Civil War In Syria -- News Updates July 20, 2012

Foes Trade Blows In Battle For Damascus -- Wall Street Journal

MASNAA, Lebanon—Syrian government forces routed rebels from several Damascus neighborhoods on Friday but rebels struck back in others, as fears of a protracted fight drove some well-to-do supporters of the Assad regime from the capital.

Around 20,000 people have entered Lebanon through this main border crossing since Wednesday, when a rebel bombing struck a meeting of senior regime officials, Lebanese customs officers said. Most of the refugees were families from Damascus, about 25 miles to the east.

"The blood that has been spilled in Damascus has scared people," said a native of the capital in her 50s, in Masnaa on Friday. "We do not want to become another Iraq."

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More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria crisis: UN mission given 30 day extension - Friday 20 July 2012 -- The Guardian
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Streaming coverage on Syria -- Wall Street Journal
Live: Unrest in Syria -- Washington Post

Syrian army launches major assault to push rebels out of Damascus -- National Post/AFP
Syrian forces fight back as thousands flee capital -- The Telegraph
Fighting embroils Syria; U.N. observers get more time -- CNN
Damascus battle: Rebel operation 'Damascus Volcano and Syrian Earthquake' -- Global Post
Syria Rebels Fight for Border Posts, UN Recalls Observers -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Thousands flee as Syrian rebels wage guerrilla war -- Stars and Stripes/AP
Another three generals flee Syria -- The Australian/AFP

Rebels forming unit to secure chemical weapons site -- The Telegraph
U.S. talking to Israel and others about Syria's chemical weapons -- CNN
Syrian Regime Responsible for Chemical Stockpile Security, Official Says -- US Department of Defense

Damascus chaos strikes fear in Assad's Alawite bastion -- Reuters
Syria bombing: security chief becomes fourth Assad aide to die -- The Telegraph
Funeral held for Syria officials killed in bombing -- Reuters

UN votes to extend Syria observer mission -- BBC
U.N. approves 30-day extension for Syria monitors -- Reuters
UN Security Council Extends Observer Mission in Syria -- Voice of America
Syrian officer: Obama 'doesn't care' -- Politico
Russia Could Lose Last Arab Ally as Assad Regime Teeters -- Henry Meyer, Bloomberg Businessweek
Syria: Russian diplomat claims Assad 'ready to give up power' -- The Telegraph

As Chaos Grows in Syria, Worries Grow on the Sidelines -- Thomas Erdbrink and Rod Nordland, New York Times
Bashar al-Assad: fight or flight? -- Ian Black, The Guardian
How "Damascus Volcano" erupted in Assad's stronghold -- Andrew Osborn, Reuters
Syria: Assad regime starts to unravel -- Luke Harding in Beirut and Ian Black, The Guardian
In Rebel Syria: Celebrating Assad’s Departure–Even Though He’s Still Staying -- Time
Syria’s Next Act -- Eli Lake, Daily Beast
Analysis: Assad's grip on Syria has become tenuous -- Boston.com/AP
Assad's Final Warning -- Andrew J. Tabler, Foreign Policy