300 protesters took to the streets in Suweida, but were <strong>di</strong>spersed by security forces. Reportedly, demonstrations also<br />
took place in Aleppo, Baniyas, Homs, and Hirak, mostly chanting slogans for political freedom. SANA reported seizure of a large<br />
number of weapons hidden in a lorry coming in from Iraq. [187] Security forces opened fire on a funeral procession on a highway<br />
outside the town of Talbiseh, killing three people. In Homs, clashes between protesters and security forces took place after a tribal<br />
leader <strong>di</strong>ed in custody. 12 protesters were killed. [188]<br />
18 April<br />
General Tellawi's mutilated body, Homs, Syria, 18 April <strong>2011</strong> on YouTube<br />
Protests in Homs, Syria, 18 April <strong>2011</strong> on YouTube<br />
Sit-in at Liberty Square in Homs, Syria, 18 April <strong>2011</strong> on YouTube<br />
A high-ranked officer of the <strong>Syrian</strong> army, Briga<strong>di</strong>er General Abdo Kheder al-Tellawi, was reportedly shot dead by an armed group in<br />
Homs along with his two children and nephew. [189][190] Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to the <strong>di</strong>rector of the National Hospital of Homs Dr. Ghassan<br />
Tannous, the bo<strong>di</strong>es of the victims have been maimed and mutilated with the use of sharp tools. [191] More than 10,000 demonstrators<br />
staged an anti-government sit-in in Homs, and a massive funeral procession for six demonstrators who had been killed also took place<br />
in the city. In Baniyas, about 300 children released balloons with slogans calling on Assad to leave power. [192]<br />
Security forces shot dead at least 13 people when <strong>di</strong>spersing a protest. The <strong>Syrian</strong> Ministry of Interior announced that the latest<br />
developments in Syria such as the killing of policemen, army sol<strong>di</strong>ers and civilians and terrifying people are all armed mutiny led by<br />
extremist Salafi armed groups. [193]<br />
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<br />
the state of emergency had been lifted. [194] A pilot of the <strong>Syrian</strong> Air Force, Col. Mohammad Abdo Khaddour, was shot dead by an<br />
armed group in front of his home in Homs. [195][196][197] Police forces use combat rounds and tear gas to <strong>di</strong>sperse a sit-in, deaths are<br />
confirmed, but their number is unknown. [198] Police forces caused 3 deaths after opening fire on a funeral mourning dead protesters.<br />
The lifting of the emergency laws notwithstan<strong>di</strong>ng, authorities vowed to "crush any new uprising". A witness reported that the gunfire<br />
lasted at least two hours. [199]<br />
20 April Activists said that 4,000 university students protested in Daraa. [200] Around 20 students protested at the faculty of me<strong>di</strong>cine<br />
of Aleppo University where they were quickly denied and absorbed by a pro-Assad rally. [200][201][202]<br />
21 April On 21 April,President Assad signed the decrees for en<strong>di</strong>ng the state of emergency, abolishing the Supreme State Security<br />
Court (SSSC), and regulating the right to peaceful demonstrations. [203][204] Undeterred protesters called for Friday to be their biggest<br />
[205] ). الجمعة العظيمة (Arabic: day of outrage yet, in what they dub as "the Great Friday"<br />
22 April – "The Great Friday" On 22 April, the country experienced its biggest and bloo<strong>di</strong>est day in the current series of uprising as<br />
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]<br />
Hundreds of protesters in central Damascus were <strong>di</strong>spersed, but thousands congregated in towns ringing the capital. [207] Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to<br />
the protesters' own reports, at least 70 people were killed nationwide when security forces opened fire on the demonstrators. [208]<br />
Imme<strong>di</strong>ate verification was <strong>di</strong>fficult because Syria had expelled almost all members of the international me<strong>di</strong>a from the country, [206]<br />
although it eventually emerged that over 100 had been killed. [209][210]<br />
23 April Throughout the country, funerals for fallen protesters occurred. Snipers reportedly fired, killing 8 people in Daraa with 5<br />
members of the security forces among them. [211][212]<br />
24 April A <strong>Syrian</strong> human rights organisation said that 9 civilians were killed in Jableh by security forces and pro-Assad gunmen. [213]<br />
25 April – "Sieges of Daraa and Douma" Main article: Siege of Daraa On 25 April, the <strong>Syrian</strong> government deployed tanks to<br />
Daraa, which was an early focal point of the protests, killing at least 25 people. [214] The tanks were accompanied by sol<strong>di</strong>ers—<br />
estimates varied from hundreds to 6,000—rooftop snipers, and the cutting of water, power, and phone lines. One resident in Jableh<br />
(Lattakia) said that protesters had burned an army car and taken a sol<strong>di</strong>er hostage. [214] The government also closed the nearby border<br />
with Jordan. [215] At least one high-ranking <strong>Syrian</strong> military commander refused to participate in the operation against Daraa. [216] A<br />
resident of Daraa said to me<strong>di</strong>a reporters over the phone: "Let Obama come and take Syria. Let Israel come and take Syria. Let the<br />
Jews come. Anything is better than Bashar Assad." [217] US President Barack Obama condemned the "outrageous" use of violence, [218]<br />
and the US prepared to freeze <strong>Syrian</strong> officials' American assets. [219] EU countries, inclu<strong>di</strong>ng permanent Security Council members