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

For the first time the unrest spread to the centre of the capital city of Damascus where security services were filmed firing at protesters
at close range, according to unverified footage. The opposition reported 13 people killed during Friday's protests, and over 40 people
are reported to have been wounded. [119][120][121]
10 July The Syrian army launched a raid in Homs, killing at least one person. [122] The American and French diplomats who
participated in Friday's protests were summoned to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. [123] In Demas outside of Damascus, Syrian officials
formally opened what they described as a national dialogue aimed at a transition to a multiparty democracy. Opposition leaders
boycotted the event, saying it is a sham to mask the government's crackdown on protesters, and that they will not participate without
an end to the crackdown. [123]
11 July Supporters of President al-Assad attacked the embassies of France and the United States in Damascus. According to a US
embassy official, there had been physical damage done, but no one was injured. The official also said that the authorities had been
slow to respond despite assurances from the Syrian government that the embassy would be given adequate protection. At the French
embassy, guards fired into the air to disperse a crowd. [124] Robert Stephen Ford, the US ambassador to Syria criticized the regime on
the embassy's Facebook page, stating "On 9 July, a 'mnhebak' group threw rocks at our embassy, causing some damage. They resorted
to violence, unlike the people in Hama, who have stayed peaceful... and how ironic that the Syrian Government lets an anti-US
demonstration proceed freely while their security thugs beat down olive branch-carrying peaceful protesters elsewhere." [125] US
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned both the attacks and the incumbent regime, stating that al-Assad had "lost legitimacy,"
and that "President Assad is not indispensable and we have absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power." [126]
13 July Four villagers were killed by the Syrian army in the village of Jabal al Zawiya. [127]
14 July Security forces killed 8 protesters in Deir al-Zour, amid a wide-scale strike in that town. 2 protesters were also killed in
Homs. [128] and 1 in Aleppo. Activists have called for another Friday of protests, this time dubbed "Friday of Freedom for Hostages",
in reference to their demands for the Syrian government to release over 12,000 protesters who were arrested and detained without trial
so far. [128]
15 July – "Friday of Freedom for the Hostages" Mass protests occurred. At least 28 civilians were reported killed by Syrian
security forces. [129] The protests were widespread, most notably occurring in Damascus and its countryside, Homs, Qamishli, Daraa,
Latakia, Idlib, and Al-Raqqah. 700,000 came out in Martyrs square in Hama, 350,000 in the eastern province of Deir ez-Zor and
20,000 in Aleppo. Syrian communities abroad demonstrated in front of the embassies of their countries. [130]
16 July In the town of Al-Bukamal, on the border with Iraq, five protesters were killed by the Syrian army. A day later, thousands of
people took to the streets before the military tried to intervene to suppress the demonstrations. However, they were unsuccessful in
doing so as the protesters were larger in size. It was reported that 100 Air Force intelligence agents and the crew of at least four
armored vehicles defected to the opposition. Activists also claimed that the protesters managed to capture several tanks, armored
vehicles and weapons from the army. The government stated that three soldiers were killed in the clashes. [131] After an agreement was
reached between the protesters and the military, some of the seized military vehicles and weapons were handed back. [132]
17 July During factional fighting between residents of Homs 30 people were killed. At the same time, the army entered some villages
in Aleppo’s countryside, according to activists on the Internet. [133] Some soldiers defected with their armoured personnel carriers and
joined the protesters, as did at least 100 Air Force personnel in a town near the Iraqi border. [134]
18 July Continue to the funeral of the martyrs of Qaboun and demonstration in the evening in Harasta and military operations in
Homs.
21 July The Syrian army was sent to Homs where they fired machine guns randomly at anyone in the streets. At least 40 civilians
were reported killed. The Syrian army also conducted arrests and raids. [135][136] Activists have called for another Friday of protests, this
time dubbed Friday of Khaled bin al-Walid, after a Muslim military commander from the Middle Ages who is buried in Homs. [136]
22 July – "Friday of Khalid ibn al-Walid grandsons" Further information: Khalid ibn al-Walid Mass protests occurred, with at
least 450,000 protesters in Deir Ezzour, and 650,000 in Hama. Tens of thousands protested in other cities as well, the Kurdish
Northeast, Daraa, the Syrian coast,Aleppo and Homs. The Syrian army was sent into the central area of Damascus where they
conducted arrests and prevented anyone from rallying. [137] A total of 8 people were killed by the Syrian army most of them in Aleppo
on Friday. [138]
23 July Many demonstrations took place in front of Syrian embassies abroad to denounce the suppression of peaceful protesters by
the authorities.
26 July As protests continued, the Syrian army raided the Damascus suburb of Kanakar with tanks, killing 8 civilians. The security
forces arrested at least 250 people, all in an attempt to subdue opposition in Damascus before Ramadan occurs, when the protests are
expected to intensify further. [139]
28 July Security forces swept through Damascus's neighborhoods again, killing four people and conducting mass arrests. [140] Activists
called for mass Friday protests under the name of "Your Silence is Killing Us" in an attempt to encourage the silent majority of
Syria's population to take sides with the anti-Assad demonstrators. [139]
29 July – "Friday of 'Your Silence Is Killing Us'" Massive protests ensued as security forces unleashed expansive crackdowns. 20
protesters were killed throughout Syria, most notably in Deir ez-Zor, where the government tried to stop mass gatherings. The Syrian
army was sent into the city with tanks and fired on protesters with live ammunition, whilst Daraa and Latakia also witnessed protester
deaths. Other places where protesting occurred included Hama, Homs, Qamishli, and Aleppo. The Syrian army conducted mass
arrests in the capital, Damascus. The Syrian army's brutal response was one of heaviest since June. [141] A colonel in the Syrian Army
claimed he had defected to the opposition along with "hundreds" of other military personnel in the city of Deir ez-Zor, and called his
group the Free Syrian Army. [142]
31 July Main article: Siege of Hama (2011) On what appeared to be the bloodiest day of the uprising to date, at least 136 were killed
across the country as Syrian tanks, snipers, and troops stormed Deir ez-Zor, Hama, Harak, and Al-Bukamal. The crackdown was an
apparent effort to halt the momentum of the protest movement before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Syrian government
claimed its military actions were in response to armed gangs attacking buildings and forcing people to protest, allegations rejected by
protesters and American diplomats inside the country. [143] August 2011