The United Nations agency that helps refugees has reported that over 200,000 people have now fled the civil war in Syria.
Over 30,000 have fled to Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the last week.
The recent mass exodus is attributed to the increase in government attacks on cities believed to be strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. Activists reported that on Thursday tanks from the government reached the center of Damascus suburb Darayya killing 20 people along the way. Continue reading
Syrian government forces used heavy artillery and helicopter attacks on rebel positions to kill 41 people in attacks around Damascus throughout Wednesday. The military also shelled rebel areas of Aleppo but no death tolls have been reported for that city.
The battle in Aleppo has been raging for a month and human rights group Amnesty International have reported that civilians are facing a “horrific level” of violence in the city. Continue reading
Activists report that 60 bodies have been found just outside of Damascus burned beyond recognition with their hands bound behind their back. The bodies were discovered in a trash dump outside Qatana, a Damascus suburb.
The announcement of the massacre came as the United Nations announced an end to its observer mission. Continue reading
United Nations investigators have concluded the massacre of civilians in Houla, Syria was conducted by government troops and militia connected to the Syrian government.
The UN report states that the violations were authorized by the highest levels of the Syrian government.
In the May 2012 massacre, 108 civilians were killed. As the report was released, at least 30 people were killed when Syrian government warplanes attacked the town of Azaz. Continue reading
The battles between government forces and the Free Syrian Army are gaining intensity as neighborhoods in the city exchange control multiple times in the same day.
The Salah al-Din part of the city, considered a strategic district by both sides, was reported to be captured by government forces but a later report said the FSA recaptured the area. Continue reading
The UN General Assembly is taking the rare step of condemning the UN Security Council for not taking action in the Syrian civil war. The Assembly is trying to pressure the Security Council to intervene in the war which has left over 20,000 dead.
The action follows yesterday’s resignation of Kofi Annan as special envoy for the UN and the Arab League. Analysts believe the resignation shows that the diplomatic and political process has failed in the nation. Continue reading
Kofi Annan, who has championed peace plans and tried to bring a diplomatic solution to the civil war in Syria, has resigned as the UN and Arab League special envoy to the country.
The news comes as Syrian rebels in Aleppo are hammering a military airfield. The rebels have taken tanks and other heavy machinery from the military after battles and are now putting them toward their offensive. Continue reading
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised his soldiers for taking on what he called “armed terrorist gangs” and said that the current battles between his forces and rebels will determine the fate of the country.
Al-Assad did not appear in public to deliver the statement himself but released a written declaration. Al-Assad has not appeared in public in two weeks. Continue reading
The government offensive in Aleppo entered the fourth day with Syria’s state run TV stating the government has inflicted “heavy losses” on what they term as “terrorist groups.” The Free Syrian Army is denying the validity of the claims and the gains that the government has taken back neighborhoods within the city.
Rebels report that helicopter gunships have increased their assaults on the city and that heavy shelling is taking place in areas that contain civilians. Fighting also increased near the headquarters of the Air Force Intelligence agency. Continue reading
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, is calling for the world to take action to stop the “slaughter” in Syria caused by the country’s civil war.
The plea from the UN head came as reports came from Damascus of 23 people killed in a massacre in the Qaboun neighborhood. The reports from Damascus were released after the government positioned forces around the city of Aleppo. Continue reading
