PHOTO: Scene of Monday’s crash of Syrian warplane on Ariha in Idlib Province
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- Video: Latest Airstrikes as Hezbollah-Regime Offensive Against Zabadani Enters 2nd Month
- Free Syrian Army — Indirect Negotiations for Release of Rebels Linked to US Training
TUESDAY FEATURE
The Local Coordination Committees report the deaths of almost 100 people across Syria on Monday, amid both regime shelling and the crash of a warplane on a crowded vegetable market.
The LCC said 96 deaths had been verified, including 10 children and nine women. At least 28 of those killed were in the market in Ariha, south of Idlib, in northwest Syria.
Another 55 people were injured by the crash of the Russian-made MiG-21bis jet. Pro-opposition activists said the crash was probably due to a technical error.
Aftermath of the crash (Warning — Graphic Images):
Others died in Idlib Province from the shelling of several towns. There were 18 deaths in Aleppo Province, 13 in Hama Province, and 12 in Damascus and its suburbs from regime attacks.
Casualties had fallen sharply in Syria in recent days because of a decrease in the Syrian military’s barrel-bombing. The exact reason is unclear: speculation includes damage to the regime’s main factory for bomb production in Safira, near Aleppo city, from an attack last week; Turkish aerial intervention in northern Syria; and the military’s focus on the Idlib-Hama corridor, where it is carrying a massive bombardment to counter a rebel offensive.
See Syria Daily, August 3: Latest Battles in Northwest — Who’s Winning in the Idlib-Hama Corridor?
Video: Latest Airstrikes as Hezbollah-Regime Offensive Against Zabadani Enters 2nd Month
Footage of regime airstrikes on Zabadani, 31 km (19 miles) northwest of Damascus:
Hezbollah and Syrian forces began their attempt to take Zabadani, the first town captured by the Free Syrian Army, on July 3. Since then, State media and pro-Assad outlets have put out daily declarations of advances near the town center; however, rebel resistance — claiming heavy casualties among the attackers — has continued.
See See Syria Daily, July 18: Rebels Still Holding Out in Zabadani
Free Syrian Army — Indirect Negotiations for Release of Rebels Linked to US Training
The Free Syrian Army has denied reports that it is negotiating directly with the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra for the release of rebels from a unit including the first US-trained fighters. However, it said there are contacts through “intermediaries”.
Last Wednesday, Jabhat al-Nusra — retaliating for American bombing of its positions — kidnapped Colonel Nadim Hassan, the commander of the FSA’s 30th Division, and up to 17 of its troops. Two days later, al-Nusra attacked the headquarters of the 30th Division, which hosted the 54 US-trained rebels who entered Syria early last week, killing five soldiers, injuring 18, and capturing others.
See Syria Daily, August 1: US War with Jabhat al-Nusra Escalates
General Ahmed Barre, the FSA’s Chief of Staff, denied the direct talks but continued, “There aer local intermediaries from other Islamic factions and moderate rebel factions who are talking with the leaders of Jabhat al-Nusra.”
Meanwhile, Jabhat al-Nusra has reportedly raided the Atmeh refugee camp, in northwest Syria near the Turkish border, searching for other members of the US-trained group.
Mujahid al-Sham, a prominent Syrian blogger, said al-Nusra arrested 20 men on charges of belonging to the 30th Division 30 and wounded several people, including women, with gunfire.
(Reporting by Abdurahman Harkoush)
