August 2012-08-18, Syrian Crisis Updated

Aleppo

Severe clashes continue between Syrian Army and militants in al-Jmeilieh and al-Sukari neighborhoods of Aleppo city and anti-government activists say Syrian Army has bombed the very neighborhoods with aircrafts.

Fierce armed confrontations occur between Syrian Army and Free Army militia in al-Sakhour and Salah al-Din neighborhoods of Aleppo, where heavy weaponry and helicopters were used by Syrian Army.

According to anti-government activists, a person gets killed and another gets injured due to Syrian Army bombardments on Manbaj town of Aleppo province.

Videotape shows a wrecked building due to clashes between Syrian Army and armed militias in al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo.

Anti-government activists publish a videotape that shows gunmen of al-Fateh brigade, sniping Syrian Army soldiers on al-Neirab checkpoint of Aleppo province.

Evening demonstration initiates in Seif al-Dawleh neighborhood, with the participation of Free Army militia members.

Anti-government activists publish footage of destroyed houses, claiming to be wrecked by Syrian Army bombardments on al-Zebdia area of Aleppo city.

Damascus

Syrian Center for Documentation exclusive sources deny the news that the media said about the defection of Syrian deputy President Farouk al-Sharaa.

Clashes occurred yesterday evening between Syrian Army and militants in al-Kaboun and Barzeh neighborhoods of Damascus, after armed rebels attacked Syrian Army checkpoints.

Double anonymous source explosions appeared yester night in the northern areas and neighborhoods of Damascus. The correspondent of Syrian Center for Documentation reported that no fires or damages have been seen in the very areas.

Evening demonstration initiates in Ruken al-Din neighborhood of Damascus and get separated by Syrian security forces using forces, without recording injuries.

Syrian security forces arrest Ahmad Murabee under no specific charges in al-Shaghour neighborhood of Damascus.

Damascus Countryside

Pro-government activist: Syrian Army units shell centers for armed rebels in Yelda and Bebbila towns of Damascus countryside, where government opponents say the bombardments resulted in the death of civilians.

Syrian security forces arrest the anti-government activist, Bassam al-Basaleh, under no specific charges, on a checkpoint of al-Tal city, located in Damascus countryside.

A mortar shell was fired on a mall in Sakba city of Damascus countryside; resulted in 5 deaths of civilians.

Armed confrontations between Syrian Army and Free Army militia, continue in Bebbila, Yelda and Sbeineh towns of Damascus countryside.

Two shells have been fired on al-Assad Suburb area’s outskirts located in Damascus countryside, which resulted in material damages.

Homs

Anti-government activists: Syrian Army shells neighborhoods of Old Homs, al-Sa’en town, Talkalakh and al-Rastan areas of Homs countryside.

Armed conflicts occur between Syrian Army and Free Army militia, after the gunmen fired shells on a military checkpoint, in Talbiseh area of Homs countryside.

A shell has been fired on Hosh Hajo town of Homs countryside, what resulted in the death of Yahia al-Sheikh Hammoud and 4 other injuries.

The Free Army militia member, Muhammad al-Abed, gets killed during severe clashes with Syrian Army in al-Khalidia neighborhood of Homs city.

Government opponents: Syrian Army shells al-Houla area of Homs countryside, which resulted in 3 deaths, including Kasem Muhammad Sa’ed al-Din and Mustafa Ismael.

Sa’eed al-Rajab gets killed in Deir Ba’alba neighborhood of Homs city, where anti-government activists accuse Syrian security forces for killing him.

According to anti-government activists, bombardments occur on al-Ghanto village of Homs countryside, which resulted in one death and another injury.

Deir Al-Zour

Al-Ahrar battalion of Free Army militia attacks a Syrian Army checkpoint and destroys their tank in al-Miadeen city of Deir al-Zour province.

Severe clashes take place between Syrian Army and Free Army militia in al-Miadeen city of Deir al-Zour countryside; resulted in the death of 4 insurgents, including Mahmoud Khleif al-Balash, Jaber Khalil al-Ayesh and Saleh al-Ahmad al-Abed al-Mousa.

A mortar shell has been fired on a house in al-Bukamal city; resulted in one civilian victim.

Imad Yakoub gets killed during clashes with Syrian Army in al-Jbeileh neighborhood of Deir al-Zour city.

The leader of al-Kharita Martyrs battalion, Amin Ghafel al-She’ibi, and another gunman of the same battalion, get killed during severe clashes with Syrian Army in al-Kharita village of Deir al-Zour province.

Daraa

Anti-government activists: Syrian Army shells al-Manshia neighborhood of Daraa al-Balad.

Armed conflicts take place between Syrian Army and Free Army militia in Wa’er al-Lajat area of Daraa countryside.

Mortar shells were fired on al-Harak town of Daraa province.

A shoes factory got burned yesterday evening after firing mortar shells on it in Daraa al-Balad.

An explosive charge explodes in a school for deaf and speechless people in Daraa al-Mahata area, without resulting victims.

Muhammad Jaber al-Musalmeh of al-Sahari neighborhood of Daraa al-Mahata, gets arrested in Naseeb town of Daraa countryside.

Armed confrontations take place between Syrian Army and armed rebels in al-Harak town of Daraa countryside, what resulted in the death of Hussein Abdo Koman, Farhan Salamat, Hamzeh Kasabra and Hussein Salamat, and the arrest of others.

Demonstration initiates in Enkhil town of Daraa countryside, in which protestors raise the symbol of “support al-Harak town and affected cities”.

Edlib

Anti-government activists: Syrian Army fires mortar shells on Mare’ian and al-Maghara villages of Edlib countryside.

Syrian Army shells a den for Free Army militia in Sarakeb town of Edlib countryside; resulted in the death of the gunman Muhammad Subhi Haj Hussein.

Militants of Free Army militia, blast an explosive charge, during the passing of a Syrian Army tank, in Bab al-Hawa area of Edlib countryside.

Funeral of Muhammad Annan turns into a demonstration in Om al-Rish village of Jeser al-Shughour.

Demonstration appears during the funerals of Ahmad Murad and Aref Murad in Kafar Shalaia village of Jabal al-Zawieh area located in Edlib countryside.

Hama

Anti-government activists: bombardments occur on al-Hweijeh and al-Hawash villages of Sahel al-Ghab area located in Hama countryside; resulted in many injuries.

Syrian Army shells Jabal Shaheshbo area of Hama countryside.

Demonstration appears in al-Latamneh district of Hama. province

Lattakia

Anti-government activists post a video that shows a person claims to be Admiral Ahmad Rahal; Faculty member at the Supreme military Academy. The admiral announces his defection from the Syrian Army, and joins the Free Army militia.

Al-Raqa

Insurgents of Free Army militia slaughter Sheikh Jamaan al-Kashar al-Khafaji, his niece and his associate, after kidnaping them in Maskaneh town of Raqqa province.

Homs

Free Army militia claims responsibility for attacking military vehicles for the Syrian Army in Wadi al-Ahmar- the Red Valley, located in east Tadmor city of Homs Countryside

Clashes between the Syrian Army and Free Army militia take place in al-Husn town, located in Homs countryside, what resulted in deaths and injuries among the militias’ ranks, including Adnan al-Tayyar

Anti-government activists: Syrian Army shells al-Rastan area of Homs countryside. The bombings left deaths and injuries upon the Free Army militants and some civilians

Free Army militia raid on a checkpoint for Syrian law enforcement forces, situated in Talkalakh area in Homs countryside. The attack recorded deaths and injuries from the both sides

The two brigades of Sulman al-Faresi and Khalid Bin al-Walied, both of Free Army militia, fire shells on Malouk checkpoints of the Syrian Army, situated on Hama – Homs road in Homs countryside

Demonstrations initiate in front of al-Omari mosque in al-Waar neighborhood and in al-Malaab neighborhood of Homs city, in which the Syrian security forces dispersed without any causalities recorded. Other demonstrations occur in Talbeseh city of Homs countryside

Five shells have been fired on Talbeseh city of Homs countryside, while government opponents accuse the Syrian Army units of firing them

Media Sources: the Syrian National Reconciliation Committee has succeeded in liberating Pilot Engineer Brigadier, Haidar Khalil, who was abducted in al-Ghouta and Pilot Colonel Muhsen Habeeb who was kidnapped in al-Hajar al-Aswad of Damascus

Al-Farouk battalion militia claims responsibility for firing mortar shells on al-Zahra neighborhood, known of its pro-government residents

Edlib

Anti-government activists post a video filmed by Libyan militants and shows firing a shell near a popular Souk in Maaret al-Nouman area of Edlib countryside, what resulted in the death of two civilians

Morning demonstrations take place in towns of Maaret Hurmeh, Surmeen, al-Habait, al-Bshyriah village and Kafar Nubul district of Edlib Countryside

Armed confrontations between the Syrian Army and Free Army militia appear in Darkoush town of Jeser al-Shughour, at the checkpoint of the town’s police Station

A massive sound of an explosion, caused by firing a shell by unknowns, appear in Darkoush town of Edlib Countryside

Government opponents: Syrian Army is bombing Maaret al-Nouman area in Edlib Countryside, which resulted in 5 deaths

Radical militants attack a center for gas distribution

Unidentified gunmen attack the house of the Inspector Judge Mujahed Younes in al-Thawra neighborhood in Edlib and they had stolen his car

Damascus Countryside

Fierce clashes between the Syrian Army and the militia of Free Army occur in al-Qadam neighborhood of Damascus Countryside

Demonstrations take place in Harasta and Duma cities, and in the areas of Erbeen, Yabroud and Qudsaia of Damascus Countryside. The protestors chanted for Aleppo and for the martyr’s father and mother

Morning demonstrations occur in towns of Bebbela, Mlyha and Dair al-Asafeer of Damascus Countryside. The demonstrations initiated from the mosques after Eid al-Fitr prayers

The correspondent of Syrian Center for Documentation: Five slayed bodies have been found in a park situated in Yelda of Damascus Countryside. The 5 people were slaughtered for sectarian reasons

Two civilians and 16 insurgents have been killed amid bombardments by the Syrian Army on centers for the armed rebels situated in towns of Akraba, Yelda, Bebbela and Baiet Sahem

Unidentified people have kidnaped three girls from al-Thyabiea area on al-Sayyede Zinab road. That comes after various mutual abductions that have been occurred in the very area along the last week