Sunday, February 12, 2012

Civil War In Syria -- News Updates February 12, 2012



Syrian Rebels Plot Their Next Moves: A TIME Exclusive -- Time Magazine

While the civil war in Syria has been, for the most part, fearsomely asymmetrical to the regime's advantage, the government has been hit by shadowy elements, including the assassination of a general in Damascus on Saturday and bombings in the commercial center of Aleppo a day before. Still, the loosely organized anti-regime forces that go under the name Free Syrian Army are struggling to forge a united front — or even a set of priorities and tactics. TIME's Rania Abouzeid sat in on a meeting in Turkey of rebels from northern Syria as they tried to plot out a campaign, even as the regime is believed to be mining the border and massing troops in the area.

The former captain quickly peeled off his dripping wet black jacket, took off his shoes and made his way toward the sobya — a stove that acts as a heater — a few steps in from the door, to dry off. His deputy, a sergeant, hung up his military jacket, the only part of his uniform he still wore, before removing his drenched socks and huddling near the stove. The two defectors had just crossed the mountainous frontier from Syria to Turkey to attend the meeting that was about to take place. "The device you made doesn't work," the captain told Abu Hikmat, a bearded, shaggy-haired man in a black ivy cap who, like most of the other men in the room, was seated on a thin mattress on the floor. "What? Really? Let's talk later," Abu Hikmat says.

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More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Updates On Syria -- Yahoo News

Syria eases bombardment of Homs -- The Guardian
Homs from the frontline: never-ending shelling and a child buried in the night -- The Guardian
Syrian Troops Move Into Several Districts in Homs -- Voice of America
Activist: Syrian army uses human shields on tanks -- CNN
Signs Syrian Opposition Making Inroads in Damascus -- New York Times/AP
Syrian General Is Killed by Gunmen in Damascus Ambush -- New York Times
Top general assassinated in Damascus -- Washington Post
Report: Syrian general gunned down in Damascus -- CNN
Syrian Forces Shell Homs Ahead of Arab Meeting -- New York Times/Reuters
Haaretz exclusive: Syria documents show Iran helping Assad to sidestep sanctions -- Haaretz

Arab bloc to request Syria peacekeeping force -- Al Jazeera
Arab states call to send UN peacekeepers to Syria -- Albawaba
Arabs to end Syrian mission, seek U.N. force: draft -- Reuters
Arabs redouble bid to end Syria conflict -- Reuters
Arab League wants UN to form joint Syria force -- MSNBC
Head of Arab League Syria mission quits -- Financial Times
Arabs mull contacts with Syria opposition -- Yahoo News/AFP
Syria expels ambassadors of Tunisia, Libya -- Yahoo News/ANI

Al-Qaeda leader backs Syrian revolt against President Assad
-- The Telegraph
Al-Qaida Leader Voices Support for Syrian Uprising -- Voice of America
Al Qaeda urges Muslims to help Syria rebels -- CBS/AP
Al-Qaida leader Zawahiri urges Muslim support for Syrian uprising -- The Guardian

Jihadist forums say fighters going to Syria -- Asia One
Jihadists, weapons 'moving from Iraq to Syria' -- Yahoo News/AFP

The perils of everyday life in volatile Syria -- CNN
Weapons, recognition next for Syria opposition? -- Khallej Times/AFP
Syria's Civil War -- National Journal
Death and defiance in Damascus -- Aijaz Z. Syed, Arab News
Reasons for Obama to aid Syria – other than moral ones -- Christian Science Monitor editorial

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