The Free Syrian Army Continues to Push Forward, Against all Odds

Media Note

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

June 11, 2013

As the Assad regime forces, with the help of Hezbollah militia, continue their rapid military advances in places like Qusair and Ghouta, the Free Syrian Army is advancing on many fronts across Syria. Buoyed by their invasion of the strategic town of Qusayr on the border with Lebanon, Bashar al-Assad's troops are preparing to open a northern front in Aleppo. However, Assad’s media sources continue to cover up repeated defeats in Daraa, Aleppo, Damascus and Al-Raqqa, while the Free Syrian Army continues to be victorious in those areas and increase in both numbers and strength.

While the FSA has bravely pushed forward, they remain in need of defensive arms to repel Assad’s aerial and ground attacks that threaten the lives of civilian populations on a daily basis.

Khalid Saleh, Media Director of the Syrian Coalition stated: “The Free Syrian Army is in dire need of defensive arms to repel the Assad regime's aerial and ground attacks that threaten civilian populations. Such support will also serve to balance conditions on the ground. This push will force Assad to realize that he cannot crush the revolution by military force and must engage earnestly in a meaningful process to implement the full transition of executive authority to a transitional government as outlined in the Geneva Communique.”

The Supreme Military Command of the Free Syrian Army has consistently asserted their capability of working with the international community to distribute arms to carefully vetted members of the FSA and to ensure consent of voluntary disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration as a precondition to receiving arms.

The Syrian Coalition commends the Supreme Military Council and Free Syrian Army for their steadfast heroism in their fight to change Syria into a free, democratic nation with liberty and equal rights for all Syrians, regardless of race or creed.

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.