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Battle Rages in Homs, Hub of Revolt Against Assad Government Battle Rages in Homs, Hub of Revolt Against Assad Government
(5 months later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Deadly battles are raging in Homs, the central Syrian city that was long a hub and a symbol of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, with both soldiers and insurgents saying they have lost many fighters in recent days as the government presses an all-out assault on the last few rebel-held areas in the Old City of Homs. BEIRUT, Lebanon — Deadly battles are raging in Homs, the central Syrian city that was long a hub and a symbol of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, with both soldiers and insurgents saying they have lost many fighters in recent days as the government presses an all-out assault on the last few rebel-held areas in the Old City of Homs.
Insurgents and antigovernment activists reported near-continuous bombardment of the Old City enclaves and the nearby neighborhood of Waer, a sometimes restive area whose population of 100,000 has been doubled by displaced Syrians, including many from the Old City, sheltering there.Insurgents and antigovernment activists reported near-continuous bombardment of the Old City enclaves and the nearby neighborhood of Waer, a sometimes restive area whose population of 100,000 has been doubled by displaced Syrians, including many from the Old City, sheltering there.
State news media and government opponents reported that a car bomb killed numerous people on Friday outside a mosque in an area called March 8 Square near a government checkpoint. Each side blamed the other, giving death tolls ranging from none to more than 30. University students and Palestinian refugees living in the area were reported to be among the dead in the latest of many such bombings.State news media and government opponents reported that a car bomb killed numerous people on Friday outside a mosque in an area called March 8 Square near a government checkpoint. Each side blamed the other, giving death tolls ranging from none to more than 30. University students and Palestinian refugees living in the area were reported to be among the dead in the latest of many such bombings.
An army officer reached on the Old City’s outskirts said soldiers were advancing and taking casualties, but while officers had earlier predicted a quick victory, he declined to say when the fight would end. Government opponents and their international backers called on the United Nations to take action to prevent what they feared would be an imminent massacre in the Old City, saying that despite evacuations of about 1,500 civilians from the areas, more than 100 remained, along with more than 1,000 fighters. But with the Security Council divided, as Russia backs the government and the United States backs the opposition, only a tepid statement of “grave concern” was issued on Thursday.An army officer reached on the Old City’s outskirts said soldiers were advancing and taking casualties, but while officers had earlier predicted a quick victory, he declined to say when the fight would end. Government opponents and their international backers called on the United Nations to take action to prevent what they feared would be an imminent massacre in the Old City, saying that despite evacuations of about 1,500 civilians from the areas, more than 100 remained, along with more than 1,000 fighters. But with the Security Council divided, as Russia backs the government and the United States backs the opposition, only a tepid statement of “grave concern” was issued on Thursday.
The deadlock comes despite a resolution adopted by the Council in February calling for full access to humanitarian aid, and admonitions in recent days from the Syrian opposition coalition and the United Nations mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. The coalition said the Council risked becoming “a mere spectator,” and Mr. Brahimi said Homs had again become a “theater of death and destruction,” three months after the evacuation deal raised hopes for calm.The deadlock comes despite a resolution adopted by the Council in February calling for full access to humanitarian aid, and admonitions in recent days from the Syrian opposition coalition and the United Nations mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. The coalition said the Council risked becoming “a mere spectator,” and Mr. Brahimi said Homs had again become a “theater of death and destruction,” three months after the evacuation deal raised hopes for calm.
Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said the Syrian government was not only ignoring the Security Council resolution but also “intentionally increasing the despair of the Syrian people in its all-out bid to retain personal power.” The Syrian government says it is rooting out foreign fighters and terrorists who have shelled civilian areas.Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said the Syrian government was not only ignoring the Security Council resolution but also “intentionally increasing the despair of the Syrian people in its all-out bid to retain personal power.” The Syrian government says it is rooting out foreign fighters and terrorists who have shelled civilian areas.
Homs has long been a focal point of international demands that fighters lift blockades of food and supplies for civilians, a practice used by both sides but in more cases by the government. In the Old City, besieged and bombarded by the government for much of the past two years, residents and fighters have resorted to eating leaves and grass.Homs has long been a focal point of international demands that fighters lift blockades of food and supplies for civilians, a practice used by both sides but in more cases by the government. In the Old City, besieged and bombarded by the government for much of the past two years, residents and fighters have resorted to eating leaves and grass.
A committee of Homs residents, which helped negotiate the evacuations, recently issued a statement declaring that while “the eyes of the world” had turned away from Homs, civilians were still starving in the Old City and facing indiscriminate bombardment and blockades there and in Waer.A committee of Homs residents, which helped negotiate the evacuations, recently issued a statement declaring that while “the eyes of the world” had turned away from Homs, civilians were still starving in the Old City and facing indiscriminate bombardment and blockades there and in Waer.
But government officials say those who remain in the Old City are entirely insurgents, and soldiers and security officials on its outskirts told reporters on a recent visit that the stage was set for a battle to crush all those who remained. The Homs governor, Talal Barazi, said there was no more need to deliver aid to the area, because “the government doesn’t desire to provide the armed groups with aid.”But government officials say those who remain in the Old City are entirely insurgents, and soldiers and security officials on its outskirts told reporters on a recent visit that the stage was set for a battle to crush all those who remained. The Homs governor, Talal Barazi, said there was no more need to deliver aid to the area, because “the government doesn’t desire to provide the armed groups with aid.”
Abu Bilal, an insurgent spokesman whose name is a nom de guerre, said Friday that the Old City was covered in smoke and that shrapnel was flying continuously as the government used mortars and heavy artillery, and barrel bombs dropped by helicopters.Abu Bilal, an insurgent spokesman whose name is a nom de guerre, said Friday that the Old City was covered in smoke and that shrapnel was flying continuously as the government used mortars and heavy artillery, and barrel bombs dropped by helicopters.
“More than seven hours of continuous bombing; it’s an insane war,” he said. “With all this mess, a fighter arrived at the makeshift hospital. His body was covered with shrapnel wounds, but he was smiling. He said, ‘I had shish tawook’ ” — grilled chicken on skewers, a dream meal for fighters and civilians in the Old City, long deprived of meat. The fighter, Abu Bilal said, had been with a group that stormed a government post and found rice, soda, yogurt and the chicken.“More than seven hours of continuous bombing; it’s an insane war,” he said. “With all this mess, a fighter arrived at the makeshift hospital. His body was covered with shrapnel wounds, but he was smiling. He said, ‘I had shish tawook’ ” — grilled chicken on skewers, a dream meal for fighters and civilians in the Old City, long deprived of meat. The fighter, Abu Bilal said, had been with a group that stormed a government post and found rice, soda, yogurt and the chicken.
The government’s offer of reconciliation, amnesty and evacuation for those who lay down arms has sown division among those remaining, with some residents speculating that a Dutch priest killed recently inside the Old City was murdered by fighters opposing the evacuations, and others contending that government infiltrators killed him to pave the way for the assault. Some fighters argue that they should accept the evacuation deal because staying put is suicidal.The government’s offer of reconciliation, amnesty and evacuation for those who lay down arms has sown division among those remaining, with some residents speculating that a Dutch priest killed recently inside the Old City was murdered by fighters opposing the evacuations, and others contending that government infiltrators killed him to pave the way for the assault. Some fighters argue that they should accept the evacuation deal because staying put is suicidal.
United Nations officials have said that under international law, people in wartime have the right to receive food where they are without having to leave their homes or make deals.United Nations officials have said that under international law, people in wartime have the right to receive food where they are without having to leave their homes or make deals.
Abu Bilal said there would be “no more reconciliations, no more negotiations,” and condemned those who evacuated as “hypocrites” who “revealed our vulnerabilities and positions.”Abu Bilal said there would be “no more reconciliations, no more negotiations,” and condemned those who evacuated as “hypocrites” who “revealed our vulnerabilities and positions.”
In Waer, Yamen Abu Omar, a resident and opposition spokesman, described constant artillery fire and shortages of food and medicine for 200,000 people.In Waer, Yamen Abu Omar, a resident and opposition spokesman, described constant artillery fire and shortages of food and medicine for 200,000 people.
“Yesterday was one of the most difficult days Waer has lived,” he said. “There is no support, and the siege is crippling, but we are steady.”“Yesterday was one of the most difficult days Waer has lived,” he said. “There is no support, and the siege is crippling, but we are steady.”
Residents were also fleeing the last few Homs suburbs still in insurgent hands, fearing government assaults, said Samer, an antigovernment activist who said he had survived a massacre by pro-government fighters in Houla, about 20 miles northwest of Homs, in 2012. “I don’t want to witness another,” he said. “I prefer to die from a shell.”Residents were also fleeing the last few Homs suburbs still in insurgent hands, fearing government assaults, said Samer, an antigovernment activist who said he had survived a massacre by pro-government fighters in Houla, about 20 miles northwest of Homs, in 2012. “I don’t want to witness another,” he said. “I prefer to die from a shell.”