Liberating the land but not the air does not a victory make.
Unless rebels are able to neutralize Assad’s airpower the mere possibility of
organizing local governments is rendered meaningless, and all hopes for transitioning
beyond the current mayhem are dashed. This is not something that the rebels can
accomplish without external support. The international community needs to move
beyond symbolic gestures in its dealings with the Syrian opposition. The
Russians, by their own admission, are definitely providing much more than
symbolic support to Assad. The rebels deserve no less from their international sympathizers.
Saturday November
17, 2012
Today’s
Death Toll: 136, including 3 women and 6 children: 63 in
Damascus and suburbs (including 7 in Harasta), 30 in Aleppo, 21 in Deir Ezzor,
11 in Idlib, 4 in Homs, 2 in Daraa, and 2 in Hama Points
of Random Shelling: 153:
91 by artillery, 44 by mortar, and 20 by missiles. Regime warplanes conducted
aerial raids in 13 regions and released barrel bombs in Mayadeen (Deir Ezzor)
and Daret Azzah (Aleppo). They also used vacuum bombs in 5 areas, and poison
gas bombs in Harasta in Damascus Suburbs. Clashes:
82. Developments:
Rebels attacked a convoy of tanks on its way to Eastern Bowaida in Damacus
Suburbs. They also attacked the checkpoint in Hirak, Daraa, and in the Shaghour
and Sina’a checkpoints in Damascus. In Aleppo, rebels stormed the agricultural
school that had been transformed into a barracks by regime forces; they also stormed
the 46th regiment that had been bombing areas in Aleppo countryside (LCC).
News
Obama
urged to consider no-fly zone in Syria Key U.S. Senators, including an
influential Democrat are calling on President Barack Obama to consider
establishing a no-fly zone in Syria.
Special
Reports
Given Syria’s trade ties with Iraq, a
post-Assad regime would be more likely to take on a role as mediator, advisor
in Iraqi politics.
Syrian doctors routinely treat the war
injured, knowing that if they are caught doing this they may be tortured to
death by the Assad regime’s security services.
Mapping
Syria's armed opposition: A sketch of rebel units, leaders
and organizations.
Video Highlights
Rebels take control of Al-Hamdan Airport in Alboukamal, Deir Ezzor
Province http://youtu.be/XXzpJ2Oud8Y
, http://youtu.be/7uGlq_GPSqM , http://youtu.be/dijsOT-UXDk , http://youtu.be/kaY3GErC2VA , http://youtu.be/MlB02lt4Yqs Spoils of
war http://youtu.be/gwXAUBab-dY
Summary executions in Bahdaliyeh, Damascus Suburbs http://youtu.be/6ChUFEX_6DY
A child among the dead in Jisreen http://youtu.be/cPiUSekZe68 Aerial
bombardments claim more victims in Harasta http://youtu.be/gsUU7dYF3jI More aerial
bombardment of Eastern Ghoutah Region: Jisreen http://youtu.be/0kdYeWcn5ug Hamouriyeh
http://youtu.be/6EZ3IU3h3lY
Transporting the victims of the pounding in Haydariyeh, Aleppo
City http://youtu.be/MJljPpueiLo , http://youtu.be/4-8_oalLe1s , http://youtu.be/Mkik2sIohfY , http://youtu.be/giKBfuDAa38
The Agricultural school was stormed by rebels. Is that the one west of the highway south of Aleppo? Can any one provide more info please?
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