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/2013/mar/05/syrian-jets-bomb-city-rebels

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Syrian jets bomb northern city overrun by rebels Syrian jets bomb northern city overrun by rebels
(12 days later)
Syrian jets bombed opposition-held buildings on Tuesday in the strategic northern city of Raqqa, about 120 miles east of Aleppo, a day after rebels overran the onetime regime stronghold and captured its provincial governor. A toppled statue of President Bashar al-Assad's father was defaced with graffiti reading: "Tomorrow will be better."Syrian jets bombed opposition-held buildings on Tuesday in the strategic northern city of Raqqa, about 120 miles east of Aleppo, a day after rebels overran the onetime regime stronghold and captured its provincial governor. A toppled statue of President Bashar al-Assad's father was defaced with graffiti reading: "Tomorrow will be better."
The rebels continued to battle pockets of government troops in Raqqa, struggling to crush the remaining resistance in the city of 500,000 people on the Euphrates river.The rebels continued to battle pockets of government troops in Raqqa, struggling to crush the remaining resistance in the city of 500,000 people on the Euphrates river.
If successful, it would be the first major city they would completely control in the civil war, and would consolidate their recent gains in the northern Syrian towns along the river.If successful, it would be the first major city they would completely control in the civil war, and would consolidate their recent gains in the northern Syrian towns along the river.
"This is the beginning, and other Syrian cities will soon fall, one by one, God willing," said Mustafa Othman, a Raqqa-based activist."This is the beginning, and other Syrian cities will soon fall, one by one, God willing," said Mustafa Othman, a Raqqa-based activist.
But government airstrikes and intermittent clashes, particularly around two security buildings, raised doubt about whether the rebels would be able to maintain their hold on Raqqa.But government airstrikes and intermittent clashes, particularly around two security buildings, raised doubt about whether the rebels would be able to maintain their hold on Raqqa.
Rebels have been making headway in the province for weeks. Last month, they captured the country's largest dam west of the city and this week stormed its central prison.Rebels have been making headway in the province for weeks. Last month, they captured the country's largest dam west of the city and this week stormed its central prison.
On Monday, they swept regime forces from much of the provincial capital, prompting residents to pour into the main square and tear down a large bronze statue of Assad's late father and predecessor, Hafez.On Monday, they swept regime forces from much of the provincial capital, prompting residents to pour into the main square and tear down a large bronze statue of Assad's late father and predecessor, Hafez.
The Syrians beat the felled statue of Hafez al-Assad with their shoes in a sign of disrespect, and at least one person hit it repeatedly with a hatchet. Others tore down a huge portrait of the current president.The Syrians beat the felled statue of Hafez al-Assad with their shoes in a sign of disrespect, and at least one person hit it repeatedly with a hatchet. Others tore down a huge portrait of the current president.
It was a striking scene in a city once considered so loyal to the regime that in November 2011, early in the uprising, Assad prayed at Raqqa's al-Nour mosque for the Muslim holiday of Eid in an apparent attempt to show that the regime was fully in control there.It was a striking scene in a city once considered so loyal to the regime that in November 2011, early in the uprising, Assad prayed at Raqqa's al-Nour mosque for the Muslim holiday of Eid in an apparent attempt to show that the regime was fully in control there.
Some activists posted the images of the fallen statue on Facebook and Twitter along with the words "Made in Syria," a reference to homegrown nature of the rebellion.Some activists posted the images of the fallen statue on Facebook and Twitter along with the words "Made in Syria," a reference to homegrown nature of the rebellion.
Activists said opposition fighters captured the governor of Raqqa province, Hassan Jalali, after clashes overnight near his office. The head of Assad's ruling Ba'ath party in the province, Salman al-Salman, was also in rebel custody.Activists said opposition fighters captured the governor of Raqqa province, Hassan Jalali, after clashes overnight near his office. The head of Assad's ruling Ba'ath party in the province, Salman al-Salman, was also in rebel custody.
Several key regime figures have defected to the rebels, but Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Jalali is the highest-ranking official to be captured.Several key regime figures have defected to the rebels, but Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Jalali is the highest-ranking official to be captured.
An amateur video posted online appeared to show Jalali and Salman seated on chairs surrounded by a group of rebels.An amateur video posted online appeared to show Jalali and Salman seated on chairs surrounded by a group of rebels.
"We just want to get rid of the regime," one of the fighters tells the pair in the video."We just want to get rid of the regime," one of the fighters tells the pair in the video.
An activist in the city, who gave only his first name Amir, said the two were detained by Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida-linked group that the US has designated a terrorist organisation, as well as other fighters.An activist in the city, who gave only his first name Amir, said the two were detained by Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida-linked group that the US has designated a terrorist organisation, as well as other fighters.
"They are detained in a location secured by al-Nusra and are being treated well," he said."They are detained in a location secured by al-Nusra and are being treated well," he said.
The group has emerged as one of the best organized and most effective forces on the opposition side, leading successful rebel assaults on military installations.The group has emerged as one of the best organized and most effective forces on the opposition side, leading successful rebel assaults on military installations.
Fighting raged on Tuesday near at least two government buildings, including the military intelligence and state security headquarters, the symbols of Assad's authoritarian rule.Fighting raged on Tuesday near at least two government buildings, including the military intelligence and state security headquarters, the symbols of Assad's authoritarian rule.
The Observatory's Abdul-Rahman said "some of Raqqa is still under regime control."The Observatory's Abdul-Rahman said "some of Raqqa is still under regime control."
Othman insisted Raqqa was completely liberated, but noted that the regime controlled the skies above the city, adding: "I don't know if I'll be alive in the next minute."Othman insisted Raqqa was completely liberated, but noted that the regime controlled the skies above the city, adding: "I don't know if I'll be alive in the next minute."
The government also remained in control of air bases outside the city, including Tabqa to the west, from which they launched warplanes to try to dislodge the rebels.The government also remained in control of air bases outside the city, including Tabqa to the west, from which they launched warplanes to try to dislodge the rebels.
Several airstrikes caused an unspecified number of casualties, the Observatory said, adding that there also was heavy fighting near an ammunition depot on the northern edge of the city.Several airstrikes caused an unspecified number of casualties, the Observatory said, adding that there also was heavy fighting near an ammunition depot on the northern edge of the city.
Abdul-Rahman said there were reports of more than 100 people killed in the past two days, but the casualty toll could not be independently confirmed.Abdul-Rahman said there were reports of more than 100 people killed in the past two days, but the casualty toll could not be independently confirmed.
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.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.