World

Syrian Army Storms Cities Before Dawn, Shooting and Killing 45, Activists Say

BEIRUT (AP) – The Syrian army raided cities across the country before dawn Sunday, killing at least 34 people – most of them in the flashpoint city of Hama where a barrage of shelling and gunfire left bodies scattered in the streets, activists and residents said.

The government is escalating its crackdown on protests calling for President Bashar Assad’s ouster ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts Monday in Syria. Demonstrations are expected to swell during Ramadan as the protesters and government forces try to tip the balance in a remarkably resilient uprising that began in mid-March.

Having sealed off the main roads into Hama almost a month ago, army troops in tanks pushed into the city before daybreak Sunday in a coordinated assault. Residents shouted “God is great!” and threw firebombs, stones and sticks at the tanks. The crackle of gunfire and thud of tank shells echoed across the city, and clouds of black smoke drifted over rooftops.

“It’s a massacre, they want to break Hama before the month of Ramadan,” an eyewitness who identified himself by his first name, Ahmed, told The Associated Press by telephone from Hama, where at least 23 people were killed Sunday.

Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties and were seeking blood donations, he said.

During Ramadan, Muslims throng mosques for special night prayers after breaking their daily dawn-to-dusk fast. The gatherings could trigger intense protests throughout the predominantly Sunni country and activists say authorities are moving to ensure that does not happen.

Other raids were reported in southern Syria and in the suburbs of the capital Damascus. In the neighborhood of al-Joura in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour, soldiers in tanks fired machine guns, killing at least seven people, activists said.

In the village of al-Hirak in the southern province of Daraa, residents said security forces killed four people after opening fire early Sunday on residents as people ventured into the streets to buy bread.

A resident who gave his name as Abu Mohammed said more than 40 were wounded and 170 detained in house-to-house arrests.

He said some soldiers defected to the protesters after having refused orders to shoot at people.

The reports could not be independently verified because Syria has banned most foreign media and restricted coverage.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the attacks against civilians were “all the more shocking” on the eve of Ramadan and appeared to be part of a “coordinated effort to deter Syrians” from protesting in advance of the Muslim holy month.

“President Bashar is mistaken if he believes that oppression and military force will end the crisis in his country. He should stop this assault on his own people now,” Hague said in London.

A spokesman for The Local Coordination Committees, which organizes and monitors anti-government protests in Syria, said the group has the names of 23 civilians who died in Sunday’s onslaught on Hama.

Omar Idilbi says the number is likely to be much higher as many of the dead have yet to be identified.

The London-based Observatory for Human Rights, quoting hospital officials in Hama, says the number of deaths could be as high as 45. A resident in Hama gave the same number, but the figure could not be independently confirmed.

An activist and Hama resident who identified himself as Saleh Abu Yaman said some soldiers had defected and were fighting against troops loyal to the regime. He said snipers had taken up position on the rooftops of government buildings in the city.

Another resident said the city had been expecting an assault after security troops and pro-government thugs started streaming into the city overnight.

Residents set up sand and stone barricades to try and keep troops out, and set fire to tires.

An estimated 1,600 civilians have died in the crackdown on the largely peaceful protests against President Bashar Assad’s regime since the uprising began. Most were killed in shootings by security forces on anti-government rallies.

Hama, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) north of the capital Damascus, has become one of the hottest centers of the demonstrations, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating every week in its central Assi Square.

In early June, security forces shot dead 65 people there, and since then it has fallen out of government control, with protesters holding the streets and government forces ringing the city and conducting overnight raids.

The city has a history of dissent against the Assad dynasty. In 1982, Assad’s late father, Hafez Assad, ordered his brother to quell a rebellion by Syrian members of the conservative Muslim Brotherhood movement. The city was sealed off and bombs dropped from above smashed swaths of the city and killed between 10,000 and 25,000 people, rights groups say.

The real number may never be known. Then, as now, reporters were not allowed to reach the area.

Comments (81)

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  • Passerby
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:53am

    Assad isn’t a Muslim. He’s an Alawite. They’re pagans that prentend to be Muslims. Run several Muslim countries too. Big untold story in the Middle East.

    They think they are Phoenicians, and live where the Phoenicians were before being overrun by the Philistines and running off to Carthage.

    The Alawites keep their religion secret and pretend to be whatever religion is in power. Christians thought they were Christians, Shiite Muslims tend to think they are Muslim. The women aren’t taught the religion they are such second class citizens, and openly worship trees and other pagan idols. About a century ago a converted Alawite revealed their secret books that only the select Alawites are allowed to see. Very pagan. They don’t go to Mosque, or Mecca, drink alcohol, and say all those words in the Koran mean something other than what they say. It‘s convenient for Iran to say they’re Muslim, Shiites ruling a country that’s 70% Muslims Alawites are 10%.

    They fought against the Muslims for the French Christians, and begged them for their own country when it was split up, saying the Muslims would persecute them. But they were thrown to the wolves and occupied the lowest levels of society in poverty. But they joined the army in large numbers, as a way to make a living, and during a Sunni political struggle, where most Sunni generals were fired, they were promoted to fill the gap. With control of the Army, they siezed control of the country.

    When the Sunni Muslims take

    Report Post » Passerby  
  • Cynic-clinic
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:48am

    From the article, ” Residents shouted “God is great!” and threw firebombs, stones and sticks at the tanks”.

    Now do you have any questions why US citizens must protect our right to keep and bear arms? When or if rebellion comes to this country I for one don‘t want to be throwing sticks at our government’s tanks.

    Report Post »  
  • Cynic-clinic
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:42am

    So where is the UN and its R2P ( Responsibility to Protect) program which claims to protect all the threatened people of the world. According to their policy, the UN believes that it has the option, if not the responsibility, to ignore sovereign borders and political establishments to go into a country and protect the people under threat of actual danger and death. This was the impetus for the US and the UN to decide to attack Libya. It was the policy championed by Hillary and Samantha Power, that bleeding heart, marxist libral who sits at the right hand of the annointed one dictating US foreign policy while the Congress works on schemes to conviscate more money to buy votes and keep themselves in power.

    What a bunch of __________________. Fill in the blank yourselves–I’ve run out of words to describe these criminals.

    Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 4:08pm

      R2P ( Responsibility to Protect).

      Where is Mrs R2P, Samantha Power, when you need her? Why is she keeping a low profile. She is keeping a low public profile; she may have a large one in Washington.
      Why isn’t Mrs R2p out talking to the country on the need to intervene in Syria and Libya everyday. Is it because she would be booed off the public stage?

      How can you protect anyone when the liberals keep gutting the military? Do the liberals expect soldiers to go to war in humvees instead of mine resistant vehicles?

      These R2p have been at for more than a few years. Why didn‘t they get a hold of Clinton’s ear in 1994 during the Rwandan genocide. If we had stopped it, then the Democrats couldn’t apologize and racistly accuse of letting it go on.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_to_protect

      http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/

      Report Post »  
  • spotster
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:41am

    rose ellen you are the most vile lying pos i have ever read empowerment my eye these people cant even bathe themselves, you really need to loosen the burka a little. remember you are the one we come for first. idiot

    Report Post »  
  • don young
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:39am

    I thought it was against there muslim faith to kill another muslim so much for there faith but if they keep it up we won,t have any left trying to kill us .

    Report Post »  
  • Sam Brown
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:39am

    Sounds like the Syrians have their own version of the BATFE.

    Report Post »  
  • affinnity
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:26am

    These Arabs are such lousy fighters they attack multiple cities and only kill 34 people. Why do the Arab Muslim’s keep buying weapons and starting wars when they suck so much at fighting?

    Report Post » affinnity  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:18am

    Stay out of it. We are fighting enough wars for somebody else. We need to keep our military out of the police business. The world needs to learn to fight their own battles, period.

    Report Post »  
  • gpk
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:13am

    Sent Carter, Jackson & Sharpton……you know the old saying…..two birds (this case 3) with one stone………ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……….happiness.

    Report Post »  
  • sjohn70037
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:20am

    i do enjoy watching muslims killing muslims. Is it just me?

    Report Post » sjohn70037  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:29am

      Couldnt agree more.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:58am

      Anders Behring Breivik would enjoy this too

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:01am

      If you belive in murder then you have nothing to complain about when you get a little blowback a la 9-11 or have your children felt up at airports!Oh and syrians are not islamists and never have been .Their support of hamas is based on political support with palestinians ,not religion! The syrians are educated westernized [unfortunately the regime has been in league with soviet style ideology of the 20th c].As revolution on the streets of syria unfolds your hated muslims here go about their business and all you can do is WIS to see them murdered [you are after all 21st c anti-semitc nazis in your thinking] but you lack power and hence no way to actualize your genocidal longings].Impotent genociidists[how pathetic] !As those muslims act and your elites in washington keep you in line!Wow a nation of brainwashed genocidists with no power as those backward oppressed muslims empower themselves! Amazing! Oh and long live the noble muslim brotherhood[an anti-colonialist movement ]updated for a post colonial,post american proxy dictator egypt.[As your elities like obama and hilary clinton-who keep you brainwashed anti-semites[against muslims this time] in line acknowedge!

      Report Post »  
    • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:14am

      Yes!

      Report Post »  
    • affinnity
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:19am

      Rose-ellen. You actually seem to care about the Arab Muslim’s. It’s nice to care about others. But I think you’re not seeing the big picture here. Most people who comment on the Blaze hate Arab Muslim’s. If the Arab‘s want us to like them and help them all they have to do is stop being a Muslim’s.

      Report Post » affinnity  
    • nysparkie
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 6:18pm

      ROSE_ELLEN: Did some of your supporters get whacked again? Too bad. I hope ALL HA watches out for them.

      Report Post » nysparkie  
  • Iman Barak Hussein
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:58am

    Syria, Egypt and Libya all have or had dictators who use or used a heavy hand to subdue radical islam from overthrowing their regime.
    But judging from happened in egypt, all these dictatorships will fall to radical islam,
    and that’s when the fun starts.
    The democrats want to slash our military budget.
    In fact that’s the ONLY place where they willing to cut funding.
    Radical Islam, in just a few years from now,
    will tear apart the world, and we need to be prepared,
    as overwhelming a task it may seem.

    Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
  • stevoschmidt
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:51am

    I hope Cynthia McKinney goes to Syria on her hate America tour in the middle east.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 5:01pm

      Those muslim/arabs could care less what you think of them-as cow towing to your professed [but hypocritical ]sensibilities has not been something they are known to do to impressthe west.[they didn't remain true to their primitive 1700yr. beliefs by capitualting to western sensibilities]. They rose up against our unjust meddling in their homelands.Nothing would satisfy them more then for you to disengage from them in their homelands.Self determination for arab muslims. if, you hate their muslim faith because itt‘s so evil and you’re so good then have an open door policy for women and gay apostates to that faith. You should have open borders for heretical muslims As things stand you hate them but have no power to act on your hatred or you’ll end up in prrison[by your own non muslim people].Hence all you can do is rail aimpotently against them.Those muslims do their thing quietly here and not quietly there.Your likes and dislikes have no relevance in the world[whether here or there] .Their likes and dislikes on the other hand does have an impact in their world and here [they can come here if they like and they can remain silent if they like and they can fress as they like and they can build mosques if they like].You’re likes and dislikes are irrelevent and devoid of power.long live the noble muslim freedom fighters and the arab spring.

      Report Post »  
    • nysparkie
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 6:21pm

      ROSE_ELLEN: Getting better. That copying and pasting from MS Word and using spell check works pretty good, don’t it?

      Report Post » nysparkie  
    • I_Object
      Posted on August 1, 2011 at 1:56pm

      the expression is “couldn’t care less”… not that i expect this screed dribbling goofball nut, Rose Ellen to understand. Rose – go away – you’ve made your point ad-infinitum and it’s getting redundant to see you on every islamic thread obfuscating (poorly i might add) and making excuses and propagandizing on behalf of the whole of Islam. Nobody here will change their minds and no amount of bleating from you is gonna make any real impact. If you want to convince someone of something… Go to your land of Islam and persuade this “religion of peace” to reform itself and ouster the pedophiles, the murderers, the criminally insane nut-bag leaders, and all the rest of the cowards who agree with them but simply don’t join the fight (because no amount of dogma will make them betray their instincts to survive) and have a period of enlightenment within your religion. It needs to be modernized and fixed or eradicated in it’s current form. It is barbaric, anti-human, rigidly totalitarian, brutal, and most of all unjustifiable in it’s current state of being. Stop sympathizing with them and start urging them to grow up and recognize that we all only have 1 life to live and it’s time to get on with the living aspect, instead of being locked in a perpetual state of murder, revenge, corruption, and pure unadulterated EVIL.

      Report Post » I_Object  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:51am

    thank you mister Grabpenny

    Report Post »  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:42am

    another day in the arab spring……….

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • Seede
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:38am

    Americans should all take note that this is what happens when you have the rocks and they have the guns. Better wake up America and get these bums out of DC. When the time comes you will need your powder and bullets and that may not be far off.

    Report Post »  
  • Seede
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:28am

    And now we see the truth. The Muslims are nothing but barbaric people who love to kill. I hope Rose Ellen and her elk are watching this very closely and take note that it is not the bad Jew or American who caused this but the brotherhood Hamas who are the power seekers. The Palestinians voted for this bunch and the Muslim Obama gang sanctioned the marriage. Isn’t it odd that you never hear from the DC gang till the shooting is over and Clinton crawls out from beneath the rug. Then you hear how bad the rotten rich American is. I wonder if Clinton is still in Africa trying to outlaw spears? We know Obama is out on the golf course or playing his basket ball while his Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan wars are losing on all fronts. Pelosi and Reid are busy making more money for the mobsters in Nevada and the nation burns with incompetent senators who override the will of the people who are supposed to be rep[resented by the congress. The old people are looking for their insurance check that was robbed from them for two years and given to the wall street bankers and yet we should be happy. Just be happy. I guess we do need change.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:33am

      The regime is a dictatorsship oppresssing its people[like the soviets in europe and fascists in spain and througout european history where forces in power oppressed[through torture and murder] its people.The 21stc arabs here in syria [christians and muslims] are rising up[their goon squads are part of a faction[tribal faction who benefit from the regime in power] are murdering those they are not allied with[the majority other people] This is a revolutionary moment for syrians. [the russsian revolution was bloody,the anti colonialist revolutions in india and parts of africa were bloody,revolutions in latin america [against brutal dictators ]were bloody.This is that..We who claim to value human rights should intervene on behalf of the people;.that we don’t makes us hypocrites as we occupy iraq and afghanistan.This is the real deal a peoples revolution and your genocidal anti arab/muslim narrative exposes your rabid anti-senitism[anti arab muslim this time] and nothing more. But your norwegiian compadre called you to crusade yet all you can do is rai impotently against your hated targets! You’re powerless as those arabs corageeously take a stand for what they believe in;liberation.Your politicians keep you in line as you rant on your blogs!Long live the arab spring. God willing the people will prevail over this brutal dictatorship as people there struggle for a 21stc free mid east. Self determination for arabs,not dictatorship or american proxys.

      Report Post »  
  • rightwingheroes
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:19am

    What happened to the “responsibility to protect”????
    Why is Samantha Power not harping in Obama’s ear about it now?
    Are the people of Syria not worthy of help?
    Do we just sit back and watch people be slaughtered?
    How is Syria any different from Libya?
    It’s worse…..yet the international community does nothing…

    Report Post »  
    • King David
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:47am

      Where is R2P ?
      Where is code pink?
      Where are the leftists?
      Where is the UN?
      Where is Europe?
      Where is the Arab league?
      Where is Comrade Obama?

      If this was Israel the world would be screaming bloody murder.

      This is classic.

      Jew/Hebrew/Israelitephobia lives

      Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:02am

      Absolutely!

      Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:12am

    I remember going to DC 11/09, to the TEA party , no Obamacre, rally. American snipers were placed on the Capitol roof, and they were NOT aiming at a violent protest. They were aiming at businees owners, retired , ex- military, children, part of the 53% of Actual Taxpaying Americans. It can happen here.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Son_of_Liberty
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:22am

      It will happen here as long as we keep electing tyrannts like Obama to office.
      “What country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.” Thomas Jefferson

      3%

      Report Post » Son_of_Liberty  
  • Son_of_Liberty
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:11am

    “No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” Thomas Jefferson

    3%

    Report Post » Son_of_Liberty  
  • Want our country back
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:59am

    45 people killed….. where is obama… didn’t he go into Libya for humanitarian reasons because 1 or 2 people were killed…. lol…. what is the real reason we’re in Libya….. notice that this administrations media doesn’t report on the daily death counts like they did when President Bush was in office…. bring our braves troops home from all around the world….. let’s fix us first.

    Report Post » Want our country back  
    • TAXLORDCOMETH
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:18am

      Where is Cynthia McKinney and the anti-Israel left when Arabs outside of Gaza are being shot in the streets?

      Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:46am

    When Chaos erupts, Evil men makes their moves, then God makes His.

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:53am

      Indeed, this uprising is now on the edge of becoming a full and active civil war; the main key will be as to which side the militaries of Syria, and in a more indirect means Turkey, decide to support in the conflict. Either way it is going to be horrendous and loss of life as well.

      We are seeing the nightmare war that Egypt could have been had a full insurrection come to them via the radical extremists bands (pick whichever one you wish from the area.)

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:07am

      This has nothing to do with radical islam .it’s dictatorship[soviet style] against the people. The syrians are not fundamentalist islamists.hamas is a political movement in palestine fighting against israeli occupation.You are incorrect in labeling this as a islamist revolution.neither side are islamists!.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:13am

      @Rose Ellen — you missed the point of comparison completely; the statement I make is to compare the outcomes in how bloody it has the potential to become in Syria and how it COULD HAVE BEEN in Egypt if the radical extremists HAD chosen to uprise in this manner.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • willnotbackdown
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:42am

    Notice Khadafie stoped bothering us after Reagan and Obama wants to bring him down, Mubaric was allied with use and he is gone. Now Assad hates us Obama will not do anything to help freedom fighters same with Iran, anyone see the pattern.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 4:43pm

      The outcome of our shock and awe in iraq and afghanistan is bloody[as all our invasions and targeted bombing in other peoples homelands]But anti-muslim genocidists have a myopic view about violence. To stand by when this mass murder by a soviet syle dictator takes place after we claim we are in iraq and afghanistan to liberate people is truly hypocritical and evil! The irony which you anti-muslim braainwashed genocidists fail to realize and are indifferent to is that these syrians are not islamists or fundamentalists and among the least anti western of of these arab countries! [I'm talking about the people the regime is nonfundamentalist but a soivet style tyranny where we rendered fundamentalist freedom fighters to be tortured and murdered by this soviet style dicato]r. We have alot of blood on our hands-you mass murdering directly or by proxy hypocrites.Those muslims[whether islamists or not ]are justified in their rising up against those regimes and our unjust invasions and unjust meddling. Now when we should stand for people against stalinist tyrany we do nothing.Which makes us complicit .

      Report Post »  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:36am

    Latest body count I’ve seen is at least 67 dead, well over 100 wounded.

    Why should we care about what goes on in Syria? Two biggest reasons:
    1) they are the primary conduit in funneling weapons used by the terrorist elements against Israel;
    2) they are pursuing nuclear weapons;
    a lesser reason they constantly oppose, impede & sabotage US efforts in the region & abroad –

    other than those reasons I say don’t even pay attention to these turds as they kill themselves …

    even still, I’m not overly interested in the fact they are killing themselves …

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:16am

      Yep we need to let the civil war burn over there. Pull out troops home and let the chips fall where they may. Defend Israel and our homeland and let the rest of the world work it all out. I am sick of paying for a world police force.

      Report Post »  
  • ALibertarianCitizen
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:17am

    I say we return to the likes of the “Monroe Doctrine”, with the exception of Israel, complete isolationism from the world’s affairs that do not directly involve us or Israel. Beats being the world’s policeman until we go broke.

    Report Post » ALibertarianCitizen  
    • gotta light
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:29am

      ARABS KILLING ARABS?!?!?!?!
      I’m ok with that… can we encourage more of it.

      How about Obama’s Arab Spring…..
      Is this how it was suppose to turn out?

      Hey bud gotta light?

      Report Post » gotta light  
    • chazman
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:33am

      It’s either the Syrian army or the muslim brotherhood. Both will kill whoever doesn’t toe the line, whatever line that may be. Arab’s are a messed up race of people and we have to stop allowing them to immigrate into America!!

      Report Post »  
    • ecurbyy
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:54am

      Ron Paul in 2012.

      Report Post » ecurbyy  
  • cloudsofwar
    Posted on July 31, 2011 at 8:16am

    God Bless America. God Bless our Founders. We the People don’t have to worry about our Government sending tanks to our neighborhoods. even though us tea partiers are extremeist, hobbits, racist or whatever.

    Report Post »  
    • jacobstroubles
      Posted on July 31, 2011 at 12:01pm

      WEll, that’s as of today.. we’ll probably see some game changers here in the US shortly.
      Good Luck

      Report Post »  
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