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Syrian army steps up Homs offensive as rebels look for exit As Syrian army steps up Homs offensive, rebels look for exit or prepare for final fight
(35 minutes later)
BEIRUT -- As the Syrian army steps up its bombardment on the last rebel-held areas of Homs, those holed up inside say they fear the city, once dubbed the capital of the revolution, is close to slipping completely from their grip. BEIRUT — As the Syrian army steps up its bombardment on the last rebel-held areas of Homs, those holed up inside say they fear the city, once dubbed the capital of the revolution, is close to slipping completely from their grip.
The past 24 hours have brought with it the worst bombardment of the remaining pro-opposition neighborhoods of the Old City for months, residents say. The Syrian State news agency SANA reported that the army, backed by the paramilitary National Defense Forces, had made “significant progress” against rebels on Tuesday. The past 24 hours have brought with it the worst bombardment of the remaining pro-opposition neighborhoods of the Old City for months, residents say. The Syrian State news agency SANA reported that the army, backed by the paramilitary National Defense Forces, had made “significant progress” against rebels Tuesday.
Opposition figures and activists say those left inside – less than 1,000 people, the vast majority of whom are fighters – are for the most part looking for a way out, as government forces appear to be on the offensive. However, a hardcore few have vowed to fight to the end. Opposition figures and activists say those left inside — less than 1,000 people, the vast majority of whom are fighters — are for the most part looking for a way out, as government forces appear to be on the offensive. However, a hardcore few have vowed to fight to the end.
If the government were successful in securing the opposition’s last remaining foothold in the city, it would be a painful loss for Syria’s rebels. Once a bastion of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, rebels have been steadily penned in and besieged over the past two years.If the government were successful in securing the opposition’s last remaining foothold in the city, it would be a painful loss for Syria’s rebels. Once a bastion of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, rebels have been steadily penned in and besieged over the past two years.
The government’s long-term tactic to crush the rebellious areas of Homs – cutting them off from supplies and food - is a now familiar one. Similar methods have successfully secured a series of restive suburbs on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria’s capital, forcing rebels into accepting ceasefires, which some say equate to effective surrender. The government’s long-term tactic to crush the rebellious areas of Homs — cutting them off from supplies and food — is a now familiar one. Similar methods have successfully secured a series of restive suburbs on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria’s capital, forcing rebels into accepting cease-fires, which some say equate to effective surrender.
However, in Homs, negotiations on a reconciliation deal, which have been underway for weeks, have stalled. The opposition complains the government has never taken it seriously, but says it has also been hampered by deep disagreements within rebel ranks about whether to accept a deal. However, in Homs, negotiations on a reconciliation deal, which have been underway for weeks, have stalled. The opposition complains the government has never taken it seriously but says it has also been hampered by deep disagreements within rebel ranks about whether to accept a deal.
A series of murky events over the past few weeks have helped clear the way for a military offensive by Assad forces - sparking a raft of speculation among the opposition that a government hand was behind them. Others point the finger at rebels who disagreed with a ceasefire. A series of murky events over the past few weeks have helped clear the way for a military offensive by Assad forces — sparking a raft of speculation among the opposition that a government hand was behind them. Others point the finger at rebels who disagreed with a cease-fire.
First, an apparently accidental bombing wiped out a number of rebel leaders, then Dutch priest who had refused to leave the opposition areas was assassinated. Those incidents were followed by a car bombing in a pro-government area, immediately preceding the bombardment by Assad forces. First, an apparently accidental bombing wiped out a number of rebel leaders, then a Dutch priest who had refused to leave the opposition areas was assassinated. Those incidents were followed by a car bombing in a pro-government area, immediately preceding the bombardment by Assad forces.
With their spirits beaten down, hundreds of rebels have accepted government offers to hand over their weapons, activists and Syrian state media have said, weakening resolve among those who remained. It has been a slow and steady exodus since mass evacuations under the auspices of the United Nations in February.With their spirits beaten down, hundreds of rebels have accepted government offers to hand over their weapons, activists and Syrian state media have said, weakening resolve among those who remained. It has been a slow and steady exodus since mass evacuations under the auspices of the United Nations in February.
At least 300 fighters have left in the last month, according to three activists in the city, with one putting the number at nearer 1,000. Virtually no civilians remain, they say. Fighters turn themselves in at a local school, where they wait to be cleared, and hundreds remain in detention, they say.At least 300 fighters have left in the last month, according to three activists in the city, with one putting the number at nearer 1,000. Virtually no civilians remain, they say. Fighters turn themselves in at a local school, where they wait to be cleared, and hundreds remain in detention, they say.
The opposition All4Syria news site said 500 had surrendered their arms during March and April, predicting the city would fall within the week. SANA said 100 had surrendered in the past 10 days. The opposition All4Syria news site said 500 had surrendered their arms during March and April, predicting the city would fall within the week. SANA said 100 had surrendered in the past 10 days.
“As a result of the scarcity of cigarettes and food, and the long duration of the siege, the regime has seduced them,” said Abu Bilal, an opposition activist in the Old City.“As a result of the scarcity of cigarettes and food, and the long duration of the siege, the regime has seduced them,” said Abu Bilal, an opposition activist in the Old City.
Many inside see the explosion that killed more than two dozen rebels earlier this month, as a turning point. Initially reported as an accident as opposition fighters prepared a car bomb, the incident seriously dented morale in the city’s last major pocket of resistance. Abdulqadr al-Jumaa, a prominent rebel leader, died in the blast as did other senior fighters.Many inside see the explosion that killed more than two dozen rebels earlier this month, as a turning point. Initially reported as an accident as opposition fighters prepared a car bomb, the incident seriously dented morale in the city’s last major pocket of resistance. Abdulqadr al-Jumaa, a prominent rebel leader, died in the blast as did other senior fighters.
“The truth is we think the regime put the car bomb,” said Faisal Shareef, an activist in the nearby al-Waer neighborhood. Those killed in the blast were close to the Rev. Frans Van der Lugt, a Dutch Jesuit priest who refused to leave the Old City, some rebels say. Others have questioned whether the car bomb could have been the result of inter-rebel disagreements over evacuations, or indeed a simply a premature explosion. “The truth is we think the regime put the car bomb,” said Faisal Shareef, an activist in the nearby al-Waer neighborhood. Those killed in the blast were close to the Rev. Frans Van der Lugt, a Dutch Jesuit priest who refused to leave the Old City, some rebels say. Others have questioned whether the car bomb could have been the result of inter-rebel disagreements over evacuations or indeed a simply a premature explosion.
Either way, a day later, Van der Lugt was assassinated. His presence in the Old City had provided some comfort to the opposition, and after he was killed rebels postulated that it would not be long before an offensive began.Either way, a day later, Van der Lugt was assassinated. His presence in the Old City had provided some comfort to the opposition, and after he was killed rebels postulated that it would not be long before an offensive began.
Negotiations on a reconciliation plan for the city have been underway for the past month, but a deal fell through last week, rebels say. A negotiating committee, headed by a local doctor, had outlined an agreement along similar terms as truces elsewhere, including the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and joint committees to govern the area.Negotiations on a reconciliation plan for the city have been underway for the past month, but a deal fell through last week, rebels say. A negotiating committee, headed by a local doctor, had outlined an agreement along similar terms as truces elsewhere, including the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and joint committees to govern the area.
Then, a double car bombing struck a pro-government neighborhood, killing 25 people according to Syrian state television. That marked the end of negotiations. Then, a double car bombing struck a pro-government neighborhood, killing 25 people according to Syrian state television. That marked the end of negotiations.
Since then the airstrikes and artillery fire have steadily increased, and most rebels are now said to be looking for an exit.Since then the airstrikes and artillery fire have steadily increased, and most rebels are now said to be looking for an exit.
“They are trying to look for a truce, they want an end to the blood,” said Razan Shalab al-Sham, a director at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a pro-rebel lobbying group, who was in touch with fighters overnight. “They don’t have enough weapons to hold on.” “They are trying to look for a truce; they want an end to the blood,” said Razan Shalab al-Sham, a director at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a pro-rebel lobbying group, who was in touch with fighters overnight. “They don’t have enough weapons to hold on.”
She said her organization is in touch with the U.S. State Department to request that it attempt pressure for a ceasefire to allow rebels to leave, including the remaining members of Katibat al-Ansar, one of the largest groups in Homs, and to permit the wounded to be evacuated. She said her organization is in touch with the U.S. State Department to request that it attempt pressure for a cease-fire to allow rebels to leave, including the remaining members of Katibat al-Ansar, one of the largest groups in Homs, and to permit the wounded to be evacuated.
“It's nearly impossible for opposition fighters to last for a long time in the Old City,” said one activist, who declined to be named for security reasons. “Many fighters left the siege and the rest are not able to fight back for long. They know that.” “It's nearly impossible for opposition fighters to last for a long time in the Old City,” said one activist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons. “Many fighters left the siege, and the rest are not able to fight back for long. They know that.”
The government has made small advances. Abu Bilal, who uses a pseudonym for security reasons, said that the army took two buildings in the neighborhood of Wadi al Sayeh on Tuesday at noon.The government has made small advances. Abu Bilal, who uses a pseudonym for security reasons, said that the army took two buildings in the neighborhood of Wadi al Sayeh on Tuesday at noon.
It was the army’s first push into the Old City since the neighborhood of Khalidiya fell to the government last summer.It was the army’s first push into the Old City since the neighborhood of Khalidiya fell to the government last summer.
But even as many rebels appear close to capitulation, others might prove difficult to dislodge.But even as many rebels appear close to capitulation, others might prove difficult to dislodge.
In a video posted online on Tuesday one fighter sings hauntingly about how the rebels will remain steadfast. “We will keep fighting with everything that God gave us: strength, patience, so that we execute the victory,” he later says. “May God keep us on our feet.” In a video posted online Tuesday, one fighter sings hauntingly about how the rebels will remain steadfast. “We will keep fighting with everything that God gave us: strength, patience, so that we execute the victory,” he later says. “May God keep us on our feet.”
Three rebels were killed on Tuesday, and 10 wounded, Abu Bilal said, but he claimed there were casualties on the regime side too. Opposition fighters in the surrounding countryside attempted to rally. Three rebels were killed Tuesday and 10 wounded, Abu Bilal said, but he claimed there were casualties on the regime side too. Opposition fighters in the surrounding countryside attempted to rally.
“Our beloved Homs is in danger… our enemy is at their door,” Rawad Ahmad Al Kassah, a commander in the countryside to the north said in a statement. He called for rebels to put aside their differences to form a joint operation room. “Our beloved Homs is in danger. . . . Our enemy is at their door,” Rawad Ahmad Al Kassah, a commander in the countryside to the north said in a statement. He called for rebels to put aside their differences to form a joint operation room.
“It is not too late brothers, let us unify our efforts and regain Homs as the capital of the Syrian revolution.”“It is not too late brothers, let us unify our efforts and regain Homs as the capital of the Syrian revolution.”
But even the most determined are readying for the end. Inside the city, some of the remaining fighters who didn’t wish to leave were “preparing themselves with suicide belts”, al-Sham said. “If the regime manages to cross the lines they will use them as a last resort.” But even the most determined are readying for the end. Inside the city, some of the remaining fighters who didn’t wish to leave were “preparing themselves with suicide belts,” al-Sham said. “If the regime manages to cross the lines, they will use them as a last resort.”
Tania Majdalani contributed from Beirut.Tania Majdalani contributed from Beirut.