LATEST: Video — Claimed Regime Chemical Attack in Harasta, Northeast of Damascus
WEDNESDAY FEATURES
- At Least 20 US-Made Anti-Tank Missiles in Hands of Insurgents — More to Come?
- Videos: Islamic State of Iraq’s “Fun Fairs” Aren’t Much Fun Anymore
- Video Analysis: A Turning Point in The Battle for Aleppo?
UPDATE 2145 GMT: The opposition Syrian National Coalition has appealed to the United Nations “to force the Assad regime to stop the indiscriminate shelling” of Homs and to implement a Security Council resolution calling on all parties to lift sieges of populated areas, allowing safe and unhindered evacuation.
More than two years after it pushed back opposition by leveling parts of Homs, regime forces may be completing the pacification of the city.
Activists reported on Monday that President Assad’s troops were moving towards the remaining areas with insurgents. They said the Syrian military was in Wadi al-Sayeh, bordering the Old City, following intense air attacks.
State TV proclaimed, “The Syrian army and the National Defence Forces have achieved key successes in the Old City of Homs,” killing “a number of terrorists”. The SANA news agency claimed advances on Jouret al-Shayah, al-Khamidiya, and Bab Hood as well as Wadi al-Sayeh.
Strikes on insurgent positions on Tuesday:
The offensive is the first push on the ground by regime forces since the capture of al-Khalidiya in summer 2013.
Only about 1,300 people, most of them fighters, are estimated to remain in the Old City and neighborhoods such as al-Wa’er.
In February, thousands of civilians were evacuated from the Old City, as the Syrian military maintained its blockade. Damascus has subsequently called on insurgents to lay down arms.
Video: Claimed Regime Chemical Attack in Harasta, Northeast of Damascus
The latest claim of a regime chemical weapons attack comes from Harasta near Damascus — a video shows victims:
Activists say that this is the latest in a series of “poison gas” attacks on Damascus suburbs, including Darayya and Jobar, over the past three weeks.
Video: Insurgents in Kafrzita Display Evidence of Regime Chemical Attacks
Insurgents in Kafrzita in Hama Province display evidence of last weekend’s regime chemical weapons attacks, with chlorine gas canisters put inside barrel bombs:
Near the end of the video, the insurgents appeal in English for the world — including the United Nations — to investigate.
See VDC Report on Regime’s Chemical Weapons Attack on Kafrzita
All4Syria reports that the chlorine canisters are of Chinese origin.
Jordanian Warplanes Destroy Vehicles Crossing from Syria
Jordanian warplanes have destroyed several vehicles trying to cross the border from Syria, a Government spokesman said on Wednesday.
A Jordanian security source said the targets appeared to have been civilian vehicles with machine guns, carrying Syrian insurgents fleeing from fighting with regime forces in southern Syria.
The Syrian military said none of its vehicles were involved in the incident.
A Jordanian army statement said several camouflaged vehicles disregarded warnings not to proceed.
Dagestan-Led Faction Opens “Creationist Sharia” School in Raqqa for Children of ISIS Fighters
A faction led by Abu Hanif, a native of Dagestan in the Russian Caucasus, has opened a kindergarten for the children of Russian-speaking fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham.
The school is in Raqqa in northern Syria, the largest city outside the Assad’s regime control.
The faction announces:
It is probably not wrong to assert that the school is the first school in the world for Russian Muslims that is fully Shariah compliant and uncontrollable by any taghut (secular leadership).
Here, we will not impose any kind of love for false gods, whether that be “Lenin”, the “homeland”, or other such heresy — like it was before almost all without exception.
In the school, there will not be the chronic poisoning of Muslims by infidels, who impose various infidel holidays like New Year or other days of various sorts of “saints”. Praise Allah, the phrase “the theory of evolution” will remain nothing more than known stupidity, which, probably, they will never even hear.
State Media Hails 15 Tons of Russian Aid
State news agency SANA reports that a Russian airplane with 15 tons of food, medicine, and medical supplies landed in the coastal city of Latakia on Monday.
The aid, provided by the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, was hailed by Latakia’s Governor and Syria’s Grand Mufti. The Governor, Ahmad Sheikh Abdul-Qader, declared that “terrorist attacks in Syria will only increase the Syrian people’s adherence to their principles until security and stability are restored thanks to the sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army”.
The Grand Mufti also visited families who had left the village of Kassab, near the Turkish border, as it was taken by insurgents at the start of their offensive in Latakia Province last month. He claimed, “Victory over terrorism is near and all locals will return to their houses thanks to the sacrifices of the army.”
