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As Syrian army steps up Homs offensive, rebels look for exit or prepare for final fight As Syrian army steps up Homs offensive, rebels look for exit or prepare for final fight
(about 3 hours later)
BEIRUT — As the Syrian army steps up its assault 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 assault on the last rebel-held areas of Homs, those holed up inside say they fear that the city, once dubbed the capital of the revolution, is close to slipping completely from their grip.
Jets bombarded pro-opposition neighborhoods of the Old City on Wednesday, as cornered rebels retaliated with mortars, convulsing Homs in the worst violence the city has seen for months, residents say. Jets bombarded pro-opposition neighborhoods of the Old City on Wednesday, as cornered rebels responded with mortar fire, convulsing Homs in the worst violence the city has seen in months, residents said.
Opposition figures and activists say those remaining — less than 1,000 people, the vast majority of whom are fighters — are for the most part looking for an exit strategy, but without one at hand, they have no choice but to dig in, and a hardcore few have vowed to fight to the end. Opposition figures and activists said those remaining — fewer than 1,000 people, the vast majority of whom are fighters — are for the most part looking for an exit strategy. But without one at hand, they have no choice other than to dig in. A hard-core few have vowed to fight to the end.
If the government were successful in securing the opposition’s last remaining foothold in the Old City, it would be a painful and symbolic 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 rebels have been steadily penned in and besieged over the past two years. But if the government captures their last foothold in the Old City, once a bastion of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, it would be a painful and symbolic loss for them.
The government’s long-term tactic to crush the rebellious areas of Homs — cutting them off from supplies and food — is a now a 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. The government’s long-term strategy to crush the rebellious areas of Homs — by cutting off food and other supplies — is a familiar one. Similar methods have been used to secure restive suburbs of Damascus, Syria’s capital, forcing rebels to accept cease-fires that some say amount to surrender.
However, in Homs, negotiations on a reconciliation deal, which have been underway for weeks, have stalled. The opposition complains that the government has never taken the negotiations seriously and is under pressure from pro-government militias to secure the area by force. However, in Homs, negotiations on a reconciliation deal, underway for weeks, have stalled. The opposition complains that the government has never taken the negotiations seriously and is under pressure from pro-regime militias to secure the area by force.
Spirits beaten downSpirits beaten down
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. A series of murky events in recent weeks have helped clear the way for a military offensive by pro-Assad forces — sparking speculation within the opposition that a government hand was behind them. Others point a finger at rebels who disagreed with efforts to reach a cease-fire.
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. First, an apparently accidental explosion 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, which occurred immediately before the bombardment by Assad’s forces began.
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 said, weakening the resolve of some of those who remain in the city. There has been a slow and steady exodus since mass evacuations were conducted in February under the auspices of the United Nations.
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 past month, according to three activists in the city, and one put the number at nearer 1,000. Virtually no civilians remain, they said. Fighters turn themselves in at a school, where they wait to be cleared, and hundreds remain in detention, the activists said.
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 since last month, and it predicted that rebel-held areas of the city would fall within the week. The Syrian Arab News Agency 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 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 said the accidental explosion, which killed more than two dozen rebels this month, was a turning point. Initially reported as the premature detonation of a car bomb being prepared by rebels, the incident seriously damaged morale in the city’s last major pocket of resistance. Abdulqadr al-Jumaa, a prominent rebel leader, and other senior fighters died in the blast.
Those killed in the explosion were close to the Rev. Frans Van der Lugt, a Dutch Jesuit priest who refused to leave the Old City, based near his church, rebels say. Those killed in the explosion were close to the Rev. Frans van der Lugt, a Dutch Jesuit who refused to leave the Old City, rebels said. A day later, he was assassinated. His presence in the Old City had provided some comfort to the opposition, and after he was killed, rebels predicted that it would not be long before a government offensive began.
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 stallNegotiations stall
Negotiations on a reconciliation plan for the city have been underway for the past month, but a deal fell through last week, rebels say. Negotiations on a reconciliation plan for Homs have been underway for a 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. Pro-government militias were particularly opposed to a deal. An opposition negotiating team, headed by a local doctor, had outlined an agreement with terms similar to truces elsewhere, including the withdrawal of heavy weapons and the establishment of joint committees to govern the area. Pro-government militias were particularly opposed to such a deal.
Then, a double car bombing struck a pro-government neighborhood, killing 25 people according to Syrian state television. That marked the end of negotiations and the beginning of an apparent military assault. Then, a double car bombing struck a pro-government neighborhood, killing 25 people according to Syrian state television. That marked the end of negotiations and the beginning of an apparent military assault. As airstrikes and artillery fire increased, rebels were described as looking for a way out.
As airstrikes and artillery fire increased, rebels were 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 of 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.” Sham said her organization has contacted the U.S. State Department to request that it apply pressure for a cease-fire that would allow rebel fighters to leave and the wounded to be evacuated.
She said her organization has contacted 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 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.”
“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.”
Some remain steadfastSome remain steadfast
The government has made small advances in the Old City. 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. Government forces have made small advances recently in the Old City. Abu Bilal, who uses a pseudonym for security reasons, said the army took two buildings in the neighborhood of Wadi al-Sayeh about noon Tuesday. It was the army’s first push into the Old City since the Khalidiya neighborhood 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 some rebels might prove difficult to dislodge.
But even as many rebels appear close to capitulation if the chance comes, others might prove difficult to dislodge. 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 says later. “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.” Abu Bilal said that three rebels were killed Tuesday and 10 were wounded but that there were significant 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 significant 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 rebel commander in the countryside to the north said in a statement. He called for rebels to put aside their differences and to organize joint operations.
“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 rebels were getting ready for the end. Inside the city, some of the fighters who didn’t wish to leave were “preparing themselves with suicide belts,” 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 in Beirut contributed to this report.
Tania Majdalani contributed from Beirut.