Press Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

December 10, 2013

Pro-Assad sectarian militias killed at least 34 civilians, including entire families, in al-Fatah neighborhood in Nabik, rural Damascus. After summarily executing them, Assad’s militias burned the bodies of these civilians. This massacre comes a day after the same militias murdered at least 50 civilians in the same neighborhood on Friday, December 6.

In the latest show of disrespect to human life, basic values, and dignity, Assad's Shabiha circulated videos and pictures on social media showing old men and children being dragged to their death by Assad’s mercenaries.

The Red Crescent was unable to reach the area after Assad’s forces opened fire at one of the organization’s convoys heading to the neighborhood on Saturday, December 7.

Stoking sectarian strife ignited by the Assad regime, Maliki’s Shabiha, Iran’s mullahs, and Hezbollah militia will only backfire on Assad's forces and his allies. The Syrian Coalition wishes to remind the world that the government of Maliki in Iraq facilitated the entry of at least 14 sectarian Shiite groups into Syria to fight alongside the Assad regime. Liwa “Zo al-Faqar” which is responsible for the two massacres in Nabik is one those groups.

The Syria Coalition calls on the international community to list all the sectarian groups fighting alongside Assad as terrorist organizations; primarily Liwa Abu al-Fadel al-Abbas, Liwa Zo al-Faqar, Lebanese Hezbollah, Liwa Kafeel Zeinab, Liwa al-Quwa al-Haidariya, Liwa Ammar Bin Yassir, Iraqi Hezbollah, Sayyed al-Shuhada’ brigades, Liwa al-Imam al-Hassan al-Mujtaba, Liwa al-Imam al-Hussein, Badr organization, al-Wa’d al-Sadiq, Saraya al-Tale’a al-Kharasani, and Saryat Ahmad Kayarah.

The Syrian Coalition reiterates the need to hold accountable all parties and governments that support and facilitate the entry of such groups into Syria; mainly the governments of Iran and Iraq.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.