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The rebel Free Syrian Army changes the balance of power: FSA rebel fighters continue to
The rebel Free Syrian Army changes the balance of power: FSA rebel fighters continue to
redefine the balance
of power after inflicting heavy losses on regime forces this week, specifically
its air forces. Rebel fighters destroyed dozens of fighter jets and helicopter gunships some of them
were destroyed during attacks on two military airports in the province of Idlib
and others shot down in Damascus and Idlib as well. They also captured an air defence battalion in the Deir Azzour suburb of Boukamal
and bombed the Syrian Army headquarters in Damascus for the second time in a
row. During this week, they killed more than 275 army soldiers and detained many
more, they also destroyed a number of military tanks and armoured vehicles
during heavy clashes with regime forces across the country. FSA also warned it
will target civilian airplanes in both Damascus and Aleppo international
airports. Rebel fighters are expected to continue to launch even more powerful
attacks on regime forces as they continue to seize heavy weapons such as the
Cobra anti-tanks missiles which they captured from the Boukamal defence
battalion.
Regime
uses a new type of weapons as summary executions continue: Regime
forces killed hundreds of civilians by sniper fire and by shooting
them from a short range in several areas across the country especially in the
capital and its suburbs. Hundreds of women and children were also killed as a
result of the indiscriminate and heavy shelling of opposition strongholds as
their helicopter gunships dropped dozens of locally made “barrel bombs” filled with TNT, oil and chunks of steel on
Homs, Idlib and Aleppo. The exploding barrels kill and maim across a wider area
than high explosives. The regime’s main goal is to kill as many civilians as it
can and to wreak havoc in the country on its way out.
Uprising Developments
Humanitarian conditions in Syria gets worse: Thousands of people are struggling to preserve their safety and livelihoods after many have been displaced from their homes or fled the country. Access to healthcare, food, water and other basic supplies remains difficult in many parts of the country, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Friday. Humanitarian conditions are likely to deteriorate even further as the conflict continues to escalate.
Syrian refugees’ crisis develops into a humanitarian crisis: Jordan and the UN’s refugee agency issued an urgent call to international donors for $700 million to handle the rapidly rising number of Syrian refugees seeking safe haven in the country. Jordanian Planning Minister Jafaar Hassan said the money would be used to assist 240,000 refugees and other Syrians in Jordan. He said they are an added drain on the country's already overburdened water and energy resources. More than 4000 Syrian refugees crossed the borders with Turkey, some 10,000 Syrian refugees are waiting on the Syrian side of the border as Turkey rushes to build more camps to accommodate the influx and carries out more stringent security checks on the newcomers. As Lebanese students return back to school next week, Syrian refugees taking refuge in schools have are expected to evacuate by then. The total number of refugees since the start of the revolution exceeded 230,000 and the number is expected to rise even further as regime forces continue their indiscriminate shelling of the rebels’ strongholds.
Economy
Revenue from Syrian tourism falls: A government report showed that tourism generated just 12.8 billion Syrian pounds ($178 million at current rates) in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 52 billion in the same period last year – $1 billion at the time. Revenue from tourism has plummeted 75.4 per cent during the 18 month uprising against Assad’s regime. This decline had a negative impact on the social and economic levels as it led to job losses due to the closure of many small tourist facilities. The tourism sector is likely to deteriorate even further as many airline companies suspended their flights to Syria due to the escalating violence.
The crisis of gold exacerbates: Economically, the gold crisis exacerbated as more than 60 per cent of gold shops in Damascus closed down due to declining sales that dropped more than 90 per cent since last year. Meanwhile, more than 1000 gold workshops closed down in the city of Aleppo. Syrian gold suppliers are likely to start looking for international buyers as the local ones consider it unnecessary.
International Reactions
France gets deeply involved in the Syrian crisis: French President Francois Hollande urged Syria's opposition to form a transitional government, promising that France would recognize it in hope of accelerating the departure of Assad's regime. Fabius announced that France was giving 5 million Euros ($6.27 million) in addition to the $20 million Euros ($25 million) it has already contributed. France also plans to channel aid to rebel-held parts of Syria so that these "liberated zones" can administer themselves and staunch an outflow of refugees.
Division in the UN Security Council escalates the Syrian crisis: The international community failed to stop the 18-month bloodshed in Syria and to even save the lives of civilians who are caught in the cross fire. During a meeting on Syria at the UNSC, Turkey insisted that “safe zones” must be created in order to accommodate the increasing number of Syrians fleeing battles in their homes. France and Britain considered this suggestion as unfeasible because it requires a unanimous decision by members of the UNSC. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no steps could be taken to create safe zones that protect refugees inside Syria without a U.N. resolution. Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour warned against attempts to impose a no-fly zone on Syria, deeming it an act of “interference” in the violence-stricken country. The current division and stalemate at the UNSC will leave civilians in areas being shelled by the regime with two options, die or run away.
Iran continues its unlimited support for Assad: The official Iranian television distorted President Mohamed Morsy's speech at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran last week, replacing all mentions of Syria with Bahrain as Morsy hails the Syrian revolution against its “aggressive regime”. Iran is also sending commanders from its elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and hundreds of foot soldiers to Syria in order to support Assad in his battle against the rebels. Iran will continue its unabated support to Assad as far as it looks at the Syrian crisis as a war with the US and Israel.
Syrian Press Focus
Syrian delegation to the Non-Aligned Movement summit leaves the hall: The Syrian media covered the reaction by Syria’s delegation to the Egyptian President’s expression of solidarity with the Syrian revolution against the oppressive regime.
France provokes conspiracy on Syria during UNSC meeting: The Syrian media covered the UNSC meeting on Syria which was called for by France. It described its efforts as a conspiracy against the Syrian people.
Uprising Developments
Humanitarian conditions in Syria gets worse: Thousands of people are struggling to preserve their safety and livelihoods after many have been displaced from their homes or fled the country. Access to healthcare, food, water and other basic supplies remains difficult in many parts of the country, the International Committee of the Red Cross said on Friday. Humanitarian conditions are likely to deteriorate even further as the conflict continues to escalate.
Syrian refugees’ crisis develops into a humanitarian crisis: Jordan and the UN’s refugee agency issued an urgent call to international donors for $700 million to handle the rapidly rising number of Syrian refugees seeking safe haven in the country. Jordanian Planning Minister Jafaar Hassan said the money would be used to assist 240,000 refugees and other Syrians in Jordan. He said they are an added drain on the country's already overburdened water and energy resources. More than 4000 Syrian refugees crossed the borders with Turkey, some 10,000 Syrian refugees are waiting on the Syrian side of the border as Turkey rushes to build more camps to accommodate the influx and carries out more stringent security checks on the newcomers. As Lebanese students return back to school next week, Syrian refugees taking refuge in schools have are expected to evacuate by then. The total number of refugees since the start of the revolution exceeded 230,000 and the number is expected to rise even further as regime forces continue their indiscriminate shelling of the rebels’ strongholds.
Economy
Revenue from Syrian tourism falls: A government report showed that tourism generated just 12.8 billion Syrian pounds ($178 million at current rates) in the first quarter of 2012, compared with 52 billion in the same period last year – $1 billion at the time. Revenue from tourism has plummeted 75.4 per cent during the 18 month uprising against Assad’s regime. This decline had a negative impact on the social and economic levels as it led to job losses due to the closure of many small tourist facilities. The tourism sector is likely to deteriorate even further as many airline companies suspended their flights to Syria due to the escalating violence.
The crisis of gold exacerbates: Economically, the gold crisis exacerbated as more than 60 per cent of gold shops in Damascus closed down due to declining sales that dropped more than 90 per cent since last year. Meanwhile, more than 1000 gold workshops closed down in the city of Aleppo. Syrian gold suppliers are likely to start looking for international buyers as the local ones consider it unnecessary.
International Reactions
France gets deeply involved in the Syrian crisis: French President Francois Hollande urged Syria's opposition to form a transitional government, promising that France would recognize it in hope of accelerating the departure of Assad's regime. Fabius announced that France was giving 5 million Euros ($6.27 million) in addition to the $20 million Euros ($25 million) it has already contributed. France also plans to channel aid to rebel-held parts of Syria so that these "liberated zones" can administer themselves and staunch an outflow of refugees.
Division in the UN Security Council escalates the Syrian crisis: The international community failed to stop the 18-month bloodshed in Syria and to even save the lives of civilians who are caught in the cross fire. During a meeting on Syria at the UNSC, Turkey insisted that “safe zones” must be created in order to accommodate the increasing number of Syrians fleeing battles in their homes. France and Britain considered this suggestion as unfeasible because it requires a unanimous decision by members of the UNSC. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said no steps could be taken to create safe zones that protect refugees inside Syria without a U.N. resolution. Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour warned against attempts to impose a no-fly zone on Syria, deeming it an act of “interference” in the violence-stricken country. The current division and stalemate at the UNSC will leave civilians in areas being shelled by the regime with two options, die or run away.
Iran continues its unlimited support for Assad: The official Iranian television distorted President Mohamed Morsy's speech at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran last week, replacing all mentions of Syria with Bahrain as Morsy hails the Syrian revolution against its “aggressive regime”. Iran is also sending commanders from its elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and hundreds of foot soldiers to Syria in order to support Assad in his battle against the rebels. Iran will continue its unabated support to Assad as far as it looks at the Syrian crisis as a war with the US and Israel.
Syrian Press Focus
Syrian delegation to the Non-Aligned Movement summit leaves the hall: The Syrian media covered the reaction by Syria’s delegation to the Egyptian President’s expression of solidarity with the Syrian revolution against the oppressive regime.
France provokes conspiracy on Syria during UNSC meeting: The Syrian media covered the UNSC meeting on Syria which was called for by France. It described its efforts as a conspiracy against the Syrian people.