Civil War In Syria -- News Updates July 17, 2012

Demonstrators protest against President Assad in Damascus Photo: REUTERS

Syria: Heavy Gunfire In The Heart Of Damascus In Third Day Of Fighting In Syrian Capital -- The Telegraph

Fighting intensifies in Damascus where military have deployed helicopters and tanks as rebel forces mount all-out assault on the capital.

Rebel forces say they have started an assault called Operation Damascus Volcano.

The third day of fighting in the capital saw heavy machinegun fire around Sabaa Bahrat square in central Damascus on Tuesday, witnesses reported.

"Machinegun fire was heard in the Sabaa Bahrat square, and members of the security forces, armed with Kalashnikovs, ran across the square," site of the country's Central Bank, one witness said.

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More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria crisis: Damascus clashes continue - Tuesday 17 July 2012 -- The Guardian
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera

Syria fighting rages in capital, Russia pressed -- Reuters
Syria unrest: Reports of heavy fighting around Damascus -- BBC
Clashes in Damascus Bring Fight Close to Seat of Power -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Rebels launch battle to 'liberate' Syrian capital -- Daily Star/AFP
Intense fighting rocks Syrian capital -- Washington Post
Syrian rebels step up assault -- Sydney Morning Herald
Violence rages in the Syrian capital -- Al Jazeera
Syrian soldiers jump through flaming hoops as helicopters fly over capital -- CNN
Syria uses helicopters to battle rebels in capital -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
Syrian rebels say shot down helicopter over Damascus -- Reuters
Syria rebels claim to have shot down army helicopter -- FOX News
Syrian rebels 'shoot down' helicopter in Damascus -- AFP

Putin, Annan Meet on Syria Crisis -- ABC News/AP
Russia Urges UN Compromise on Syria After Annan Talks -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Putin vows to back Annan's Syria peace efforts - -AFP
Kofi Annan visits Russia as Syria violence continues -- Deutsche Welle

Iraq tells its citizens in Syria to return home -- Reuters
Iraq’s government urges citizens in neighboring Syria to return home, escape rise in violence -- Washington Post/AP
Baghdad urges Iraqis to leave Syria -- AFP

Syria Hardens Response to Clashes in Damascus -- New York Times
Israel says Bashar losing grip on capital -- Financial Times
Syria High-level Defections Reveal Assad Weakness -- Voice of America
On Syria, who might give first – Russia or the West? -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor