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

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