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

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