Shelling
Intensified on Douma and Homs
kl:11,41 18|06|2012 Sawtalkurd
Top Stories
- The military campaign against Homs and the suburbs of Damascus intensified today as forces targeted Talbiseh, Ibel, Qasir, Homs, Douma, Housh Arab, Zabadani and Damir.
- The regime tightened its security grip on the province of Tartous to protect the Russian port.
- Assad met up with the new members of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce to improve bilateral relations.
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Summary of Events
The military campaign against Homs and the suburbs of Damascus intensified today as forces targeted Talbiseh, Ibel, Qasir, Homs, Douma, Housh Arab, Zabadani and Damir. The Syrian army escalated the shelling of residential areas with artillery and missiles. The intensification came about after Assad gave revolting areas 48 hours to end all revolutionary activities.
The regime tightened its security grip on the city of Banyas and surrounding areas in the province of Tartous, as its forces deployed additional checkpoints and scrutinised passersby. This came after international media outlets announced that Russia is deploying more troops at the port Tartous, as the Free Syrian Army announced its intention to target them.
Regime forces killed at least 60 today; 17 in Homs, 15 in the suburbs of Damascus as the Syrian army escalated its aggressive attack, and 11 in the province of Hama as a result of the shelling of Sahl Ghab and Jabal Shahshabo and during the raid of Naser village when five civilians were field executed.
Meanwhile, the regime’s violations continued across the country as its forces shelled the villages of Akko, Kabbani, Kinda and Ta’ouma in the province of Latakia, the city of Daraa and town of Bosr Sham in the province of Daraa, and the city of Boukamal in the province of Deir Azzour. Regime forces also threatened the residents of Tal Nabi Ayyoub area in the province of Idlib with massacres if they did not hand in recently defected soldiers.
Assad met up with the new members of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce to improve bilateral relations. The regime has been relying more on the support of local industrialists due to the failing economy, and has also been in fear of their potential revolt after the recent strikes in Damascus.