On Friday we documented the Syrian military assault on Homs, a city of 1.2 million civilians. The noose has been tightening for weeks, as the Syrian military first laid siege to Al Rastan, and many of the other suburbs, but what has happened since Friday can only be described as the slow destruction of the third largest city in Syria.
The siege did not end on Friday. On Saturday, the Syrian military rolled tanks into the center of the city, intimidating residents and making many arrests. But on Sunday, and again today, the artillery and tank shells once again ripped through the streets and exploded over the rooftops.
We don't wish to give the impression that the syrian military's brutal tactics are limited to Homs, but the city has become a symbol, of sorts, of what the Assad regime is capable of, the lengths they are willing to go to to cling to power.
Below is a collection of videos from Monday, Sunday, and Friday. If the media is unwilling to catalog the attack on the city of Homs, then EA will gladly follow the story:
This is just a small sampling of the videos that we have seen.
See Also, Syria Video Essay: The Military Assault on Homs
Monday
Deir Bielbe, Homs. Before the tank fires, you can hear children scream, and nearby gunfire:
Deir Bielbe, Homs. Gunfire and explosions can be heard, while several of the buildings and vehicles appear to have been destroyed by shelling. Some protesters point out the spent ammunition on the ground. At the end of the video, a tank can be seen rolling through the streets:
Deir Bielbe, Homs, Syria. Police appear to have lit this store on fire, and are looting it:
A business burns in Deir Balbe, Homs:
Smoke rises around a mosque in Hula, Homs:
The Aftermath in Bab Sbaa, Homs:
In Bab Sbaa, some of the cameramen appear to be working with the police:
Sunday
Friday
See more videos from Friday's shelling, and the damage to Homs, Syria: Syria Video Essay: The Military Assault on Homs