The Unraveling!

The current battles taking place in and around Damascus may not yet lead to the unraveling of the regime, but the illusion of normalcy that the Assads have sought hard to maintain in the capital since the beginning of the Revolution has surely unraveled. Once illusions unravel reality soon follows.

Saturday 28, 2012 – Today was dedicated to showing solidarity with the people of Aleppo City and Nawa.

Today’s death toll: 65, including 3 children, a woman, 89 defectors and 4 who died under torture. The Breakdown: 23 in Homs (including a child, a woman and 2 victims of torture), 4 in the town of Rastan in Homs Province, 16 in Rural Damascus, 7 in Deraa Province (including 4 defectors), 7 in Hama City (including a child, 2 defectors and 2 victims of torture), and 2 in Damascus itself (including a child)…

Links

GCC and Turkey united on Syria

Report Claims Syrian Rebels Moved Iranian Hostages to Lebanon

Syrian Kurds want referendum after fall of Assad

Bodies of 17 prisoners found in Syrian city

Syria’s Al-Zabadani city remains unperturbed by violence

Wounded Syrians Treated at Secret Clinic in Lebanon

Demonstrations erupt in Syria's 2nd city, 10 killed

Citing Violence, Arab League Suspends Monitoring in Syria

Syria rebels gain foothold in Damascus

OPPOSITION GROUPS IN SYRIA: MYTHS AND REALITIES

Syrian Expats Lend Support to Protests From Abroad

From the basement office of his home in the U.S., Ammar Abdulhamid does his part to support what he calls the Syrian revolution.  Like many Syrian expatriates, Abdulhamid keeps in regular contact with people inside the country, following events and forwarding what he learns through his blog: Syrian Revolution Digest (Video)

Too many tragic developments have been taken place simultaneously, it’s getting extremely hard to keep up and sift through the various reports of pounding, deaths and mayhem. But, it seems that the increased bloodshed has had a ripple effect within the upper ranks of the army, a fact that was reflected in increased confusion within the ranks of loyalist troops on the ground. The ability of defectors to hold their ground, despite all the violence has exacerbated the situation as well.

The towns of Rankous and Assal Al-Ward in the Qalamoun Region in northern Damascus have been under siege and pounding for almost 10 days now, but the intensity of the pounding has increased dramatically over the last 2 days, with dozens of reported deaths and wounded in both communities. But loyalist troops are still being kept at bay.

More significantly, in the Damascene region of Eastern Ghoutah, local members of the FSA seem to have halted once again the advance of loyalist troops in their territories benefiting from major defections in the ranks of loyalists amounting to more than 300 soldiers and a number of high level officers, including a major general. Defectors claim to have taken 4 tanks with them. In the process, defectors destroyed a number of tanks and armored vehicles and caused numerous casualties. Reports from the region now speak of active negotiations between the two sides, and internal bickering within the ranks of loyalists. Meanwhile reinforcements are being sent to loyalist troops fighting in Kafar Batna and nearby communities.

Clashes between loyalists and defectors have taken place as well in the town of Rastan in the Homs Province, where defectors managed to repel the loyalist attack. Meanwhile, the towns of Saraqib and Khan Shaikhoon in Idlib Province have reportedly also come under attack.

The only reason the Assads are now able to fight this multifocal war is the recent arms shipments they received from the Russians and the Iranians.

Homs
The City
Deir Baalbah: at dawn, the neighborhood comes under automatic gunfire http://youtu.be/ZBXQHTR3hMA Baba Amr: the neighborhood gets pounded again http://youtu.be/38TIyQf8TUg , http://youtu.be/jtR-5e2uTm8 , http://youtu.be/p7DSJ6ClVEk , http://youtu.be/mK03NQWRlE8 , http://youtu.be/tbZcEuNyd3c , http://youtu.be/vZ_Iza2Ie3M , http://youtu.be/ez7uhBfmj1g Martyr http://youtu.be/y0pW3ozosx8 Still, local take to the streets at night led by local activist Khalid about Salah who leads them in prayer for the victims of massacres in Aleppo City. For even in their hour of need, protesters remain mindful of the suffering of their colleagues elsewhere http://youtu.be/wdS87XUtTVA Khalidyeh:  A martyr http://youtu.be/R5myLbHFFno Bayadah: a mother mourns her son http://youtu.be/ItdtdWKalw8 Insha’aat: a local hospital was damaged by the pounding http://youtu.be/Tst_LcyzsKU Asheerah: impact of pounding on the neighborhood http://youtu.be/uTy3Txsknb8 , http://youtu.be/1y_1xBoEH6o Rescuing a wounded http://youtu.be/U_vvjW17VkE Karm Al-Zeitun: treating the wounded http://youtu.be/S_Hje6duSms , http://youtu.be/v7UJFqA2sdY , http://youtu.be/XF8jAECaFGE , http://youtu.be/WaQQVkijtkY A funeral http://youtu.be/3ipiAItdhTI Unidentified martyr http://youtu.be/e6MCjcOofkk Another martyr http://youtu.be/mQlSM8BIz3k Malaab: mass funeral for a child and his mother http://youtu.be/JQXaD7go1T8 , http://youtu.be/6e6NrJM76TQ Meanwhile, in the local mosque, worshippers call for declaring holy war against the Assads http://youtu.be/TXE-agIgnZw Attacks by sniper killed the occupants of this car http://youtu.be/0PjllNve6D8 Bab Tadmor: the search for bodies under the rubble continues http://youtu.be/kbGLq5RlApo Midan: the neighborhood comes under automatic gunfire at night http://youtu.be/L7j0ljAfniQ Bab Houd: nighttime protesters ignore the bullets and keep chanting http://youtu.be/LTvySYW6R0M
Daytime Rallies Wadi Arab http://youtu.be/U1pY75cOKsM Madentein http://youtu.be/iczTttSwfiA
Nighttime Baba Amr http://youtu.be/rJ39Cmqyon4 Khaldiyeh http://youtu.be/Hl3vxSicaHE   Insha’aat “We want SOS” http://youtu.be/Qa6lZ7DeuN0 Qoussour http://youtu.be/BoDy2ogRS18 Wa’er http://youtu.be/aElHLgA3H68 Deir Baalbah http://youtu.be/BFmIn16zeNk Bab Dreib http://youtu.be/m-0j8TdpWzU Bab Houd http://youtu.be/z_5tKXWFOVI Jouret Al-Shayah http://youtu.be/SGaG4jWhBes Karm Al-Shami http://youtu.be/YUxqo7-htwQ Malaab http://youtu.be/k-0sN5HRNAE
The Province
Qseir (AKA Qusayr): The pounding of the town continues: http://youtu.be/KHcCHR4ZfDk A jet overflew the town http://youtu.be/18DdBuz8ppY Talbisseh: the town gets pounded http://youtu.be/5oPVY6GJNQA , http://youtu.be/w0dPImu3s-4 Impact of shelling on homes http://youtu.be/ZokBPytUbtg Houleh: A funeral http://youtu.be/JEWiLl7wQag for this martyr http://youtu.be/2b2gFNl3dng Rastan: Tanks lay siege to the city http://youtu.be/RLQ0hWFBWjw Local members of the FSA take to the streets to defend the city from an impending attack by loyalist troops http://youtu.be/OS1SR4PjpIw The battle begins, defectors destroy several tanks belonging to the loyalist and manage to repel their attack http://youtu.be/iTAqKQL0P-g The aftermath of battle http://youtu.be/SO2oNlUA-Ks Wounded defector http://youtu.be/AjHa2AR86XA A member of the FSA explains what happens, and says that they have destroyed 7 BMPs http://youtu.be/uqudLcUjVbY
Nighttime Rallies Tadmor http://youtu.be/-YAtPgBKXKE Qseir http://youtu.be/TGGFrJnqnIk
Damascus
The City
Midan: a child martyr http://youtu.be/bkhF_ov9uQE Rallying has become so much ingrained in the popular culture that in the neighborhood Naher Eisheh it has become a favorite game for children http://youtu.be/zM3PRmvB52Q Naher Eisheh: nighttime protesters http://youtu.be/kyD4Kf4UiRU come under fire but remain defiant and hurl stones the loyalist security forces http://youtu.be/5AId57A7ccU , http://youtu.be/g_-a5xIKExY
Daytime Rallies Midan http://youtu.be/bLA0COr09vI
Nighttime Rallies Barzeh http://youtu.be/1lSc4px2QGU , http://youtu.be/NTBEFcxcXsc Kafar Sousseh http://youtu.be/hw6WKoXrNhY Jobar http://youtu.be/8-eFqWy6Ssc Daraya http://youtu.be/3Wmvz87u3fc Sitti Zeinab http://youtu.be/n7nIdNOEqd0
Eastern Ghoutah
Clashes took place between loyalist troops and local members of the FSA in different communities, with rebels managing to hold off the advance of loyalists into their territories. Five tanks have reportedly been destroyed, 4 in Hamouriyeh and 1 in Arbeen. The pounding of Eastern of Ghoutah can be heard from Central Damascus stripping once and for all the veneer of normality that the regime tried its best to maintain http://youtu.be/OHGgzvZdIx8 Arbeen gets pounded http://youtu.be/XoaU92sYlLs , http://youtu.be/NoBqUG6YvII , http://youtu.be/AjK91EDND1U A drone is seen flying over the neighborhood http://youtu.be/KEnj8hpSWMk Wounded defectors http://youtu.be/2VdVAzyqtXI , http://youtu.be/bPbVKAgn43A Hamouriyeh: mass funeral for one of yesterday’s martyrs http://youtu.be/7xlNvAhsEj8 , http://youtu.be/t902BsQ_xA0 But later, the local mosque comes under fire http://youtu.be/zYkhGH71GUw Targeting religious symbols continues to be a favorite tactic of the loyalists http://youtu.be/2-As63YtDc8 Kafar Batna gets pounded by tanks that invaded its streets http://youtu.be/CfSFliOnQco , http://youtu.be/zg34gOnUHzI , http://youtu.be/HQ7tkCkShNY , http://youtu.be/IrVvbpJhgug Saqba: black smoke rises over the skies of this suburb that received its fair share of pounding as well http://youtu.be/0ZCDozBRWSs CNN’s Arwa Damon was in the suburb just before the arrival of loyalist troops and produced this report http://youtu.be/Xr9GC5kqKmM Zamalka: loyalist security officers storm the suburb http://youtu.be/ofZeKLLevQ0 A martyr http://youtu.be/BIdoctkv8WE A funeral http://youtu.be/UbQl4MP38CY Douma: local FSA unit manages to repel an attack by loyalists. Loyalist on their in http://youtu.be/UMCkmvLrwwU and here they are on their out under heavy fire  http://youtu.be/8XYcsPtEfmE Leaked clip of a teenage martyr who fell on January 26 http://youtu.be/skHhhhvt-Lg Hatetet Al-Turkman: black smoke over the skies of the neighborhood as it gets pounded http://youtu.be/LVjnpZmyEDw , http://youtu.be/Qc2Vs68vbqg Treating the wounded http://youtu.be/-37MetzRlgg ,  http://youtu.be/o0x7k0tEdRQ   Ain Terma: a martyr http://youtu.be/8StOeYg4FHc
Nighttime Rallies Douma http://youtu.be/bNsNvqc1SbQ Zamalka http://youtu.be/pt4dH2AvlPg Beit Sahem http://youtu.be/9PdTqxQb5jU Harasta http://youtu.be/XljRukavOhM
Damascus South
Moadamiyeh: a funeral http://youtu.be/8ftXOVrUXlQ , http://youtu.be/0z8QGJOuAGQ , http://youtu.be/9wgj4rQQWlk , http://youtu.be/aQlXjG7cfew , http://youtu.be/zccYHQhZlxw Crackdown on funeral by loyalists left many wounded http://youtu.be/kJrEiFTn8gI A drone overflies the neighborhood during the funeral http://youtu.be/mF6lyNwfShs Loyalists patrol the streets http://youtu.be/ypcvpyFMHy4
Nighttime Rallies Qatana http://youtu.be/E8a7Yyod-nM
West (Zabadani and Wadi Barada)
Bseemah: A funeral http://youtu.be/sI4WbjXsWwM , http://youtu.be/7mBpX1Ah_No Zabadani: nighttime protesters burn Iranian flags http://youtu.be/BJOFAYtijQk
Nighttime Rallies Zabadani http://youtu.be/NLzrVuWg32c Hamah http://youtu.be/TMc_qBuG1CM
North (The Qalamoun Region )
Rankous: the pounding of the town continues http://youtu.be/dAIGLRZbwiU  Most of the 25,000 inhabitants have left, leaving less than 50 family behind and, of course, the local FSA unit. Casualty estimates vary, but the 2-day total is put around 40. We are told that journalists from NY Times have paid a visit to the town recently and had to be smuggled out.
Nighttime Rallies Yabroud http://youtu.be/Syn5V2N64-Q , http://youtu.be/0GOj6RzDgrU Dmeir http://youtu.be/Sart5qETB_g Aqrabah http://youtu.be/kmPNmy6Zi5E
Hama
The City
Hamidiyeh: martyrs http://youtu.be/hVJK-GqoGP0 and loyalists http://youtu.be/ZZft7NzysuY
Daytime Rallies Al-Karameh http://youtu.be/zIkfvLXQMp8 Sawa’iq http://youtu.be/XYlTs_vs-1Y
Nighttime Rallies Janoub Al-Malaab http://youtu.be/9N7YjKbMk8g
The Province
Khattab: a funeral http://youtu.be/EUCYj04bd_o Madeeq: A child martyr http://youtu.be/ABkNvEmy2zk  , http://youtu.be/jCnjJgzqMQI A father’s grief http://youtu.be/D3rlRd6ZxI4
Daytime Rallies Taybat Al-Imam http://youtu.be/jlYeqROUZxA
Idlib
Saraqib: the city comes under automatic gunfire from armored vehicles at night http://youtu.be/HreV-R1Ii7g Qah: a martyred defector http://youtu.be/LTdMA_Rx5TA His funeral http://youtu.be/WUSluMD4xbM , http://youtu.be/-TBpP4WqXnQ Mastoumeh: a martyr http://youtu.be/oysTOFcu2XE Khan Shaikhoon gets pounded again http://youtu.be/VUFpld2z3Do Kafar Takhareem: locals hold a rally under the protection of the local FSA unit http://youtu.be/KxAUNOF9zDA Urm Al-Joz: funeral for a defector http://youtu.be/8CGUl_o-QlE
Daytime Rallies Kafroumah http://youtu.be/RHtX3a1r0YY
Nighttime Rallies Taftanaz http://youtu.be/4eV54A1bp1Q  Idlib City http://youtu.be/So7ZJ_WQrt0 Binnish http://youtu.be/bK3Gi0pGkUQ
Deraa/Hauran
Deraa City
Nighttime Rallies Al-Balad http://youtu.be/RhwzOAOEGAE Al-Kashif http://youtu.be/tVegEvzNpGk Mahatah http://youtu.be/xsfT7Zu51iY
Hauran Province
Tafas: a child martyr http://youtu.be/t-za1LIYNLI his funeral http://youtu.be/Sujmt0pOqLc Nahteh: a little girl is hit by a shrapnel http://youtu.be/L8b2H6wgo-M
Rallies Tseelo http://youtu.be/Io10Ua2WOUU
Nighttime Rallies Hraak http://youtu.be/SSrFLKfpA1A Mseifrah http://youtu.be/8YLVPH73uiE Da’el http://youtu.be/UHhQ0cXmQp0 Kafar Nassej http://youtu.be/LWfAblv2L2U
Aleppo
The City
Marjeh: The crackdown on yesterday’s rally in the neighborhood that left 15 dead did not have the desired effect of intimidating locals, who took to the streets again today saluting the FSA and calling for the Assad regime. The rally began near the house of one of yesterday’s martyrs http://youtu.be/8CZRD-D1Z80 The it moved to the main streets http://youtu.be/w6yKN_R9WRc , http://youtu.be/WCICVfYUi7c , http://youtu.be/Dtn7YYxlcSA , http://youtu.be/RXuodS3i0XA , http://youtu.be/A88Tn0iN8zs Protesters paraded a donkey around as a stand-in for Assad http://youtu.be/tcgcdO62Pko Naturally, loyalists opened fire on protesters today as well http://youtu.be/dnzEvsNPZRk , http://youtu.be/MeTElsMaVA8 , http://youtu.be/tFIiDrwyoTE A martyr http://youtu.be/EpvjzBopIiA Local take to the streets again at night http://youtu.be/Hi7slCEuydk And loyalists fired at them again http://youtu.be/l-3KRryVhIQ
Aleppo Province
Daytime Rallies Tal Rif’aat http://youtu.be/ip0C8M-BuEM
Nighttime Marei http://youtu.be/1T02xRaCXqY Dar Azzah http://youtu.be/r2o-WpyGnUQ Anadan http://youtu.be/parxkiFBUXM Turkman Bareh http://youtu.be/SQbdfTylBwU Tal Rif’aat http://youtu.be/5y2NmVPHhf4 Hartaneen http://youtu.be/GjyCjEzUeRQ Kafar Nouran http://youtu.be/kXlII-rvr3I Bza’ah http://youtu.be/LVo1Jja2xms Elbab http://youtu.be/4mIpzFvGHX0 Basratoun http://youtu.be/TSMeSgosegA
Deir Ezzor
Qourieyh (January 27): a nighttime rally comes under fire http://youtu.be/l9qYPJmtBSE , http://youtu.be/4Sm5uua5qJU Then the entire town comes under intensive pounding http://youtu.be/gOHEsvhht1U , http://youtu.be/_L5hv2HY-zo An explosion ruptures the pipelines that runs near the town http://youtu.be/6PrukROd_l4 Tayaneh: intensive nighttime clashes between local FSA unit and loyalist troops http://youtu.be/4Sm5uua5qJU , http://youtu.be/rHwoE5QbD28 Deir Ezzor City: students at the College of Literature stage a rally http://youtu.be/TChHGqNZ_3o
Daytime Rallies Tayaneh http://youtu.be/1fK32joNmJ8 Jarthy http://youtu.be/JipwicCTpFM
Nighttime Rallies Khareetah http://youtu.be/1Vn271Jg940 Deir Ezzor City (Hamidiyeh) http://youtu.be/IKuuElMEAHo (Takaya Street) http://youtu.be/lJaJppJIPN8 Shouaytat http://youtu.be/7cvhU6ezfI8
Quneitrah
Mumtaneh: a funeral http://youtu.be/ha70YjJL5go , http://youtu.be/OsyYVFnpckI
Lattakia
Lattakia City: Despite heavy security measure, locals in Sleibeh neighborhood organized a mass rally, the first in months http://youtu.be/nvqYT2eVnFc , http://youtu.be/5xVF5ZaF29g , http://youtu.be/taObFIw9tY4 , http://youtu.be/Fne806MaPLM The rally was in fact a funeral for the children of a detained doctor and activist http://youtu.be/a1z0Emd3aK0 , http://youtu.be/aDobnReAdUI Others expressed themselves within the relative safety of the Soufan Mosque http://youtu.be/d0sIKMemPUI Others took to Quwatli Street http://youtu.be/K5EG80hviaI