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Military Council discusses with Ford Ways to Support Combat Battalions, Provide Humanitarian Aid to Besieged Cities, Confirms a Matching Vision with America about Toppling Assad

The Supreme Military Council headed by Chief of Staff of the Free Syrian Army Salim Idris and U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford searched for the best ways to support the Free Syrian Army and military battalions that defend civilians and demonstrators in Syria. They also discussed ways to provide humanitarian assistance through the opening of humanitarian corridors and forcing Bashar al Assad’s regime to lift the sieges. This meeting confirmed that the American vision of the Geneva meeting is identical with the vision of the majority of the Syrian people and the Syrian National Coalition’s insistence that there is no place for Assad in Syria’s future as well as the necessity of holding accountable those with blood on their hands and moving Syria into a free democratic state. The Chief of Staff of the Free Syrian Army, Major General Salim Idris, confirmed to Ambassador Ford that, “improving the status of the Free Syrian Army on the ground and strengthening it is a necessity for any political solution in Syria." They also discussed various humanitarian and military files, especially the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the areas besieged by the regime, and the hundreds of thousands of refugees inside and outside the country. The importance of continued coordination and cooperation was agreed upon by both parties, also to identify deficiencies and what is needed to strengthen the FSA in order to overthrow the Assad regime and defend the people and the unarmed demonstrators.

(Source: Coalition)

Coalition News

Warning of New Massacres in al Mitras and the Coalition Calls on the International Community to Protect Civilians and Secure Humanitarian Corridors

The Syrian National Coalition warned the international community of the possibility of a new massacre being committed in the village of al Mitras in the countryside of Tartous. They requested “the protection of civilians and the opening of protected humanitarian corridors and the provision of necessary aid to people in besieged cities”. By doing this they seek to “prevent bloodshed and to eliminate the specter of massacres and disasters experienced by Syrians for two and a half years”. It should be noted that the Free Syrian Army repelled and advance by Assad regime thugs on the village. The Coalition statement indicated that the thugs are still stationed in the surrounding areas of the village, which is surrounded by man villages under Assad regime control. It is worth noting that this area experienced a massacre last month which claimed the lives of four people in one family. Also, the regime’s artillery guns continue to target civilian homes resulting in the martyrdom of five of the residents and injuring four others.

(Source: Coalition)

Local News

Assad: I feel that I will Nominate Myself America: Assad’s Nomination is Unfathomable

Bashar al Assad announced that he will nominate himself to the presidential elections in 2014, in the case that “the people want” this. He said, “If I felt that the Syrian people want me to be president in the upcoming term then I will be nominated.” He added, “if the answer was no, then I will not be nominated.” Bashar al Assad placed a time frame for deciding on his nomination, or lack thereof, saying, “In a matter of four or five months from now this picture should be clear for me.” On a similar note, the Deputy spokesperson for the United States State Department, Marie Harf said the idea that a dictator such as Bashar al Assad to run for any elected office was “really unfathomable”. Harf recalled in the press conference “It’s really unfathomable to think that the leader of a regime that has slaughtered over 100,000 of its own people, gassed to death over 1,400 on August 21st,” in reference to the two Ghouta massacres, “would even contemplate running in an election to lead the country.” “The Syrian people have been clear about what they want, and we have been clear that we will support them. And if he really were to follow the wishes of the Syrian people, he would go,” she said.

(Source: al Hayat)

On The Ground Development

33 Martyrs in Syria until this evening and 68 yesterday

Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 68 martyrs yesterday. Until 6 PM this evening 33 martyrs were killed, among them four women and two children. Also 13 martyrs in Hama, eight in Damascus and its countryside, five in Homs, four in Daraa, two in Idleb, and one in Aleppo.

(Source: Local Coordination Committees)

Free Syrian Army Battles Target Deep Into the Regime’s Security Structure Mortar Shells Target Regime Strongholds in the Capitol Damascus

After warnings to the residents of Damascus that regime strongholds would be targeted in Damascus, the Free Syrian Army targeted regime security personnel, security branches, and military groupings in al Qasaa around the French Hospital, Tahrir Square, Baghdad Street with approximately five mortar shells. Ambulances rushed to the scenes with no reports of victims as well as in Bab Touma, near the al Saleeb Church with no reports of damage, also on al Amara district around the 8th of March compound there were reports of physical damage only, and many mortars fell on Geaorge Khoury Square with reports of physical damage only. Clashes occurred between the FSA and regime forces around Joubar district. The FSA also targeted the Headquarters of Miltitary Vehicles in Harasta with confirmed direct hits. In the meantime regime forces shelled al Yamkouk district with heavy machine guns resulting in the injury of many people amidst clashes with the FSA around the area resulting in the killing of many regime soldiers and the injury of others.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

The Free Syrian Army Targets 12th Batalltion in Izri, Shelling Targets Daraa Residents

The Free Syrian Army targeted regime forces based in the 12th Batallion in Izri as well as on the Hajana Brigade close to the Daraa customs border crossing as well as one of the buildings in which regime soldiers and Lebanese Hizbullah militia fighters are based in the western district of Busra al Shaam. Regime forces continued their shelling of various areas in the city as regime fighter jets shelled Daraa al Balad resulting in material damage.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

The Free Syrian Army Took Control of al Makateb Checkpoint in Teebat al Imam and Targets a Car of Thugs Headed to Kill Civilians

The Free Syrian Army took control of al Makateb checkpoint in Teebat al Imam north of Hama. They also destroyed a military truck killing a number of Assad regime soldiers in the “catastrophe stricken” village of Tal al Mileh in the Hama countryside. Regime helicopters shelled Jib Abyad, Kafar Zayta, and Aqrab resulting in the injury of many people and the destruction of many homes. Regime fighter jets shelled the town of Muarat Misreen in Idleb resulting in the martyrdom of three people and the injury of others.

(Source: Coalition + Local Coordination Committees)

International Arab Positions

Iran Avoids Making Any Commitments on Geneva, High Level Sources Say There are Still Obstacles

A high level diplomatic source in the United Nations said that the Geneva 2 conference faces challenges and complexities of several types despite agreement among the five permanent members of the Security Council, Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the Arab international envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, for the conference to take place in the second half of November. The source explained that Iran “Despite the hospitality received by its president Hassan Rohani in New York , is avoiding making any commitment to the Geneva 1 Declaration - which was released last year and the Geneva 2 conference which is supposed to develop a mechanism to enforce it”. The same source, who atteneded bilateral meetings with Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York, said that “the Iranians were saying one thing and its opposite in bilateral meetings with presidents and ministers in New York , they said they do not oppose the change but they described the opposition as terrorists”.

(Source: al Hayat)

Iran Allows Assad to Disperse Some of His Airborne Weapons Systems Inside Iran Expressing Willingness to Help When Needed

According to the German magazine Der Spiegel, Iran allowed the Assad regime Air Force to fly in their airspace and land on Iranian territory. The magazine reported that based on intelligence information that there is a military agreement allowing the regime since last November, "the deployment of a large part of its Airborne Weapons Systems in Iranian territory, available for use when needed."