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

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.