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

peacekeeping force on the ground in Syria. The meeting called for tougher sanctions, as the European union announced that they
would freeze Syria's assets within their country. The Tunisian president proposed in addition that the Syrian conflict be resolved with
an amnesty deal for Bashar Assad, where Bashar Assad would resign take leave in Russia. The Saudi Arabian foreign minister left the
meeting, claiming that the Friends of Syria did not go far enough to try to solve the crisis, and further exclaimed that the Free Syrian
Army should be armed and supported to out-right topple the regime. [245][246][247] The leaders of Hamas announced that they were
completely abandoning support for the Syrian government, and announced their support for the armed rebellion. [248] The Free Syrian
Army announced that they had received their first supply of light arms and communication equipment from the gulf and neighboring
countries, purchased by Syrian exiles, but emphasized that it was only a limited number of light weaponry that they received. [249] Mass
Friday anti-government protests occurred in Syria, with the largest gatherings in Aleppo, Idlib, Daraa, Qamishli and the Damascus
suburbs. Activists reported that 50 people were killed on Friday by security forces, primarily in Homs, Aleppo, Hama and
Qamishli. [245] By the end of the day the LCC reported that 103 had been killed by the Syrian army, primarily in Homs and Hama. [250]
25 February Over 100 people were killed by the Syrian army across Syria, primarily in Homs, Hama, and Idlib. [251]
26 February At least 31 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed on Sunday in bloodshed that coincided with a vote on a new
constitution that could keep President Bashar al-Assad in power until 2028, Assad says the referendum shows his commitment to
democratic reform while Western powers and Syrians involved in an 11-month-old revolt against his rule have described it as a
farce. [252] By the end of the day, the death toll reached 65, primarily in Homs. [253] Tens of thousands of people have marched in
Morocco to demand an end to the Syrian regime's brutal crackdown on dissenters and to call for international intervention in the
crisis. The MAP news agency says Syrians residing in Morocco were among the marchers Sunday in Casablanca. The demonstrators
carried Moroccan and Syrian flags as well as signs calling on embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad to stop killing those seeking
his ouster. [254]
27 February The European Union has agreed new sanctions against Syria. [255] Activists reported that 68 civilians in Homs were
summarily executed in a massacre when security forces arrested them as they tried to flee the neighborhood of Baba Amr. [256][257] By
the end of the day the death toll had risen to 125, including from artillery shelling and the massacre in Homs, with rest of the deaths
having occurred in Hama, Aleppo province, and Idlib. [258]
28 February The number of civilians killed by the Syrian army has reached 104 on 28 February, among them 35 in a regimeconducted
massacre in Halfaya in the Hama suburbs. In addition, 26 were killed in a massacre in Baba Amr, including 3 women and 2
children; 37 in the Hama suburbs; 50 in Homs; 7 in the Aleppo suburbs; 5 in the Idlib suburbs; 3 in Deir Ezzor; and 1 in Daraa and 1
in Hama. [259] Tunisia says ready to give asylum to Syria's Assad. [260] According to the UN more than 7,500 people have died in Syria
since beginning of the uprising. [261]
29 February Syrian security forces are advancing on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Baba Amr in the city of Homs. [262] The
Pentagon is going over plans for a potential operation in Syria. [263] U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says Syria has denied her
repeated requests to visit country. [264] Libya will donate $100 million in humanitarian aid to the Syrian opposition and allow them to
open an office in Tripoli. [265] The LCC reported that 30 people were killed by the Syrian army on 29 February, but could not include
the death toll from Baba Amr due to lack of communication. [266]
March 2012
1 March The FSA and the local civilians withdrew from Baba Amr, after running out of ammunition, food, and water. 4,000 civilians
refused to leave Baba Amr. The International Red Cross was given permission to send aid to Baba Amr. 42 civilians were killed by
the Syrian army, including 23 in Homs. [267] UK diplomats withdrawn from Syria. [268]
2 March-Friday of Arming the Free Syrian Army Mass Friday protests occurred throughout Syria, with the largest protesting
occurring in Aleppo, central Homs, Idlib, Qamishli and the Damascus Suburbs as well as the central Damascus area. [269][270] 75
protesters and civilians were killed throughout the day. Ten were killed in Baba Amr and 16 in Rastan after a protest was hit by
mortar shells. [271] France is closing its embassy in Syria. [272]
3 March 47 soldiers who were caught attempting to defect were executed in the Idlib province. 30 civilians were killed by the
security forces, including 8 in the Damascus suburbs. The Free Syrian Army claimed to have killed over 100 government soldiers in
the Damascus suburbs in hit and run attacks on 3 March. [273] Suicide bomber kills 2 in Deraa. [274]
4 March The Syrian army shelled Rastan, killing 7 civilians. [275] The Red crescent were denied access to Bab Amr, despite promises
given to them that they could enter. [276] The father in law of the Syrian President, Bashar al-assad, said he was "horrified" at his son in
laws brutal suppression of the Uprising and begged him to make democratic changes in the country before it was too late. As Syrian
troops renewed their ferocious bombardment of the city of Homs Dr. Fawaz Akhras revealed for the first time that he has been quietly
pushing for reform since before the revolution. Akhras said he feared for his daughter and his grandchildren, who could be killed by
opposition fighters in revenge if the government falls. Some rumors said that Asma was being kept under virtual house arrest in
Damascus by the presidents henchmen because they were scared she might leave the country, which would be a move that would
damage the Syrian regime. [277]
5 March Local Coordination Committees said that 15 people were killed by the Syrian army on 5 March. 6 were killed in Homs, 2 in
each of Idlib, Daraa and Aleppo, and 1 in each of Yabroud in Damascus Suburbs, Jableh and Raqqa. [278]
6 March At least 39 people were killed by the Syrian army, included 23 in Homs, according to the LCC. [279]
7 March The LCC reported that at least 40 civilians were killed by the Syrian army on 7 March, including 23 in Homs. [280] Russia's
ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, claimed that he has information that there is a special training center for the Syrian
revolutionaries in Libya. [281] The deputy oil and mineral wealth minister Abdo Hussameddin defected. [282]
8 March The LCC reported that 62 civilians were killed across Syria including 52 in Homs, of which 44 were found summarily
executed. [283]
9 March - Friday of the Kurdish Uprising 82 civilians were killed throughout Syria, including 33 in Idlib and 26 in Homs. [284] Mass
Friday protests occurred, particularly in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Daraa, Idlib, Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli. [285][286] Rebel groups reported
that four generals had defected to the FSA, and had crossed into Turkish territory. [287] Two other generals and four colonels had
defected a few days before this event, bringing a total of six generals, according to opposition sources. A high ranking defector told