Syria Govt Claims Armed Men Killed 120 Security Forces, Vows to Respond ‘Strongly and Decisively’
- Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:24pm by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
BEIRUT (AP) — Armed men attacked Syrian security forces in a tense northern city on Monday, Syrian officials said, and 120 policemen and security forces were killed in a region where the army has carried out days of deadly assaults on protesters calling for the end of President Bashar Assad’s rule. The government vowed to respond “decisively,” setting the stage for a new crackdown.
Communications were cut to the area around Jisr al-Shughour on Monday and the details of the attack were impossible to verify, but there have been unconfirmed reports in the past by residents and activists of Syrians fighting back against security forces and even mutinous troops.
Adnan Mahmoud, the chief government spokesman, acknowledged that Syrian forces had lost control of some areas for “intermittent periods of time” and promised that the army would restore security in the area.
“We will deal strongly and decisively, and according to the law, and we will not be silent about any armed attack that targets the security of the state and its citizens,” said Interior Minister Ibrahim Shaar.
The government’s response set the stage for an even stronger crackdown against a popular uprising that began in mid-March and poses a potent threat to the 40-year regime of the Assad family. The possibility of a mutiny would show new cracks in a rule that has held out through weekly protests of thousands of people. Below, find a brief report from CNN:
State television added the armed groups carried out a “real massacre,” mutilating some bodies and throwing others in the Orontes River.
Jisr al-Shughour, about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the Turkish border, has been the latest focus of Syria’s military, whose nationwide crackdown on the revolt has left more than 1,200 Syrians dead, activists say. The town was a stronghold of the country’s banned Muslim Brotherhood in the 1980s. Human rights groups said at least 42 civilians have been killed there since Saturday.
Syria’s government has a history of violent retaliation against dissent, including a three-week bombing campaign against the city of Hama that crushed an uprising there in 1982. Jisr al-Shughour itself came under government shelling in 1980, when it was a stronghold of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, with a reported 70 people killed.
Assad’s decision to allow pro-Palestinian protesters to storm the Israeli border twice in recent weeks indicates he may be trying to deflect focus from a serious crisis at home, and possibly divert international attention from a new crackdown. State television broadly carried Sunday’s protest at the Golan Heights to the south frontier, which left as many as 23 people dead in fighting with Israeli forces, but it has not carried any footage of the protest, crackdown or ambush at the northern edge of Syria.
Monday’s state television report said the officers were ambushed as they responded to calls from residents for protection from the armed groups. It said 20 policemen were initially killed, and then the groups blew up a post office and attacked a security post, killing other forces.
The report said the armed groups were hiding in homes and firing at security forces and civilians alike, using residents as human shields.
The TV reports could not be independently confirmed. The Syrian government has severely restricted the media and expelled foreign reporters, making it nearly impossible to independently verify events.
Details of the operations in Jisr al-Shughour and nearby Khan Sheikhoun have been sketchy and attempts to reach residents of the town were unsuccessful.
Human rights activist Mustafa Osso cast doubt on the government accounts.
“The protesters have so far been peaceful and unarmed,” he said. Osso said there were unconfirmed reports of a few army deserters who switched sides and were fighting security forces.
Ahead of Monday’s report, another activist said gunmen had successfully kept security forces out of the area, but he had no details. Fearing retaliation, the activist requested anonymity.
Amnesty International criticized Syria’s “brutal treatment of protesters” and called on the UN Security Council to condemn the killings and refer Syria to the International Criminal Court.
“Those responsible for the brutal crackdown of pro-reform protesters must no longer be allowed to get away with murder,” Philip Luther, Amnesty’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement Monday.
Comments (33)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 586 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 375 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 414 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 372 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 412 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
glenng2
Posted on June 8, 2011 at 2:57amGee Obama what you gonna do now?
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 8:46amSo when are we deploying our drones to stop the killing of these innocent people?
Report Post »Isn’t this why we are involved in Libya?
Do you think the fact that more oil comes out of Taiwan than Syria has anything to do with the fact that we are not involved there?
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2176rank.html
Navyveteran
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 9:47ambut, but only republicans start war over oil, we have a democrat and he would never run any war for oil. If this was a war over oil the protesters and media would tell us just like they did with Bush.
This sentence is loaded with sarcasm for those who don’t do sarcasm
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 6:01amAs Glenn pointed out in monday’s TV show. The Syria government is paying those who are charging the border, and also killing their own in these protest. Of course the Russians have said hands off, so the MSM doesn’t deal with it. It’s all about the Weinerman.
Report Post »llotus
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:56pmDo the ones in America and around the world that are aiding these protesters think these people can be controled once their keepers are destroyed? If they do they will soon find that they cannot. They will all only be infidels to them. And they have shown what they do with infidels. Havnt they? Lotus.
Report Post »His Lamb is Satanic
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:48pmA very communist left leaning article with carefully chosen adjectives. This is a disinformation piece from the left peopaganda division at soros central.
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:41pmLets just get this over with they are not ever going to live side by side with jews or westerner.
Report Post »semihardrock
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:45pma pic like that AND a conservative! DAMN!
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:32pmCover story? Why so formal Asad? Just kill them all and bring in some palestupidians
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:15pmTo me, there’s no uglier place in the world right now than Syria.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:13pmIt’s hard to know what actually is taking place over there in Syria. I don’t automatically believe what is reported…there’s alot at play…I would think there is both CIA and Mossad doing work there….for the good or for the bad.
Report Post »saviorammo
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:04pmWhen they mass to go slaughter whole villages, daisy cutter the mothertruckers. And don’t ask our Muslim in Chump for permission either.
Way to go Barry. Just as planned. Let it all slip into chaos so know one knows who is attacking whom. And that goes for at home as well as abroad.
Your are the biggest piece of crap to ever come out of Keyna.
By the way, where the hell are all the little ching changs. Just building the largest Navy in the world. Don’t mind us over here. We just want your scrap metal and your debt and your jobs and your women….
Report Post »caprica
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:53pmthe muslims love to kill……themselfs..others ………they are savages……and We American have enough of these primitive people…….they will never stop – the are not civilized people….they are hateful braiwashed with islam cult ……I don’t care what they do ! or what the keanys do ! they all savages !
Report Post »Edct
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:36pmYou are absolutely right…keep trying to wake up apathetic America.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 1:02amSHEITES & SUNNIES savages !
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:49pmOh Bullcrap. This is merely a setup and pretext for the slaughter that is sure to come next.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 1:03amYelp ! ! !
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:45pmSecurity Forces have 63 kills, Israeli have 20 and Protestors have 120 kills. I find it hard to believe the civilians are out gunning the military by a 2:1 margin.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:30pm“Killed 120 security forces” …
Well…it’s a start.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:41pmyup
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:19pmThe syrian regime is claiming that 120 security forces were killed by protesters .
Report Post »Yeah right I will believe the syrian regime .
The truth is that some security forces refused to open fire on unarmed civilians & that’s when the syrian secret police opened fire on these security forces for disobeying orders .
This happens with all the dictators , kill anyone who disobey the dictator .
poverty.sucks
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:27pmQuote from Obama ” uh, em, eh, uh”
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:23pmThe most coherent policy statement O’Bama (he’s Irish yannow) has made in the past 6 months!
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:27pmMore civil unrest to explain to my kids! I really want them all to have a case of diahrea that puts them on the throne for a couple of days!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:56pmUnderstood, I hope and pray that this level of unrest never comes to our country; if it does, I figure it will be the Obama admin who will initiate it to have their incident to declare a total crackdown on the nation once and for all.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:58pm120 less Arab’s, good start !
Report Post »Now let‘s add about 7 more zero’s to the end of that number, no more problem, yes it’s just that easy : )
Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:23pm“Syria Govt Claims…“ sounds just like ”the US Govt claims” Which means it’s a total lie. They’re creating a crisis to be able to take advantage of it.
Report Post »ManThong
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:27pmDaddy Haffez set an impressive example and the insurgents are going to get a taste of what a Baath party despot that is a solid Russian client and doesn’t give a hoot about western pressure will do.
Sweet whispers from Hillary or threats from Barack won’t mean a thing and the party is just beginning over there.
Report Post »Now this is Art
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 9:45pmha yes…i LOVE it when muslims kill muslims…that many fewer that our boys have to deal with. mohammed was a murderer, rapists, pedophile and hate monger….who the hell follows someone like that??? OH YEAH !!!…the nazi’s. NO muslim is a good muslim. think back to hitler. were the people ‘just going along with the crowd’ good nazi’s??? no, they were nazi’s. 98% of muslims need to be extinguished before they get us.
Report Post »Cause4Liberty
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:14pmThis is the way the WORLD will become before the great Revealation to the masses… It only gets worse before it gets better….
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 10:44pmLooks like BO’s “Arab Spring” is just popping up all over the place! Hope him and his Google buddies and union thugs are happy with all the death they have inspired.
George Carlin once used this line on conservatives, which I will now borrow to lob at the socialist/progressives that mask as libs:
“It’s 10:45 pm, do you know what third world nation we’re bombing now? “
Report Post »Wilkins
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:19pm@ John 1776
“George Carlin once used this line on conservatives, which I will now borrow to lob at the socialist/progressives that mask as libs:
“It’s 10:45 pm, do you know what third world nation we’re bombing now?”
You sure that wasn’t Johnson in the White House?
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on June 7, 2011 at 12:59pmAhhhh…..it smells like Arab Spring
Report Post »