Renewed bloodshed in Homs as Syrian military launch attack

After being declared ‘secured’ by the Syrian military, violence erupted in Homs on Wednesday as it became the target of renewed bombardment and shelling. As many as 79 Syrians are believed to be dead throughout Syria out of which 42 are from Homs. It is not yet clear what caused the sudden flare up of clash between the Syrian forces and the rebels on Wednesday.

Rumor is that, military have used tanks and helicopters to kick out the rebels from their once strong hold, Homs. More and more Sunni families are abandoning their homes for fear of pro-government groups called ‘Shabiha’. It is being claimed that the Syrian armed forces have killed at least 25 people in the Khaldiya district where refugees from war-torn neighborhoods have taken shelter. It is said that families trying to flee Baba Amr are also becoming the target of attack.

For over one year Homs has been the heartland of anti-government revolution in Syria. The year-long Syrian uprising has taken the death toll to more than 8000, though unofficially it is believed to be above 10,000. The UN-Arab League special ambassador, Mr. Kofi Anna, has been trying to broker a peace plan with the Bashar-Al-Asaad government and the opposition. He is also trying to convince the present government for unfettered human-aid access.

Syrian government keep Red Cross Aid from reaching Baba Amr

News are coming out that Red Cross convoy carrying food and medical help for Baba Amr has been refused entry on Friday despite official permission. As the Red Cross trucks are kept waiting in Homes, the devastated people of Baba Amr are forced to spend one more day without basic necessities. This is the day after the Syrian forces gained an overwhelming victory over the rebels in Baba Amr. As per the latest news, no official explanation has been given from the government of Syria for the unusual restriction on the aid agencies.

Incidentally, this is the fourth time in the last fortnight that the International Red Cross together with the Red Crescent Society are sending aid convoy to Syria. They have set up 10 distribution points throughout the country. But the sudden detention of aid trucks in Homes has delayed help to reach to victims whose lives have been caught between the regime's military forces and the rebels since the crisis in Syria began.

Despite threats of crack down by the Syrian forces, several protests march erupted throughout the country on Friday. Areas in Central Damascus and its suburbs have been reported to be cordoned off heavily by Syrian forces restricting movements. There has been unconfirmed death of at least 75 people all over the country.

It is rumored that while aid convoy is waiting outside Baba Amr, Syrian security forces are carrying out house-to-house search, arbitrarily detaining, torturing and even killing civilians. But, Syrian ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, has categorically denied such allegations saying that his country is being slandered based on “hearsay.”

Baba Amr surrendered to Syrian military as rebels retreat

Baba Amr district of Homes, the center of rebel uprising against the President Bashar-Al-Asaad regime, finally fell in the hands of nations’s military on Thursday. After taking in heavy artilleries and sniper fires from powerful Syrian troops for almost a month, the day saw heavily outnumbered and exhausted rebel forces declaring “tactical retreat” from their stronghold.

For the Syrian regime, Thursday’s rebel retreat and the overwhelming victory for its troops in Baba Amr would open up possibilities of similar lethal attacks in other rebel-dominated areas, particularly Hamas or, perhaps, Idlib Province. This may not crush all the rebel hotspots in Syria. But, it is believed, such attacks would halt rebel forces and buy time for the regime to push for superficial changes in its political power.

On the other hand, pressure is intensifying on Bashar-Al-Asaad regime to declare cease-fire. China and Russia, who were earlier against intervention, have aligned with the United States, France and other nations demanding humanitarian access in Syria. The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva have also requested the regime to allow access in the affected areas with food and other help.

It has been confirmed that The International Red Cross and Syrian Red Crescent would reach with food and medical help on Friday. Right now, nearly a month-long captivity has left the people of Baba Amr with acute shortage of water, food and medical supplies. Evacuation of women, children and the wounded is also going to be a top priority for the aid providers.