lATEST: Free Syrian Army Commander Killed In Combat In Tafas, Daraa Province
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Spotlight: “Regime Attempted Ground Invasion Of Moadamiyyah Via Humanitarian Route”
Video Analysis: The Story of Moadamiyyat Ash Sham — Does Anyone Care?
Political Round-Up: Assad Proclaims “New International Balance” in His Favor
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SUMMARY: Syria’s State news agency SANA claims 37 people were killed and dozens injured, many of them critically, after an insurgent detonated a truck bomb on the outskirts of Hama on Sunday.
An “official source” said the truck, loaded with 1.5 tons of explosives, blew up at the eastern entrance of Hama amid heavy traffic.
State media said the toll was heightened because another truck filled with gas cylinders for domestic use was passing as the explosion occurred, setting off another blast.
The truck bomb, apparently carried out by Islamist faction Jabhat Al Nusra, targeted the regme-controlled Mukannana checkpoint in Hama, Syria’s fourth-largest city. The bomber has been named as Abu Haitham al Ansari.
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Free Syrian Army Commander Killed In Combat In Tafas, Daraa Province
Activists report that a prominent Free Syrian Army Commander, Yasser Al Abboud, has been killed in clashes with regime troops in the town of Tafas in Daraa Province.
Tafas has been the scene of intense clashes over the past few weeks, with regime forces concentrating their fire power — including air strikes — on the town, seen as the gateway to Daraa city, where the regime has taken losses, significantly the Daraa-Ramtha border crossing to Jordan.
Abboud was known for being one of the first high-ranking Syrian Arab Army officials to defect to the Free Syrian Army.
Abboud’s funeral in Daraa:
Civilians In Moadamiyyat Ash Sham Write An Open Letter To The World
Civilians in the besieged town of Moadamiyyat Ash Sham have written an open letter to the world about the increasingly desperate humanitarian situation in the town. Extracts are below, but the full text of the letter is available on the Syrian National Coalition’s website here.
We have been under siege for over a year. Forces of the criminal tyrant Assad, who has lost all legitimacy a long time ago, have been trying to enter the city every day. We appeal to your sense of humanity not to forget us.
For nearly one year, the city of Muadamiyah has been under siege with no access to food, electricity, medicine, communications, and fuel. We have been hit by rockets, artillery shells, napalm, white phosphorous, and chemical weapons. Hundreds of Muadamiyah’s men, women and children have died, and thousands have been injured. We can only pray for the wounded, as we do not have access to medicine, nor to the means to provide medical care. All we have are a few bullets to repel those who want to slaughter our families with knives and burn our children alive.
Nearly 90% of neighborhoods in Muadamiyah are nearly entirely destroyed. Around 11,780 people are surviving on leaves of trees and other inedible plants. Only three doctors operate our only field hospital. Nearly 1800 people are wounded but have no access to medical care. Today, the lack of proper medical equipment puts the lives of 20 individuals, who need blood transfusions, at grave peril.
Smoke Rises From Moadamiyyat Ash Sham As Regime Shells Industrial Area
Regime forces continue to bombard the besieged West Ghouta town of Moadamiyyat Ash Sham on Monday morning, with footage filmed today showing smoke rising from the town’s industrial zone. Regime ground troops attempted an invasion over the weekend but so far have been repelled by Free Syrian Army fighters.
Casualties
The Local Coordination Committees claim 71 people were killed on Sunday, including 21 in Damascus and its Suburbs, 16 in Aleppo Province, and 14 in Hama Province.
The figure does not appear to include the dead from Sunday’s suicide bombing of a regime checkpoint near Hama.
The Violations Documentation Center records that 76,285 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in March 2011. Of the dead, 56,819 are civilians.
