Wikipedia

2012 Homs offensive

(Redirected from February 2012 bombardment of Homs)

The 2012 Homs offensive was a Syrian Army offensive on the armed rebellion stronghold of Homs, within the scope of the Siege of Homs, beginning in early February 2012 and ending with the U.N. brokered cease fire on 14 April 2012.

2012 Homs offensive
Part of the Siege of Homs and the Early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War

Neighbourhoods in Homs under artillery bombardment (8 February 2012).
Date3 February – 14 April 2012
(2 months, 1 week and 4 days)
Location
Homs, Syria
34°43′51″N 36°42′34″E / 34.7308°N 36.7094°E / 34.7308; 36.7094
Result

Syrian Army victory

  • By March 2012, the Syrian security forces retake control of half a dozen districts, leaving them in control of 70 percent of the city[4]
Belligerents

Syrian opposition Syrian National Council

Syria Syrian Arab Republic

Supported by:
 Iran[3]
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Abdul Razzaq Tlass
Col. Ahmed Jumrek †[5]		 Gen. Fo’ad Hamoudeh
Gen. Ghassan Afif[6]             
Gen. Mohamed Maaruf[7]
Units involved
Farouq Brigades
Khalid ibn al-Walid Brigade

4th Division

  • 154th Army Regiment

1st Division

  • 46th Armoured Brigade
  • 42nd Mechanised Brigade
Strength
1,000 fighters[8] 7,000 soldiers[9]
Casualties and losses
140–200 FSA fighters killed
(opposition claim)[10]
Tens of killed[11] and 40 captured[12]
(government claim)		 38 soldiers killed[13][14][15][16]
19 captured[13][15]
700–1,000 civilians and rebels killed overall[17] (per H.R.W. and the opposition, see Deaths below for other estimates)
Note: Numbers of dead are only for the period up to the fall of the Baba Amr district

The offensive began by artillery bombardment by the Syrian armed forces in response to an attack by the Free Syrian Army on Syrian Army checkpoints on 3 February 2012, killing 10 soldiers.[13][18] Government forces then began to bombard the city using tanks, helicopters, and artillery, rockets and mortars.[19][20][21] The Syrian government has denied that the bombardment is indiscriminate and blamed "armed groups" for the civilian deaths, including the deaths of foreign journalists.[22]

Heavy shelling continued on 29 February, as the Syrian armed forces launched a ground operation to restore control of the Baba Amr neighbourhood. The Syrian government announced that the army was being sent into the area[23] and were "cleaning" it from rebel fighters, and that the operation would be over in a matter of hours.[24] At this stage, water supplies, electricity and communications were entirely cut off in the Baba Amr district according to opposition activists.[25] Heavy clashes continued throughout the day, as the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division sent in tanks and infantry.[9] Baba Amr was finally secured by the Syrian army on the morning of 1 March, as rebel forces claimed they had made a "tactical retreat" from the area, after running low on weapons and ammunition.

Background

edit
Main article: Syrian civil war

Following the killing of 10 Syrian Army soldiers at a checkpoint and the capture of another 19 soldiers by the Free Syrian Army, government forces began an artillery bombardment of the city of Homs on the night of 3 February 2012.

The operation

edit

February bombardment

edit

The bombardment began on the 30th anniversary of the Hama Massacre, a significant event for many Syrians. The Khaldiyeh neighborhood in particular was targeted when the bombardment began on 3 February, and opposition activists soon claimed that the initial attack led to over 200 deaths.[13][18] According to the opposition activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, after more than two hours of shelling, at least 217 were killed in Homs, with 138 of the deaths having occurred in Khaldiya.[21] They later raised their estimate of the death toll to over 260.[26]

Within a few days, the opposition Syrian National Council claimed the death toll had reached 416, and cited residents as saying at least 36 houses with families still inside were totally destroyed.[27] They later revised their toll down to 290 killed in that period, however.[28] According to an Al Arabiya correspondent in Homs, the district hospital was also destroyed. The correspondent claimed that at least 337 people had been killed and that over 1,300 people were injured in the shelling. However, the SNC and Al Arabiya figures were not independently confirmed and several western media outlets (including Reuters,[29] France24,[30] BBC[31] and CNN[32]) reported the death toll at around 200. The Free Syrian Army vowed to fight back with intense operations against the governments' forces and claimed to have destroyed an air intelligence building in Homs.[33] Opposition activists posted many videos depicting burning buildings and dead bodies that they said were filmed in Homs.[34][35][36] At least 30 buildings, including a hospital, were said to have been destroyed or severely damaged in the shelling.[37] According to the SOHR, 14 Syrian Army soldiers and five army defectors were also killed in the shelling and fighting in addition to the civilian deaths.[13] The Local Coordination Committees also initially claimed that the death toll was more than 200 people, saying that they were working to confirm the number of deaths.[38] They later revised their figures, confirming only 55 deaths.[39][40] On 5 February, the LCC stated that they had documented the names of 212 people that had been killed in Homs, but counted only 181 bodies.[41]

 
Artillery firing towards Homs, Syria. Smoke rising from the subsequent shelled buildings, 25 February.

At least 300 rockets struck Homs on the morning of 6 February, leading to 15 deaths,[42] with some claiming up to 50 dead,[43] and later 95 dead.[11] The FSA attempted a counter-attack against the government forces, managing to hold them at bay for a short time before they had to fall back. Two rebel fighters were killed in the fighting.[44] The assault continued on 7 February, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 40 injuries as government forces shelled the city and attempted to move into rebel-held areas.[11]

At least 47 people were killed on the morning of 8 February. Tanks were reported moving down the main thoroughfares and were poised to advance into residential areas, according to locals. The Syrian state news agency reported that an oil refinery near Homs was attacked by "armed groups."[45] On 9 February, activists said 110 people were killed in Homs by artillery shelling.[46] Another group of activists reported a toll of 57 dead.[47] On 10 February, five FSA fighters were killed in the continued shelling, including Colonel Ahmed Jumrek, who had defected from the Syrian Army.[5]

On 14 February, an FSA commander told reporters that his men had repelled a ground assault on the Bab Amr district, saying that four government tanks had been destroyed when they tried to enter the district.[48]

According to the opposition, rockets struck parts of Homs at a rate of four per minute on 18 February, the most violent bombardment for two weeks. The BBC reported shells were hitting the Homs neighborhoods of Baba Amr, Inshaat, Bayada and Khaldiya, according to opposition and human rights activists.[49] On the morning of 21 February 2012, news sources were reporting a new wave of heavy bombardment had begun,[50] killing at least 30 people.[51] An opposition member who was broadcasting live footage of the quarter of Bab Amr on the website Bambuser was killed in the fighting.[52]

American journalist Marie Colvin, working for The Sunday Times of London, was killed in Homs on 22 February during an artillery attack, along with French photographer Rémi Ochlik.[53] In her last broadcast, an interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN, Colvin accused the Syrian Army of perpetrating the "complete and utter lie that they are only targeting terrorists." Describing what was happening as "absolutely sickening", Colvin said: "The Syrian army is simply shelling a city of cold, starving civilians." Colvin, who had lost an eye to shrapnel in Sri Lanka and had covered conflicts in Chechnya, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Libya, and East Timor, described the bombardment of Homs as the worst conflict she had ever experienced.[54]

Soon after Colvin's death, Lebanese intelligence claimed to have intercepted communications between Syrian Army officers to the effect that direct orders had been issued to target the makeshift press centre from which Colvin had been broadcasting. Jean-Pierre Perrin, a journalist for the Paris-based Liberation newspaper who had been with Colvin in Homs as recently as the previous week, claimed he had been told that the Syrian Army was "deliberately" going to shell their centre. Mr Perrin said the Syrians were "fully aware" that the press centre was broadcasting direct evidence of crimes against humanity, including the murdering of women and children. Perrin claimed that "[t]he Syrian Army issued orders to 'kill any journalist that set foot on Syrian soil,'" saying that he received news of the intercepted Syrian Army radio traffic upon arriving in Beirut. The Syrian government knew that if they destroyed the press centre, said Mr. Perrin, there would be "no more information coming out of Homs."[55]

Activists told that 81 people, both FSA rebels and civilians, were killed the same day. One activist told that helicopters were used to identify the targets. A Lebanese official told that the Syrian government wanted to finish the battle before the referendum poll on the new Syrian constitution.[56] On the same day, Syrian state media claimed men had killed two officers, a first lieutenant and a captain, when men fired an RPG at their car from a bridge. SANA said another member of the security forces was killed by a bomb in Homs.[57]

 
Building burning in "Bab Dreeb" after shelling by the Syrian Army.

On 23 February, the Syrian army entered the Jobar area close to Bab Amr. One activist told that the army successfully cut all escape roads of Bab Amr and that unlike the previous fights, the FSA will be unable to escape.[58]

On 26 February, SANA reported that 40 rebels surrendered in Bab Amr quarter.[12] At least 89 people died in Homs between 26 and 27 February as clashes and bombardment continued. 64 of those killed were refugees kidnapped and executed by the Syrian Army, according to opposition sources. At least 25 people were wounded in shelling on 27 February.[59]

Government ground assault on Baba Amr

edit

Heavy shelling continued on 29 February as government forces launched an operation to retake control of the Baba Amr neighbourhood. The Syrian government announced that the army was being sent into the area[23] and were "cleaning" it from rebel fighters, and that the operation would be over in a matter of hours.[24] Helicopter gunships were reported to have fired upon FSA fighters and civilians, according to people on the ground. At least 11 people were reported killed initially, including a family of five. Water supplies, electricity and communications were entirely cut off in the Baba Amr district according to opposition activists.[25] Heavy clashes continued throughout the day, as the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division sent in tanks and infantry.[9] Although the FSA Farouq Brigades defending Baba Amr stated that they would fight to the last man, it was reported that some of the FSA leaders already made an escape from the district.[60]

Baba Amr finally fell to government forces on the morning of 1 March, as the Free Syrian Army claimed they had made a "tactical retreat" from the area, after running low on weapons and ammunition. They made the decision to withdraw from Baba Amr and into other parts of Homs because "worsening humanitarian conditions, lack of food and medicine and water, electricity and communication cuts as well as shortages in weapons."[61] During their retreat, 17 rebels were captured by the military and executed on the spot.[62][63] The activist group Avaaz, for its part, claimed they were civilians and that they were beheaded, but this was not confirmed by other sources.[64] Afterwards, at least 10 Syrian civilians were killed by government forces, who had also turned the shopping centre into a detention area.[65] At a later date, an FSA commander stated that out of 250 rebel fighters defending the district 114 were killed in the fighting.[66]

Karm al-Zeitoun massacre

edit

On 9 March, 30 tanks of the Syrian Army entered the quarter of Karm al-Zeitoun.[67] After this, it was reported that the Syrian Army had massacred 47 women and children in the district (26 children and 21 women), some of whom had their throats slit, according to activists. The opposition claimed that the main perpetrators behind the killings were the government paramilitary force the Shabiha.[68] The Syrian National Council (SNC), the main opposition group, called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the "massacre", which it said took place on 11 March. Hadi Abdallah, a Syrian activist, said: "Some of the children had been hit with blunt objects on their head, one little girl was mutilated and some women were raped before being killed," he said. Video footage was made of the bodies. The Syrian Government acknowledged that the massacre had indeed taken place, but claimed that "armed gangs" in the district killed them.[69] On 13 March, opposition activists posted a video on the internet purporting to show the army shelling the district of Karm al-Zeitoun.[70]

March–April fighting

edit

On 20 March, 14 were reported killed from a new round of shelling, which continued into the next day, hitting the opposition stronghold neighborhoods of Khalidiya, Qussor, and Bayada in northern Homs.[71] The military also reportedly entered Khalidiya.[72] The opposition activist group, the L.C.C., stated that another 40 people were killed on the second day of the bombardment, including 25 in Khalidiya.[73]

On 24 March, most rebel forces retreated from the Bab Sbaa district, under intense shelling, as the military moved in and a number of civilians were also attempting to leave the neighborhood.[74] However, activists reported the neighbourhood was still under bombardment of heavy shelling as of 26 March.[75] Still, an activist stated that the FSA presence in the district was small and they were not in a position to do anything.[76] Another activist also later confirmed the capture of the district.[77]

On 2 April, about 40 FSA members captured the National Hospital in Juret al-Shayah district. They found 78 corpses stacked in a refrigerator.[78]

In renewed fighting on 8 April, mortars were described as falling "like rain" on the opposition-held neighbourhood of Khaldiyeh, according to an activist. A makeshift hospital was allegedly stacked with 40 bodies which the opposition were desperately trying to keep cool with fans. According to the activist, they may have to be buried "in public gardens" due to a lack of other feasible options.[79]

Mid-April

edit

Since 14 April 2012, a nationwide cease-fire came in effect, though separate clashes continued in several friction points.

On 14 April, into the morning major shelling happened in the districts of Juret al-Shayah and al-Qarabis that violated the Kofi Annan truce implemented on 14 April.[80]

On 15 April, the Syrian Army was reported to be shelling the neighborhood of al-Waer from the nearby military academy. SANA also reported that terrorists killed 12 civilians in the Alawite, pro-government, neighborhood of al-Zahra in what seemed like an FSA attack on the neighborhood.[81]

On 16 April, heavy shelling was coming from three sides into al-Khalidiya. The government also stormed al-Bayada and took control of half of it. They were also trying to storm Juret al-Shayah and al-Qarabis, but were being repelled by the FSA.[82]

Aftermath (summer 2013)

edit

On 27 July 2013, the Syrian Army took control of the Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque located in Khalidyeh, one of the two last rebel stronghold in Homs. The quarter of Khalidyeh was now in the hand of the government forces at 60%.[83]

After the Battle of al-Qusayr (2013), the government launched an offensive against Homs. By the end of July it was reported that at least most of Homs was in government hands. Though state television said that the government was in control of the strategic enclave, some opposition fighters said they were still fighting from pockets of the city. One unnamed FSA Islamist brigade showed videos of its fighters without ammunition but strapped with suicide vests as their only remaining weapons. Other sources indicated that it was a matter of time that the government took control of the city if already had not done so.[84]

Deaths

edit

The number of deaths during the artillery strikes and subsequent clashes has varied widely, with the lowest estimate for the first day of the bombardment being 181, while the highest was 416, which was later revised down.

While opposition sources have claimed that most of those killed were civilians, government sources stated that out of the 500 reportedly killed by 13 February, most were either insurgents or government troops.[85]

Journalist Marie Colvin in her last report before her death, said that due to the lack of identified military targets, many civilian buildings were damaged. According to her report, the casualties she had seen were about 80% civilians and the rest were FSA fighters.[86]

Day-by-day

edit

Note: No precise casualty counts have been confirmed by any independent agencies

Source Casualties Day
L.C.C. 181–212[87] 3/4 February
S.N.C. 260[28] 3/4 February
Locals 290[88] 3/4 February
Al Arabiya 337[33] 3/4 February
S.O.H.R. 48[26] 3/4 February
L.C.C. 29[89] 5 February
Various 42[90]–95[11] 6 February
L.C.C. 19[11] 7 February
Various 53–67 killed[91] 8 February
Various 57[47]–110[46] 9 February
L.C.C. 16[92] 10 February
Various 7[93]–31[94] 11 February
Various 23[95] 12 February
Various 3–11[96] 13 February
Various 6[97]–9[98] 14 February
L.C.C. 4[99] 15 February
L.C.C. 4[100] 16 February
L.C.C. 17[101] 17 February
L.C.C. 5[102] 18 February
L.C.C. 10[103] 19 February
Various 9[104]–13[105] 20 February
Various 45[106]–49[107] 21 February
L.C.C. 30[108] 22 February
L.C.C. 4[109] 23 February
L.C.C. 32[110] 24 February
L.C.C. 36[111] 25 February
L.C.C. 23[112] 26 February
Various 64–104[59] 27 February
L.C.C. 50[113] 28 February
L.C.C. 16[114] 29 February
L.C.C. 22[115] 1 March

Total

edit
Source Casualties Period
Various 321[26] 3–5 February
S.O.H.R. 400[116] 3–8 February
AI 246[91] 3–8 February
Sawasiah 300[117] 3–8 February
H.R.C. 559[118] 3–10 February
L.C.C. 427[119] 3–11 February
Various 500–754[48] 3–13 February
Various 700–1,000[17] 3 February – 1 March

Reactions to 2012 incident

edit
Government

The Syrian Interior Ministry stated that in criminal groups escalated their aggressions and criminal acts "perpetrating heinous crimes that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, booby-trapping private buildings, kidnapping and looting private and public properties". A statement by the Ministry explained that "the competent authorities practiced the utmost self-restraint and gave terrorists a number of opportunities to return to the road of right.. but they refused and escalated their terror instigated by foreign sides.. all of this pushed the authorities to intervene and deal with them to restore security and stability to Homs".[120]

Opposition

Abu Rami Alhomsy of the Syrian Revolutionary General Commission claimed the shelling in lasted more than three hours. "It was a normal day for a demonstration but last night they started shelling this neighbourhood. We have many injuries. Many women and children have been killed and injured. I am hiding in the street with many people around me. They are shooting into here from an outside area."[121] The Syrian government denied that the shelling occurred and that it was a fabrication by opposition groups to try to influence a UNSC resolution that sought to condemn the Syrian government the same day. It also accused the armed groups in Homs of killing soldiers and civilians.[22]

International

Many news sources, and the governments of Turkey and France, have described the attack as a "massacre".[122][123] In response, protesters attacked Syrian embassies in a number of cities worldwide.[124] The United Nations Security Council voted on an Arab League proposal to resolve problems in Syria following these events. China and Russia vetoed the resolution.[33][125] EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton has stated: "I am appalled by the reports of the brutal attacks by the Syrian armed forces in Homs. I condemn in the strongest terms these acts perpetrated by the Syrian regime against its own civilians The international community must speak with one voice, demanding an end to the bloodshed and urging Assad to step aside and allow a democratic transition."[126]

The UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, says he has received "grisly reports" that Syrian government forces are arbitrarily executing, imprisoning and torturing people in Homs after opposition fighters in the city retreated.

"A major assault on Homs took place yesterday," Ban told the UN General Assembly in New York on 2 March. "Civilian losses have clearly been heavy. We continue to receive grisly reports of summary executions, arbitrary detentions and torture. This atrocious assault is all the more appalling for having been waged by the government itself, systematically attacking its own people". Activists said that government forces were rounding up people aged between 14-50 and executing them in batches.[127] UN rights chief Navi Pillay called for urgent international action to protect civilians in Syria:

I am appalled by the Syrian government's wilful assault on Homs, and its use of artillery and other heavy weaponry in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas in the city. The failure of the Security Council to agree on firm collective action appears to have fuelled the Syrian government's readiness to massacre its own people in an effort to crush dissent."[128]

Tunisia said it would expel the Syrian ambassador in response to what it called a "bloody massacre" and announced it no longer recognises the ruling government.[129]

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE agreed to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus, and expel the Syrian ambassadors to their respective countries, in protest at the Syrian governments crackdown, particularly in Homs.[130][131] Germany, Spain, Belgium and France also announced the withdrawal of ambassadors from Syria.[132] The Netherlands also recalled its ambassador.[133] The United Kingdom followed these countries and also recalled their ambassador.[134]

In Libya, protesters took over the Syrian embassy and the official National Transitional Council handed control of the embassy to the opposition or "revolutionaries".[135] Syrians residing in Libya protested outside the country's Russian embassy in Tripoli, eventually hoisting a Syrian opposition flag.[136] Libyans and Syrians also rallied outside the Chinese embassy in Libya, "to denounce China’s decision to veto a UN resolution that would seek to end the violence and bloodshed in Syria."[137] Libya also expelled the ambassador for the al-Assad government; the ambassador's car was attacked by unarmed Syrian protesters as he fled Tripoli.[138]

This came after the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron accused the government of butchering its own people. This is while 10 civilians were said to have been executed outside a shop in Bab Amr. Speaking in Brussels, he said:

"The Assad regime is butchering its own people. The history of Homs is being written in the blood of its citizens."
"The situation in Syria is absolutely appalling and it is vitally important that there is humanitarian access into Homs and elsewhere so that people can get the help they need."
"But above all, what I think matters, is building the evidence and the picture so we hold this criminal regime to account and make sure that it is held to account for the crimes it is committing against its people and that one day, no matter how long it takes, there will be a day of reckoning for this dreadful regime."[139]

The French President (at the time) Nicolas Sarkozy accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of seeking to "wipe Homs from the map", comparing his campaign to the Libyan government's attacks on the city of Benghazi. "Bashar al-Assad is lying in a shameful way, he wants to wipe Homs from the map like (former Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi wanted to wipe Benghazi from the map," Sarkozy said.[140] Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that the government had "broken all the limits of barbarism. And when I see the Syrian president paraded around this voting station in Damascus for this phony referendum, it makes you deeply indignant." Juppe said he felt "immensely frustrated" at difficulties in obtaining security guarantees to enable wounded civilians and Western journalists to be evacuated from Homs.[141]

In other countries, Syrian expatriates protested against the attack. Syrian embassies in Egypt and Germany were attacked, with protesters setting fire to part of the embassy[142] and at least 30 people storming the premises, respectively. There was more than 150 protesters chanting outside the London embassy at 3:00.[121] Around 50 mostly Syrian protesters broke into their country's embassy in Greece on that morning, smashing windows and painting anti-government slogans on the walls, a police source told the AFP. Twelve Syrians and an Iraqi were arrested afterwards.[143] In Kuwait, witnesses said demonstrators stormed the Syrian embassy compound breaking windows and hoisting the flag of the opposition.[144] The Syrian Embassy in Australia was also damaged and ransacked.[145] There were also protests outside the Syrian embassy in the United States.[146]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Syria's President ends state of emergency". Buenos Aires Herald. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  2. ^ Nick Thompson (7 April 2012). "Homs: Bloody winter in Syria's revolution capital". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  3. ^ Iran helped Syria in key early battle
  4. ^ "More than 11,100 killed in Syria in 13 months: NGO". ChannelNewsAsia. Agence France-Presse. 16 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b Weaver, Matthew; Haroon Siddique; Ben Quinn (10 February 2012). "Syria: bombs hit Aleppo as tanks pound Homs - Friday 10 February". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  6. ^ "By All Means Necessary!". Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Eur-Lex – – En". Official Journal of the European Union. 24 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  8. ^ Syrian rebels pushing back into Baba Amr in Homs, scene of heavy shelling
  9. ^ a b c Michael Weiss (1 March 2012). "The Fall of Homs". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  10. ^ A BBC report stated that 80 percent of those killed were civilians while the rest were FSA fighters,[1] since H.R.W. and the opposition claimed a figure of 700–1,000 fatalities,[2] that would make a total of 140–200 dead opposition fighters
  11. ^ a b c d e Khaled Yacoub Oweis (7 February 2012). "Russia's Lavrov seeks peace in Syria as forces bombard". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  12. ^ a b "A Number of Terrorists Give Themselves up to Authorities at Baba Amro in Homs". Syrian Arab News Agency. 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b c d e "'Hundreds of casualties in Syria's Homs' in army assault on Syria's Homs". Al Jazeera. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  14. ^ Syria live blog
  15. ^ a b "Four Law Enforcement Personnel Martyred in Homs and Idleb, 2 Officers and a Woman Found Dead, Tens of Terrorists Surrender". Syrian Arab News Agency. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  16. ^ "At least 38 killed across Syria as fierce clashes rage on in rebel towns". Al Arabiya. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Syria Violence: Opposition Seeks Heavy Weapons And Support Abroad For Bosnia-Style War". The Huffington Post. Beirut. Reuters. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Syria Live Blog". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  19. ^ Julian Borger; Mona Mahmood (9 February 2012). "Syrian troops bombard sealed-off suburb of Homs". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "City of Homs becomes focus of Syria's uprising". CBS News. Associated Press. 11 February 2012.[dead link‍]
  21. ^ a b "U.N. Security Council to meet on Syria as violence rages". CNN. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Syria denies massacre of 200 in Homs". CBS News. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Syrian troops move to retake Homs district Baba Amr". The Telegraph. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  24. ^ a b Oliver Tree (29 February 2012). "Syria Forces Threaten to 'Clean' Rebel City; Assad Branded War Criminal". International Business Times. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  25. ^ a b "Fresh diplomatic efforts target Syria". CNN. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  26. ^ a b c "U.N. Security Council fails to pass resolution on Syria". CNN. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  27. ^ "Syrian opposition: 416 civilians dead in Assad's regime assault". AllVoices. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  28. ^ a b "Homs 'massacre' leaves 260 dead". The Daily Telegraph. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  29. ^ Charbonneau, Louis (29 January 2012). "Russia, China veto U.N. draft backing Arab plan for Syria". Reuters. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  30. ^ "'More than 200' killed in Homs ahead of UN resolution vote". France24. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  31. ^ Paul Wood (4 February 2012). "Syria Assad: Army massacres 'scores' in city of Homs". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  32. ^ "Activists: More than 200 Syrians killed". CNN. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  33. ^ a b c "Obama asks Assad to 'step aside,' condemns mass murder in Homs". Al Arabiya. 4 February 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  34. ^ "Live Blog". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  35. ^ "Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 03:28". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 00:37 | Al Jazeera Blogs". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  37. ^ Paul Wood (4 February 2012). "Syria Assad: Army massacres 'scores' in city of Homs". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  38. ^ "Syria Under Fire 4-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  39. ^ "85 Martyrs till now 4-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 26 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  40. ^ Paul Wood (4 February 2012). "Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  41. ^ "The Martyrs of the Khalediyeh Massacre". Local Coordination Committees. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  42. ^ Paul Wood (6 February 2012). "Syria crisis: Army steps up Homs shelling". BBC News. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  43. ^ Meikle, James (6 February 2012). "Syrian forces 'kill at least 50' in Homs bombardment". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  44. ^ "Syria: Homs under 'heaviest' shelling yet". BBC News. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  45. ^ Luke Harding; Mona Mahmood; Matthew Weaver; James Meikle (8 February 2012). "The siege of Homs: scores killed in fifth day of shelling". The Guardian.
  46. ^ a b "137 Martyrs 9-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  47. ^ a b Thu, 9 Feb 2012, 16:09 GMT+3 – Syria
  48. ^ a b Macleod, Hugh; Annasofie Flamand (13 February 2012). "Syria's looming threat of civil war". Salon. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  49. ^ "Red Cross Tries To Broker Syria Cease-Fire". NPR. Associated Press. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  50. ^ "Syria: Homs comes under heavy bombardment". BBC News. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  51. ^ Karouny, Mariam (21 February 2012). "Red Cross seeks Syria ceasefires; more than 100 killed". Reuters. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  52. ^ "Bambuser: We mourn the loss of a very brave Syrian journalist". Blog.bambuser.com. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  53. ^ Wardrop, Murray (22 February 2012). "Syria: Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin 'killed in Homs'". The Guardian.
  54. ^ Marie Colvin (22 February 2012). "Syria's Government Lies". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  55. ^ Nabila Ramdani; Peter Allen (22 February 2012). "Marie Colvin: Britain summons Syria ambassador over killing". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  56. ^ Yacoub, Khaled (22 February 2012). "Assad forces bomb Syria's Homs". Reuters UK. Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  57. ^ "Two Officers, a Security Member Martyred in Homs, Civil Engineer Martyred in Hama". Syrian Arab News Agency. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  58. ^ Peter Kenyon (23 February 2012). "Syrian Forces Tightening Grip on Parts of Homs". NPR. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  59. ^ a b "Syrian minister vows to defend 'independence' as deaths mount". CNN. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  60. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis (29 February 2012). ""Pray for us" say Syria rebels as army closes in". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  61. ^ Farnaz Fassihi; Nour Malas; Joe Lauria (1 March 2012). "Syria to Allow Aid as Rebels Pull Back". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  62. ^ Mariam Karouny (1 March 2012). "Syrian rebels quit besieged Homs stronghold". CyprusMail. Retrieved 20 April 2012.[dead link‍]
  63. ^ "8 Syrian soldiers, 7 deserters killed near Golan". YNetNews. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  64. ^ Michael Weiss (1 March 2012). "Assad's security forces 'have beheaded 17 civilians in Baba Amr'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  65. ^ "Fri, 2 Mar 2012, 18:11 GMT+3 - Syria". Al Jazeera. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  66. ^ "Rare inside view of Syria's rebels finds a force vowing to fight on". Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  67. ^ "Annan to meet Assad, seeking end to Syria violence". Reuters. 9 March 2012.
  68. ^ "Syrian activists claim 16 people killed in Homs reprisal attacks". The Guardian. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  69. ^ "Dozens of Bodies Found After Syria 'Massacre'". Sky News. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012. Dozens of Bodies Found After Syria 'Massacre'
  70. ^ "Tue, 13 Mar 2012, 08:07 GMT+3 - Syria". Al Jazeera. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  71. ^ "Syrian forces assault opposition strongholds". Al Jazeera. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  72. ^ "US urges Syria to work with Annan peace plan". BBC News. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  73. ^ "Syria hammers Homs; Security Council backs Annan mission". CNN. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  74. ^ "Syria army shell rebel strongholds; 10 civilians, 4 soldiers dead". Haaretz. Reuters. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  75. ^ "Syria - Mar 26, 2012 - 07:36 - Al Jazeera Blogs". Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  76. ^ "Syrian tanks enter northern town, Homs pounded again". ZeeNews. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  77. ^ Mona Mahmood; Peter Walker (10 April 2012). "Syrian rebels run low on food and hope". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  78. ^ "Syria promises to pull forces from population centers". CNN. 2 April 2012.
  79. ^ "Fears grow for peace deal in Syria after new demands". BBC News. 8 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  80. ^ "Syrian forces 'shell districts of Homs'". Al Jazeera. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  81. ^ "U.N. monitors arrive in Syria as killings continue". CNN. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  82. ^ "Fighting in Syria as UN monitors go to work". Al Jazeera. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  83. ^ Aji, Albert; Mroue, Bassem (27 July 2013). "Syrian Troops Capture Historic Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque in Homs' Khaldiyeh District". huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  84. ^ Wood, Paul (29 July 2013). "After Khalidiya, Syria conflict goes on". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  85. ^ Michael Jansen (14 February 2012). "Syrian army enters remaining insurgent strongholds". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  86. ^ "Journalist Marie Colvin in Homs: 'I saw a baby die today'". BBC News. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  87. ^ "The Martyrs of the Khalediyeh Massacre". Local Coordination Committees. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  88. ^ Martin Chulov; Paul Harris (4 February 2012). "Syria: '300 killed' as regime launches huge attack on besieged city of Homs". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  89. ^ "More Martyrs 5-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  90. ^ "Syria violence: Women and children flee shelling in Homs". The Telegraph. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  91. ^ a b Michael Jansen (9 April 2012). "Dozens die as Syrian tanks shell city of Homs". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  92. ^ "51 Martyrs 10-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  93. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Dominic Evans (11 February 2012). "Syria forces shell Homs, Russia to oppose UN resolution". CyprusMail. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  94. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Angus MacSwan (12 February 2012). "Syria Rockets Homs As Arab League Meets in Cairo". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  95. ^ "Arabs back Syria opposition; Homs bombardment resumes". Reuters Africa. Reuters. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  96. ^ Rick Gladstone; Neil MacFarquhar (13 February 2012). "U.N. Official Rebukes Syria Over Violence". The New York Times.
  97. ^ "Six civilians killed by loyalist fire in Homs, Syria". Agenzia Giornalistica Italia. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  98. ^ "49 Martyrs 14-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  99. ^ "More Killing 15-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  100. ^ "Massacre in Idlib 16-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  101. ^ "61 Martyrs 17-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  102. ^ "Syria Today 18-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 18 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  103. ^ "23 Martyrs 19-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 19 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  104. ^ "Syrian troops converge on Homs". The Star. 20 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  105. ^ "Syria This evening 20-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  106. ^ "Syria: US backs Red Cross call for truce". BBC News. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  107. ^ "Shelling of Homs resumes as U.S. signals possibility of arming Syrian opposition". Al Arabiya. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  108. ^ "Syria Today 22-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  109. ^ Bloody Day in Syria 23-2-2012 Archived 30 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  110. ^ "103 Martyrs for Today 24-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 24 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  111. ^ "'Assad's forces kill 103 in Homs, rest of Syria'". The Jerusalem Post. Reuters. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  112. ^ "Syria 26-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  113. ^ "More Killing 28-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  114. ^ "30 Martyrs 29-2-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  115. ^ "37 Martyrs 1-3-2012". Local Coordination Committees. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  116. ^ "Dozens dead as Syria regime pounds Homs: Activists". The Vancouver Sun. Agence France-Presse. 8 February 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  117. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Angus MacSwan (9 February 2012). "Syria forces bombard Homs, U.N. condemns "appalling brutality"". The Star. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  118. ^ Nir Rosen (11 February 2012). "The battle for Homs". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  119. ^ "The Regime Intensifies its Operations Against Children". Local Coordination Committees. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  120. ^ "Interior Ministry: Terrorist groups in Homs escalated aggressions against citizens". Champress.net. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  121. ^ a b "'More Than 200 Die in Homs' As UN Vote Nears". Sky News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  122. ^ "No:37, 4 February 2012, Press Release Regarding the Latest Attacks Perpetrated by the Syrian Administration Against the People of Homs". Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  123. ^ Neil MacFarquhar; Anthony Shadid (5 February 2012). "Russia and China Block U.N. Action on Crisis in Syria". The New York Times.
  124. ^ "Syria mourns "horrific massacre" in Homs". DAWN. Agence France-Presse. 4 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  125. ^ "Syria crisis: Russia, China veto UN resolution". Hindustan Times. Reuters. 4 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  126. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Angus MacSwan (11 February 2012). "Syria forces shell Homs, Saudis push U.N. resolution". Reuters Africa. Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  127. ^ "UN chief criticises 'atrocious' Homs assault". Al Jazeera. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  128. ^ "'Besieged' Homs endures tank assault". Al Jazeera. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  129. ^ Keath, Lee. "Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria". ajc.com. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  130. ^ "Syria crisis: Gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors". BBC News. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  131. ^ "Gulf Cooperation Council countries to expel Syrian envoys". France24. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  132. ^ Terry Atlas; Caroline Alexander (8 February 2012). "Russians Huddle With Syria's Assad as Europe Joins Gulf in Pulling Envoys". Bloomberg. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  133. ^ "The Netherlands recalls ambassador from Syria". Dutch News. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  134. ^ "UK makes diplomatic protests over Syria violence". Reuters. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  135. ^ "Video: Syrian Embassy in Libya becomes the first under revolutionary control". Feb17.info. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  136. ^ "Photo Gallery: Syrians and Libyans Raise Syrian Revolution Flag at Russian Embassy in Tripoli, Libya". Feb17.info. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  137. ^ "Video: Syrians and Libyans Rally at the Chinese Embassy in Tripoli, Libya". Feb17.info. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  138. ^ "Video: Syrian Ambassador fleeing embassy in Libya". Feb17.info. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  139. ^ Reuters
  140. ^ "Thu, 19 Apr 2012, 10:21 GMT+3 - France". Al Jazeera. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  141. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis (28 February 2012). "Syria Violence: Wounded Journalists Escape, Military Pounds Opposition Areas". The Huffington Post. Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  142. ^ "Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 15:12 | Al Jazeera Blogs". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  143. ^ "AJE live blog". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  144. ^ "AJE live blog". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  145. ^ "Syrian Embassy Attacks". Newsday. Retrieved 8 February 2012.[dead link‍]
  146. ^ "Syria live blog". Al Jazeera. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=2012_Homs_offensive&oldid=1264740387"