For all the talk about humanitarian assistance and concerns,
the wellbeing of refugees remains an afterthought for most officials working on
the Syrian crisis.
Monday
September 3, 2012
Summary
of Trends Since August 10
* The
average daily death toll across Syria has now risen to 200 martyrs, most of
whom civilians, including many children. Massacres in certain places,
especially in Damascus Suburbs, now routinely claim the lives of 50 locals and
more. On August 25, one particular heinous massacre in the Damascene Suburb of
Daraya claimed the lives of 510 locals by final count.
* Summary
executions by pro-Assad militias operating in and around restive towns and
suburbs occur daily and seem part of a systematic effort to subdue rebels and
drive a wedge between them and local populations. But while some criticism of
the Free Syrian Army and its tactics can occasionally be heard in local
circles, the plan seems to be faltering. As sectarian sentiments increase and
more people with scores to settle with regime militias and supporters emerge on
the scene, more local FSA brigades will likely form but will await further
influx of arms before they start operating at earnest. These new groups will
likely be more sectarian in both character and creed.
*
Pounding cities and towns using helicopter gunships and fighter jets is now a
commonplace occurrence throughout the country. But, due to a recent though
limited influx of more advanced weapons, local rebels are rising up to the
challenge. Over the last two weeks, several helicopter gunships and two fighter
jets have been downed. More significant, however, is the recent move to attack
local military airports, a trend that began in Idlib Province with attacks on
the Taftanaz and Abou Al-Zouhour Airports where a number of helicopters were
destroyed. Still, the pounding of restive towns and villages continues. Pilots often
drop barrels full of high end explosives to ensure maximum impact. Meanwhile, the
stinger missiles and MANPADs which had been sent to the rebels are still on
hold in warehouses controlled by Turkish authorities.
News
Syria
rebels appear to be targeting air bases Syria rebels reportedly capture an air base and antiaircraft
missiles in the east, apparently the latest attempt to thwart the government's
air superiority.
New
UN Syria envoy: Diplomatic solution 'nearly impossible' Lakhdar Brahimi, the new international mediator for Syria's
conflict, said searching for a solution was like "standing in front of a
brick wall."
Syrian
Minister Assails Egyptian and Turkish Leaders Syria’s top government spokesman declared Monday that the refugees
fleeing its borders were welcome back “at any time,” mocked the presidents of
Egypt and Turkey for their condemnations and called the armed opposition unfit
for negotiations.
Op-Eds
& Special Reports
Peace
in Syria: A 'very, very difficult task' Alluding to the possibility
of chemical weapons being used in Syria by Assad, Western governments say, 'We
have not ruled out any options as this crisis deepens.' In the meantime Russia,
Syria's closest ally, says Syria has no plans to use such weapons.
Bashar
al-Assad Lost The Support of Aleppo’s Wealthy When the Shelling Started Many
well-off residents of this besieged Syrian city found life good under Bashar
al-Assad’s regime. But when the government began indiscriminately attacking
rebels and residents alike, Assad’s support from Aleppo’s upper class has
evaporated, writes Mike Giglio.
Tony Badran: Bashar’s
cult of personality The Obama administration continues to insist
that Syria’s “state institutions” must be preserved. However, what the Samaha
case makes clear—by drawing a direct line from Assad’s assets in Lebanon to his
deputies in Syria—is that Assad has arrogated to himself all of the Syrian
institutions that really matter: the security establishment. In other words,
the effect of the White House’s policy is not just to preserve Alawite hegemony
in Syria, but to preserve the cult of personality that Bashar has
institutionalized—even after Bashar himself is gone.
A war artist in Syria
observes life amid the chaos When British artist George Butler
recently crossed the border from Turkey into Syria, he was greeted in the town
of Azaz by abandoned tanks and piles of rubble from war-damaged buildings. But
normal life was continuing amid the chaos, and George - under the protection of
the Syrian Free Army - started to sketch and paint watercolours of the scenes
he observed.
Syrians
fleeing war start to trickle into Europe That is raising calls for a
more focused European response to a refugee crisis that has seen over 200,000
Syrians flee to Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and, especially, Turkey. From there, a
determined, and usually richer, few press on to the EU borders, mainly into
Greece, with most hoping for asylum further north.
Syrians
at refugee camp struggle with choking sand and wretched conditions More
than 26,000 people at Zataari – two-thirds of them children – who have escaped
civil war are facing up to a harsh new life
The
FSA: how to lose support and alienate people in no time FSA leaders
should take heed that a guerilla army can only attain success if it is mindful
of its relationship to the people, because that is the only guarantor of their
continuity. They should also be completely transparent regarding their military
plans and financial concerns, so that they can defend themselves against rising
accusations of corruption. If the FSA really want to be seen as defending
Syria, it should make people feel safe thanks to its presence. Empty slogans
can't feed a hungry kid or put a roof over the heads of a displaced family.
Reports from activists based in Antakya claim that the
Turkish government has begun implementing a recent decision to relocate all
Syrian refugees in Hatay Province who refuse to stay in the assigned camps to
other provinces. The decision could affect as many 50,000 people, most of whom
women and children of rebels and activists who are playing a vital role in
delivering supplies to rebel groups in Syria. As such, the decision could have
extremely negative repercussions on the course of the Syrian Revolution.
The decision of the Turkish government, some have
speculated, seems motivated by fear that pro-Assad infiltrators embedded among
the refugees could carry out terrorist attacks in the province where many
Alawites of Syrian decent live. Recent bombings in nearby Gaziantep were blamed
by Turkish authorities on Kurdish rebel groups sponsored by the Assad regime.
Not too long ago, the Assad regime formed the Front for the liberation of
Iskandarone (Hatay), a Turkish-controlled province claimed by Syrians. Assad is
said to have previously signed a secret deal with the Turkish government
relinquishing Syria’s claim to the Province. He has obviously changed his mind.
The leader of the Front is said to have made contacts with a number of Syrian
rebel groups acting along the borders promising them amnesty and compensations
should they join his Front. Turkish authorities might have heard of this
development and seem to be concerned.
Turkish authorities, however, might have paid closer
attention to the rallies that took place on Saturday featuring thousands of
Alawites demanding expulsion of Syrian refugees. Pro-Assad infiltrators seem to
have embedded themselves in a more welcoming community than the refugees.
Meanwhile, frustration stemming from the decision to
relocate refugees could actually backfire and encourage some rebels to accept
the offer extended by the Front. One way or another, Turkey is being drawn into
the Syrian conflict. The only choice, it seems, is whether Turkish authorities
want the conflict to play out mostly on their territory, or on Syrian
territories. So far, they don’t seem to be getting it.
For now, some families of rebels have been given hours to
leave Hatay. Also, some refugee camps that straddle the borders came under
heavy pounding earlier on Monday, soon after Syrian TV called on refugees to
return home.
Video Highlights
Rural Damascus – summary executions take place on a daily basis:
Kafar Batna http://youtu.be/HHrYAlcpRK8
Arbeen http://youtu.be/sANnjxmu6DE
Sometimes bodies are burnt, whether after death or alive, it’s hard to tell, Zamalka
http://youtu.be/P2ID3xfhz48 Elsewhere,
the pounding keeps claiming lives: Jobar http://youtu.be/OW6RHBnb2IQ
Aleppo City – the pounding of restive suburbs continues: Al-Itha’a
http://youtu.be/-9gCK8JBE68
Aleppo Province, El-Bab: fighter jets drop barrels full of explosives
on the town http://youtu.be/IbdDag-fkuY
People search the rubble for victims http://youtu.be/jbqDdxrxHI0
Deir Ezzor City: people pull the dead from under the rubble http://youtu.be/qH6A434ZMz0
Homs City: the pounding of the old neighborhoods continues http://youtu.be/NKCoLiOZSBE , http://youtu.be/WcRXv3G0rf8
Daraa, Tafas: summary executions http://youtu.be/d99rm6-TAdg , http://youtu.be/dRMACiJw2PY , http://youtu.be/Qg8eEsWfpLo , http://youtu.be/QBiC6mqccwM
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