This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/22/syria-rebels-seize-military-base
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Syrian rebels take key military base | Syrian rebels take key military base |
| (4 months later) | |
| Rebels seized a key military base with artillery stockpiles in eastern Syria on Thursday, strengthening their hold in an oil-rich strategic province bordering Iraq, activists said. | Rebels seized a key military base with artillery stockpiles in eastern Syria on Thursday, strengthening their hold in an oil-rich strategic province bordering Iraq, activists said. |
| The rebels have made advances in Deir al-Zour province recently, and the capture of the Mayadeen base followed the seizure of a military airport in the same area last week. In the country's north, meanwhile, the two sides have been locked in a deadly stalemate for months. | The rebels have made advances in Deir al-Zour province recently, and the capture of the Mayadeen base followed the seizure of a military airport in the same area last week. In the country's north, meanwhile, the two sides have been locked in a deadly stalemate for months. |
| Syrian warplanes flattened a building next to a hospital in Aleppo on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people, including a doctor and three children, and damaging one of the last remaining sources of medical help for civilians in the northern city. | Syrian warplanes flattened a building next to a hospital in Aleppo on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people, including a doctor and three children, and damaging one of the last remaining sources of medical help for civilians in the northern city. |
| Once a private clinic owned by a businessman loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the Dar al-Shifa became a field hospital run by volunteer doctors, nurses and aides united by their opposition to the regime and the need to give medical care to both civilians and rebels. | Once a private clinic owned by a businessman loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the Dar al-Shifa became a field hospital run by volunteer doctors, nurses and aides united by their opposition to the regime and the need to give medical care to both civilians and rebels. |
| The facility has taken at least six direct hits in recent months, mostly affecting the upper floors. The seven-story hospital is only 500 metres from the frontline. | The facility has taken at least six direct hits in recent months, mostly affecting the upper floors. The seven-story hospital is only 500 metres from the frontline. |
| The Local Co-ordination Committees, another activist group, confirmed the bombing and identified the doctor as Mohammad Qassem Agha. The group said 40 people died in airstrikes in Aleppo on Wednesday, but did not say how many died in the hospital strike. | The Local Co-ordination Committees, another activist group, confirmed the bombing and identified the doctor as Mohammad Qassem Agha. The group said 40 people died in airstrikes in Aleppo on Wednesday, but did not say how many died in the hospital strike. |
| Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with an uprising against Assad's regime, inspired by other Arab Spring revolts. The crisis has since morphed into a civil war, with scores of rebel groups across the country fighting government troops. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the 20 months of unrest, according to activists. | Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011 with an uprising against Assad's regime, inspired by other Arab Spring revolts. The crisis has since morphed into a civil war, with scores of rebel groups across the country fighting government troops. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the 20 months of unrest, according to activists. |
| Activist groups and a local fighter said the Mayadeen base fell in the morning hours, after a three-week siege. The fighter spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. | Activist groups and a local fighter said the Mayadeen base fell in the morning hours, after a three-week siege. The fighter spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns. |
| The base was considered the last stronghold for regime forces in the eastern province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. | The base was considered the last stronghold for regime forces in the eastern province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. |
| In Damascus two mortar shells hit the upmarket district of Mazzeh during Thursday's morning rush hour, injuring at least one person, Syrian state TV said. The report blamed "terrorists" for the attack, a term the government uses for opposition fighters. | In Damascus two mortar shells hit the upmarket district of Mazzeh during Thursday's morning rush hour, injuring at least one person, Syrian state TV said. The report blamed "terrorists" for the attack, a term the government uses for opposition fighters. |
| The neighbourhood is home to a number of foreign embassies and has been targeted several times in the past few days. On Tuesday, two mortars struck the information ministry, causing material damage. | The neighbourhood is home to a number of foreign embassies and has been targeted several times in the past few days. On Tuesday, two mortars struck the information ministry, causing material damage. |
| An AP reporter at the scene of the Damascus blasts said one of the shells burned an apartment in a residential building, seriously injuring one woman. The second mortar struck and damaged the first floor in a building across the street. | An AP reporter at the scene of the Damascus blasts said one of the shells burned an apartment in a residential building, seriously injuring one woman. The second mortar struck and damaged the first floor in a building across the street. |
| Nizar Hamdi, a 38-year-old owner of a computer centre, said the timing of the blast coincided with the time students head to school. | Nizar Hamdi, a 38-year-old owner of a computer centre, said the timing of the blast coincided with the time students head to school. |
| "This is a residential area and there are no military bases here. So why are they targeting civilians?" he said. | "This is a residential area and there are no military bases here. So why are they targeting civilians?" he said. |
| Syrian TV showed a girl in school uniform who said the mortar fell as she was preparing herself to go to school. "It was terrifying, I couldn't go to school. People were screaming," she said. | Syrian TV showed a girl in school uniform who said the mortar fell as she was preparing herself to go to school. "It was terrifying, I couldn't go to school. People were screaming," she said. |
| The Syrian capital – the seat of Assad's power – has seen scores of attacks in the past months and a growing number of car bombs and mortar attacks by rebels determining to oust him. | The Syrian capital – the seat of Assad's power – has seen scores of attacks in the past months and a growing number of car bombs and mortar attacks by rebels determining to oust him. |
| The civil war has often spilled over to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled to the three neighbouring countries to escape the violence in their homeland, raising fears of a wider war in the volatile region. | The civil war has often spilled over to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have fled to the three neighbouring countries to escape the violence in their homeland, raising fears of a wider war in the volatile region. |
| Tensions have been particularly high along Syria's border with Turkey, prompting the Turkish government to request the deployment of Nato's Patriot surface-to-air missiles to bolster its defences. | Tensions have been particularly high along Syria's border with Turkey, prompting the Turkish government to request the deployment of Nato's Patriot surface-to-air missiles to bolster its defences. |
| Fighting broke out Thursday in the city of Ras al-Ayn on the Syrian side of the border, but it was between Kurdish and Arab rebel factions, according to an official at the mayor's office in the nearby Turkish town of Ceylanpinar. | Fighting broke out Thursday in the city of Ras al-Ayn on the Syrian side of the border, but it was between Kurdish and Arab rebel factions, according to an official at the mayor's office in the nearby Turkish town of Ceylanpinar. |
| The groups co-operated to oust Syrian regime forces from the ethnically mixed area earlier this month, but they have frequently clashed since then over control of the city. | The groups co-operated to oust Syrian regime forces from the ethnically mixed area earlier this month, but they have frequently clashed since then over control of the city. |
| The Observatory, which is based in Britain and relies on reports from the ground, has confirmed the infighting in north-eastern Syria, an ethnically mix area along the border with Turkey. | The Observatory, which is based in Britain and relies on reports from the ground, has confirmed the infighting in north-eastern Syria, an ethnically mix area along the border with Turkey. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |