LATEST: Opposition Launches #SaveAleppo Campaign
The Syrian military is trying to hold a key airbase in northern Syria, withstanding days of attacks by the Islamic State and inflicting casualties on the jihadists.
The Islamic State surrounded Tabqa Airbase, the regime’s last major position in Raqqa Province after the jihadists overran other military facilities, and launched its assault earlier this week.
The number of casualties is unknown, but local activists of the Raqqa Media Center, confirmed that Abu Moussa, who appeared in a recent documentary about the Islamic State, and another media activist, Abu Abdullah al-Ansari, were killed.
Syrian State media broke its silence on the Islamic State’s offensive citing a “military source” to deny the jihadists had entered the base, as it proclaimed that “large numbers of terrorists were wiped out”. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar and the pro-regime Al-Mayadeen TV, both based in Beirut, asserted that more than 150 jihadists were slain.
The Islamic State launched its assault with three suicide bombs. Later photographs claimed that the jihadists had taken one of the gates of the base.
The Syrian military hit back with up to 122 sorties against the Islamic State last weekend, including 26 on the jihadists’ buildings in Raqqa City. Reports also claim that missiles have been fired on targets near Tabqa to hold back the attackers.
With civilians under daily bombardment from regime warplanes and insurgents trying to hold onto the eastern half on Aleppo while facing shortages of weapons and ammunition, the Free Syrian Army launched the #SaveAleppo campaign on social media:
GRAPHIC: #Aleppo over the past 3 months has faced constant regime bombing all for our call for freedom #SaveAleppo pic.twitter.com/bcbVHq9lxC
— Hussam Al Marie (@HussamAlMarie) August 22, 2014
1000s of innocent civilians have died as Assad collectively punishes a city for wanting 2 be free #Aleppo #SaveAleppo pic.twitter.com/zc8PdRtWbc
— Hussam Al Marie (@HussamAlMarie) August 22, 2014
268 children died under regime barrel bombs in #Aleppo during only the last 3 months. Save who's left.
#SaveAleppo pic.twitter.com/D3NKgYLINh
— Hussam Al Marie (@HussamAlMarie) August 22, 2014
Kafranbel Protest Remembers 1400 Killed by Chemical Weapons…& 10,000s “Killed by Barrel Bombs & Knives”
A large protest in Kafranbel in northwest Syria has defied the threat of regime airstrikes:
UN: At Least 191,000 Killed, But Toll Could Be Far Higher
The UN’s human rights office has conservatively put the death toll in Syria’s 41-month conflict at 191,000, but said the figure could be much higher.
The UN’s Human Rights Data Analysis Group said the toll had more than doubled from the 92,901 cited a year ago.
“Tragically, it is probably an underestimate of the real total number of people killed during the first three years of this murderous conflict,” Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.
The report is confined to counting individuals identified by name, along with the date and location of their death, using data from five organizations.
The toll does not include nearly 52,000 deaths that were recorded but lacked sufficient detail.
The UN stopped regular updates on casualty figures in early 2013, citing difficulties in verification.
