Syria, Bahrain (and Beyond) Live Coverage: The "Free Syrian Army" Makes An Impression

Women and children rally in "free" Zabadani in Syria last night (see 0740 GMT)

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2110 GMT: The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria have posted graphic, and leaked, pictures of Hussam Ahmed Naboulsy, who was reportedly tortured during interrogations in a prison in Syria after being arrested several weeks ago. Several sources close to EA have said that they believe in the validity of the report. The LCCS posted this statement:

He wasn’t charged for any crime, there are no legal cases against him. Hussam is from Banyas city and a father of 7 kids, he is facing daily all kinds of insulting, abusing and torturing. Some video clips leaked from the prison by one of the security elements that attended the investigation and filmed it. The video clips shows his face swollen, bleeding and he is daze [sic]. This records another brutal crime of the Syrian regime inside the prison while the Arab League Committee is still in Syria and supposed to be protecting people from the regime’s crimes. The Local Coordination Committees in Syria (LCC) condemning this egregious violation of the human rights and the International protocols that Syria’s government is committed to. The LCC is calling to release Hussam immediately and all the opinion detainees and carries the regime the responsibility on their safety.

Other sources share this graphic video reportedly showing a Syrian soldier interrogating Hassam. According to an activist who we spoke to earlier, the security member asks Hassam his name, the name of father and mother, his date of birth, how many kids he has, and their names, but Hassam doesn't appear to answer:

Perhaps this video was taken for internal purposes and was leaked. Activists report that members of the security apparatus are paid for videos that embarrass the regime, though some videos appear to have been leaked by members of the regime who sympathize with the opposition.

We must stress, however, that despite the LCCS's credibility, this report is not possible for EA to confirm.

2020 GMT: Another critical victory for the Free Syrian Army. According to the Syrian Uprising 2011 Information Centre, the Syrian army has agreed to a cease-fire with the Free Syrian Army in Kafer Takharum, near the border with Turkey. "After 2 days of fighting a 24 hour ceasefire has been agreed, Assad's forces have withdrawn for now leaving the town in the hands of the Free Syrian Army."

This confirms what we inferred from the videos we posted at 1831 GMT.

This is massive news. The Free Syrian Army has had at least limited success in Daraa and Hama in the last 36 hours, has scored what seems to be a significant victory in Rankous, north of Damascus, though the outcome of that battle is still unknown, and has fought the Assad regime to a standoff in two cities, this one in Idlib province, and Zabadani northwest of Damascus.

It's also news that is slightly bewildering. The Assad military is significant, and these small victories are only picking at the margins of Assad;s full force. The strategy that Assad's military commanders have used over the last two days is confusing, to say the least, as these victories have more symbolic importance than strategic importance.

Never the less, the FSA should have far fewer skeptics tomorrow than they had only one week ago.

2007 GMT: A mysterious report from the Salahaddine neighborhood in Aleppo. Two explosions have been heard in the area, though the LCCS reports that they are of unknown origin.

The Local Coordinating Committees also report large protests in the Al Sakhour district, as protesters marched towards the Al Mustaghfereen mosque, "[chanting] for freedom, and [calling] to release the detainees and to topple the regime."

There are also reports of night demonstrations at the University in Aleppo, and another report of protests in the Al-Azamiya neighborhood that started in front of the Tareq Bin Ziyad Mosque.

1955 GMT: This graphic video (we would not normally post video this graphic, but feel it is important) is

1921 GMT: High-profile activist Rami al Jarrah shares this video, which, according to his sources, shows a burned out home in Madaya, near Zabadani, destroyed by a government shell after 6 days of bombardment:

1912 GMT: Several important protests have taken place in Damascus today. This video was taken in the central and important Kafer Souseh district this evening (we believe here, but we're not 100% sure):

Earlier this evening there were also protests in the important Midan district:

Earlier today there was also this protest, reportedly in the Al Assali district of Damascus:

1731 1831 GMT: Back from a lunch/research break.

These two videos were reportedly taken tonight in the town of Kafer Takharum, in Idlib province, where it would appear that the Free Syrian Army has maintained control of at least some parts of the city, despite a fierce battle over the last two days:

According to the FSA, and other activists, the Free Syrian Army deployed in the city in order to protect citizens after the city was attacked by the Syrian military.

1706 GMT: The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria report that they have confirmed the deaths of 26 people at the hands of the Syrian regime. Earlier, they reported that 25 of those deaths took place in the following locations: "7 in Idlib, 6 martyrs in Hama, 4 in Homs, 4 in Deir Ezzor, 3 in Damascus Suburbs (2 in Douma 1 Rankous) and a martyr in Qameshli."

They have not yet posted where the other fatality was reported.

1655 GMT: According to multiple sources, the Free Syrian Army has won a military victory in the town of Rankous, approximately 28 miles from Damascus. According to one activist, the FSA destroyed 3 tanks and arrested many "shabiha" in the area. An opposition Facebook page is even claiming that the FSA actually captured a military anti-aircraft battery.

Rankous is approximately 20 kilometers east of Zabadani, where the regular army withdrew from over the last 24 hours.

1648 GMT: Another dramatic video from Hama, as the city appears to be almost constantly subjected to gunfire today:

1638 GMT: Explosions and protests rock Damascus, Zabadani has fought the Syrian army to a standstill, the Free Syrian Army has reportedly conducted multiple successful attacks in 24 hours, and protests have continued for yet another day. All in all, it's been a tough day for the Assad regime.

However, we've been tracking reports of protests, and clashes with security, across the University of Aleppo. We posted several reports earlier, but now we have two videos of protests outside the Science Faculty, taken earlier today (the other video is here):

LCCS also shares this video, which was also given to us earlier by other sources, reportedly showing the security presence on campus.

1629 GMT: The Guardian makes this update:

In Damascus, a Syrian security agent was wounded when a small explosive device tore through his car in the Tadamon area, a Syrian official told the Associated Press. No other damages were reported from the explosion this morning, according to the official.

What they neglected to mention is that the LCCS reported the explosion first, but none of the opposition pages we've seen seem to have any details or knowledge of the event thus far. Also, the explosion was described as "big" by the LCCS.

The Tadamon district of Damascus is fairly well defended, and fairly central. If opposition forces successfully conducted an attack in this area, it would be an embarrassment for the regime. This is a possibility, as moments after the other bombings in Damascus there was a large degree of media coverage. So far, there is no mention of the attack on SANA's front page. Why was this different?

One possibility - this attack, unlike the other bombings in Damascus, was a surprise to the regime.

1617 GMT: This video was reportedly taken in the eastern part of Hama. It is dramatic, reported by multiple sources, and self explanatory:

1610 GMT: Now we have received this video, reportedly taken in Hamidiya, Hama. While the cameraman shows damage to buildings, reportedly the result of today's shelling, gunfire and distant explosions can be hear. Earlier, we shared a video of a large crowd of protesters, and defected soldiers, greeting the Arab League observers. The people who uploaded both videos, and the LCCS, report that the observers were actually inside the city when the shelling began.

1558 GMT: The LCCS is reporting that the town of Kafer Takharum, in Idlib province, is still under heavy bombardment today. The video below reportedly shows the effects of that shelling on a home. Another video reportedly shows a large group of spend shell and bullet casings found in the street.

Yesterday, we published reports that the Free Syrian Army had attacked pro-Assad troops outside the city, dealing some heavy damage, and we also posted a dramatic video showing fires burning in the street, reportedly the result of government forces shelling the city.

1548 GMT: Earlier we reported that the Syrian Army had withdrawn from Zabadani. This video shows the forces pulling out. Though it's hard to make out at the beginning because of the low resolution, the dust kicked up in the distance appears to be made from armored vehicles withdrawing. Tanks and artillery have been stationed in the hills, firing on the city for 6 straight days. By the middle of the video, we clearly see the amount of firepower being withdrawn from the city.

Though there are some reports that there are only a few hundred, or perhaps only 100 defectors in the city, we have posted many videos of destroyed tanks and captured soldiers over the last few days. Somehow the Free Syrian Army beat the Assad forces back. Looking at the amount of firepower that is likely still nearby, however, gives us a clear indication about why the opposition is so nervous about the possible return of Assad's tanks.

1539 GMT: The LCCS shares this video, reportedly showing security forces shooting in the city of Dael, Daraa:

The Coordinating Committees also report violence in Khirbet Ghazaleh, just east of Dael (MAP):

Daraa : Khirbet Ghazaleh : shooting from the northern checkpoint which is on the Khirbet Ghazaleh - Dael bridge

Battles with the Free Syrian Army have been reported in Daraa province for 2 days.

1533 GMT: According to The Guardian, Syrian State TV, SANA, has confirmed the death of a Brigadier General in Hama. SANA reports that he was killed by "armed terrorists," but the opposition, which first published news of the death, says that he was killed by soldiers who turned on him when Assad loyalists threatened to kill whoever did not shoot at civilians.

In the same report, Sana, says that the former head of the city municipality of of Dera'a, Hassan Boushnaq, was killed as he left his house, again by "an armed terrorist group".

The order of these reports is significant. What's interesting is that the Syrian activists are very fast in their reporting of both good and bad news, news that helps their narrative and news that may damage it. SANA, on the other hand, is more often playing damage control, trying to spin the news that has already been broken by the opposition.

1526 GMT: According to the LCCS, 24 have been killed in Syria, "6 in Idlib, 6 martyrs in Hama, 4 in Homs, 4 in Deir Ezzor, 3 in Damascus Suburbs “2 in Douma 1 Rankous” and a martyr in Qameshli."

They also share this video, reportedly showing the Arab LEague observers in Hamidiya, Hama:

There are several important things to note. First of all, there appear to be a relatively large amount of defectors among the crowd. The second thing to note is that, while we don't have video evidence of it yet, there are reports that the town was shelled today.

1517 GMT: Yesterday, EA's sources reported that the Syrian regular army was withdrawing from the mountain town of Zabadani, a city only 20 miles northwest of Damascus that had been shelled for 6 straight days.

The Associated Press is confirming the pullout, as is the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

In Zabadani, activist Fares Mohammad said Syrian forces withdrew Wednesday night to two military barracks on the outskirts.

"There is a cautious calm, but fear of another major assault being prepared against Zabadani," he told The Associated Press by telephone from the resort town, located alongside the Lebanese border 17 miles (27 kilometers) west of Damascus.

The Syrian opposition has on several occasions throughout the uprising gained control of a town or city, but ultimately forces loyal to Assad retook them. It is unusual however for the army to take so long to recapture a town so close to the capital.

Mohammed said the siege had eased, although heating oil has not been allowed into the town, where it snowed earlier this week. Military checkpoints surrounding the Zabadani were still in place, he said, while about 100 armed defectors were "protecting" it.

According to the Observatory, several checkpoints are still manned by pro-Assad soldiers and armored vehicles, but the majority of the forces have left and the shelling has, thus far, ceased.

1508 GMT: Turning to Yemen, a law that would give President Saleh immunity from prosecution has been amended to limit the amount of protection his aides would receive, according to Reuters:

The draft law, which has been heavily criticized by rights groups, the United Nations and Yemeni protesters, will now shield the aides only in "political cases," said legal affairs minister Mohammad Makhlafi.

It had previously offered blanket immunity to associates of Saleh, who will still get full protection himself, Makhlafi said, without elaborating the type of cases on which his aides could be tried.

Meanwhile, demonstrations against Saleh's regime continue, including in the restive city of Taiz.

1505 GMT: LCCS is reporting a "big explosion" in the Tadamon district of Damascus. This is breaking news.

1442 GMT: Kareem Lailah, the Editor-in-Chief of Syrian revolution newspaper Syrian Hurriyat, is also reporting that the town of Rankus (or Rankous) is under heavy bombardment (see last update).

1426 GMT: LCCS now reports clashes between the Free Syrian Army and the Assad-loyal forces in Rankus, north of Damascus. This report is only 3 minutes old, so we are unable to confirm.

The area is, according to EA sources, rapidly becoming a stronghold for the FSA, despite regular security presence.

1420 GMT: Al Jazeera, citing the Syrian Revolution General Commission, is reporting that 18 have been killed nationwide. According to the report, 3 of the 18 were army defectors. Citing their sources in the LCCS, they are also reporting clashes at Aleppo University and the death of a Brigadier General in Hama.

1409 GMT: In Bahrain, protesters have reportedly lit tires on fire in order to protest the ongoing International Airshow, and to raise awareness of Professor Hasan Mushaima, the Secretary General of the opposition Haq Movement who was arrested in March and sentenced to a life in prison in June for "attempting to overthrow the monarchy." He is suffering from lung cancer, and activists claim his treatment inside prison is inadequate.

Tire fires, like this, are being called for by some in the opposition during the day, and as we reported yesterday, "sky lanterns" are being organized as a night protest, in response to the International Airshow:

1403 GMT: The violence in Hama has reportedly claimed 5 lives, and new defections from the military are also reported in the area:

The Local Coordination Committees report five people killed in Hama today and have posted a video purporting to be of "heavy gunfire by the regime's army" in the city.

One of those killed was a military brigadier, named as Adel Moustapha, who was killed by soldiers who refused his orders to shoot at civilians in the Bab Qilbi area. "The brigadier had previously overseen many killing and arrest operations," the LCCs report.

An earlier post said a number of people were wounded by "random gunfire" in the Jarajmeh area of the city, and another reported a "massive explosion" in Alamin Street.

1358 GMT: Developments in Aleppo are not usually as dramatic as gunfire, clashing armies, or thousands protesting, but it is increasingly clear that it is possibly the last city with widespread support for Assad.

For now. Over the last few days, a story has been completely ignored by most of the press. The situation on the campus in Aleppo has been heating up. There are now daily reports of protests, and arrests as a result.

Activists post this video, reportedly showing a small protest on the campus:

According to LCCS, Shabiha assaulted students at the Faculty of Sciences, and there is currently a large security presence in the area. Meanwhile, the head of the mathematics department reportedly got into a physical altercation with a student who was headed to a protest.

1351 GMT: This video was uploaded earlier, reportedly showing a large protest in the Damascus suburb of Artouz:

However, just 20 minutes ago the LCCS posted this report:

Heavy gunfire at a massive demo that started after the resident buried their police man martyr Bassam Mustafa

1345 GMT: This video was reportedly taken today, showing Assad loyalists firing at the Ryad Salheen mosque in Karam el Zeitoun district of Homs.

1329 GMT: The face of the crisis in Syria is nothing if not dynamic. Yesterday, there were reports that the Free Syrian Army had conducted attacks in Idlib province, Daraa, and the embattled town of Zabadani. We surely expected the headlines to revolve around these towns, so we were surprised when the biggest news of the day is coming from Hama.

Hama, Syria's fourth largest city, is under attack today by regime forces, according to dozens of sources. The Syrian Uprising 2011 Information Centre reports:

Video shows gunfire in Hama, Syria's 4th city, where a major security operation seems to be underway - with security forces spreading out across the city and gunfire reported in several districts. At least 3 martyrs have fallen in the city so far today. Homs is still a war zone while security forces killed 4 men in Jabal al-Zawiyah (Idlib province) when they targeted their car. There is also fighting between defecting soldiers and security forces down south, in Dael (Daraa province) which has led to several casualties.

In total at least 17 martyrs have fallen today - 4 military and 13 civilians.

The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria report that at least one person has been killed, and all roads leading in or out of the city are completely blocked off. Checkpoints have also been established at major intersections inside the city.

Gunfire is reported, the LCCS posts this video, distant gunfire reportedly from the Syrian army, and they also report gunfire outside a mosque:

Gunfire at mourners at the Falah Mosque; security forces and shabiha have also sealed off the roads to Salmiyeh and Homs

All of these reports are no more than an hour old.

James Miller takes the liveblog. Thank you to Scott Lucas for starting our coverage this morning.

1315 GMT: In Egypt, activist Nawara Negm says she was attacked last night by 25 men in Maspero in Cairo.

Nawara said, “I finished work at Maspero and crossed the street for a cab to find a young man calling my name and attacked me with the help of 25 so-called men. There was a pro-army protest in front of Maspero ... they are the same men who attacked me," added Nawara, daughter of renowned leftist poet Ahmed Fouad Negm.

A video shows the activist being beaten by a group of men and insulted by women. “Why are you beating her?” asks a voice in the video. “She’s one of those promoting strife between the people and the army,” another voice replies.

TV host and activist Hala Fahmy posted on her official Facebook page that she had seen “army soldiers change into civilian clothes before they attacked Nawara."

Negm said she was beaten in the presence of soldiers who did not act move and police officers who "were guiding the so-called men on how to beat me.” She continued defiantly, “I have to say their beating was harmless. I call for our army to send snipers next time."

The activist continued, “The problem is not about attacking a woman; it’s about organised incitement against protesters through the media. We never took it seriously, but obviously they do have an influence, and I will sue them.”

Negm has been accused of inciting violence against the armed forces in Cairo on 16 December.

0915 GMT: The regime-linked Gulf Daily News puts out this reassuring news:

Bahrain's intelligence service will get lessons in human rights as part of a comprehensive training programme starting on Sunday, it was announced yesterday.

All National Security Agency (NSA) personnel will be enrolled in courses over the next six months.

The initiative is part of the government's commitment to implementing recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), which stated the NSA should "implement an extensive programme of public order training in accordance with UN practices", according to a statement by the Information Affairs Authority (IAA).

It said the programme had been designed to develop a highly modern and sensitive public security force by applying top international practices, including those of the United Nations.

The training modules will include intensive courses on promotion and respect for human rights, as well as professional conduct.

0740 GMT: More than 24 hours ago, we were noting the claim of the "liberation" of Zabadani, the Syrian town less than 20 miles from Damascus. Activists and insurgents in Syria are still upholding the success in repelling a six-day assault by the regime military, with troops withdrawing from the town --- video last night showed women and children marching in celebration.

And there was interesting news elsewhere. The Local Coordinating Committees of Syria reported "defections occured within the military security platoon" in Swer in Deir Ez Zor Province, with "violent clashes" between President Assad's men and insurgents: two Free Syrian Army soldiers were "martyred" but "six fully equipped soldiers survived with the aid of the town’s people", as "several deaths and casualties [were] reported amongst the regime’s forces".

The LCCS said 21 people died at the hands of security forces on Wednesday, including two women, a child, and seven defectors. Thirteen were killed in Homs, four in Idlib in the northwest, two in the Damascus suburbs, one in Daraa, and one in Aleppo.