Syria Live Coverage: Who Represents the Opposition?

Ghassan Hitto, the Prime Minister-designate named by the opposition Syrian National Coalition, with local leaders inside Syria on Sunday

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1840 GMT: Rebel Victories Outside Damascus. In Otaybah (map), site of last week's reported chemical attack, the rebels have been killing Assad tanks and beating back his attacks for days. Today, they destroyed more tanks and armored vehicles

What's interesting - the fighter in the video is holding an M 79 Osa, one of the Croatian weapons that is part of the shipment from the international effort to arm the Syrian rebels:

#Syria #Damascus Rebels destroyed several tanks in #Otaybahhere BMP youtube.com/watch?v=S6vYbp…wikimapia.org/#lat=33.486847…

— Mark (@markito0171) March 25, 2013

1749 GMT: Death Toll Rises. According to the latest updates from the Local Coordination Committees, 81 people have been killed so far today:

27 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs; 26 in Homs, most of them in Abel village; 13 martyrs in Aleppo; 7 in Hama; 3 in Idlib; 2 in Daraa; 1 in Raqqa and 1 in Deir Ezzor

Note that while the deaths in Damascus have steadily risen, the large spike has reportedly happened in Homs. Here's the LCC report about Abel village:

18 person were martyred, mostly women and children, after being shoot by regime's and Hezbollah's militias in one of the village's farms registering a new massacre with the name of regime's forces militias.

We've yet to independently corroborate that report.

See our note on the reports posted by the LCC.

1654 GMT: United Nations Drawdown. Al Jazeera English carries statements from the United Nations that indicate that recent violence, including today's mortar attack in Umayyed Square (see update 1515), is the primary cause of the UN withdrawing its staff:

"Yesterday and today, a number of mortar shells fell in close proximity to, and on the grounds of, the hotel in Damascus housing UN staff. The mortar fire caused some damage to the building and some cars, including one UN vehicle. The United Nations Security Management Team has assessed the situation and decided to temporarily reduce the presence of international staff in Damascus due to security conditions," said Martin Nesirky, a UN spokesperson, said at the UN headquarters in New York, moments ago.

"The United Nations attaches great importance to the safety of all its staff - national and international. With this in mind, we are temporarily relocating some of the UN international staff in Syria out of the country. As part of that effort, most of the Damascus-based staff of the Office of the Joint Representative for Syria are being temporarily relocated to Beirut and the Joint Special Representative's main office in Cairo. All of the national staff of that Office have been asked to work from home, until further notice. These measures are being undertaken solely for security reasons. The United Nations remains active and committed to helping the Syrian sides in their search for a political solution.

1628 GMT: UN Withdrawing More Staff. Perhaps this is a sign that the violence in Damascus is intensifying. Perhaps this is a sign that the Brahimi mission is basically doomed and isn't worth risking UN lives. Our guess - the answer is both:

The UN is pulling half of its international staff from #Syria because of violence. Half of those work in Brahimi office. Will go to Cairo.

— Hala Gorani (@HalaGorani) March 25, 2013

1615 GMT: Riad al-Assad. The first video reportedly showing insurgent commander Riad al Assad in a hospital in Turkey:

1555 GMT: Jordan Closes Border Crossings. Jordan has closed its main border crossing with Syria, according to their information minister:

"The border post is effectively closed because there have been clashes since yesterday and they are continuing," Samih Maaytah told the Reuters news agency.

1548 GMT: More Chemical Weapons? The Telegraph carries unconfirmed claims that the regime has launched a chemical weapons attack in Douma (map), in eastern Damascus:

"Doctors are describing the chemical weapon used as phosphorus that hits the nervous system and causes imbalance and loss of consciousness," said Mohammad al-Doumani, an activist in the nearby town of Douma, where the wounded were transported.

"The two fighters were very close to where the rockets exploded and they died swiftly. The rest are being treated with Atropine," he said.

This video, posted yesterday, reportedly shows a doctor who treated the patients. According to Zilal, who has helped with the translation, the doctor describes the victims symptoms: muscle contractures, difficult breathing, and dilated pupils.

So far, however, there's no hard evidence to back up the claim.

1515 GMT: War in Damascus. Today, there is intense fighting in many parts of Damascus. We'll try to sort the latest reports.

First, it seems that the regime has launched an offensive against Jobar, in north-eastern Damascus (map). This video shows an intense amount of smoke, and the sound of what may be incoming shells. There are competing claims that the regime stormed the area and that the rebels recaptured the area. As best we can tell, the area is not under anyone's control.

Many areas in the east have also been bombed. A video reportedly shows incoming rockets in Ein Tarma (map) - other videos reportedly show extensive damage to homes in the area.

In Darayya, to the west (map), at least 6 people have been killed by rockets and artillery strikes, according to the LCC.

Then there are more reports of mortar strikes near the heart of the regime. Alex Thomson reports:

At least 1 killed several injured in mortar attack near military Chief of Staff HQ a mile or so up the road from where I write

— alex thomson (@alextomo) March 25, 2013

Many key administrative and security buildings are here, near Umayyad Square (map). For the 2nd day in a row they have been shelled, and casualties are reported. This video reportedly shows the impact of the mortars near the Chiefs of Staff Headquarters:

It may be too early to tell if any significant advantage has been gained or lost by either side, but the fighting in the center of the capital has been intensifying over the course of several days.

1441 GMT: Death Toll Lower, Except in Damascus. So far, the death toll is on the low side, according to the latest Local Coordination Committee report which says that 33 have been killed so far:

18 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Subrubs; 8 in Aleppo; 3 in Homs; 2 in Hama; and 2 in Daraa.

Though the total is lower, keep in mind two things. 1, it could rise, and 2, in Damascus it's still high for this early hour - more updates coming soon.

The Local Coordination Committees (LCC) is an activist network operating both inside and outside of Syria. They claim to use stringent verification processes to ensure that a member of the LCC can vouch for any information posted either on their Facebook page or their website. The LCC also populates a database of those killed in the Syrian conflict, which can be seen at the website for the Center for Documentation of Violations in Syria.

The LCC's casualty figures are often a mix of insurgents and civilians, and never include regime casualties. Syrian State Media has stopped reporting regime casualty figures.

Also see our description of the Local Coordination Committees and how we utilize their reports in the Columbia Journalism Review.

1425 GMT: Insurgent Leader in Hospital. An opposition Facebook page posts this picture, reportedly showing Riad al-Assad in a Turkish hospital:

1410 GMT: Riad Al-Assad Wounded. The Guardian reports that a rebel spokesman has confirmed the amputation of Riad al-Assad's leg was likely.

More interesting, however, is the question of what Al-Assad was doing in Deir Ez Zor, and who may have conducted the attack. The Guardian reports:

A Mayadeen activist said via Skype that a bomb planted in the seat of the car Asaad was riding in blew up as he toured the town.

The activist said rebels now control the town and most of the surrounding areas, although President Assad still has supporters, whom the activist blamed for the attack. He spoke on condition of anonymity out of concern for his safety.

Asaad was traveling with an aide and a local activist, Barakat al-Haweish, both of whom were slightly injured, the activist said. Asaad was taken to a local field hospital, where doctors amputated his right foot before transporting him to Turkey.

The hot rumor of the day is that the Free Syrian Army did this because Riad al-Assad praised Jabhat al Nusra and claimed that they had infiltrated the FSA:

Failed attempt 2 assass.Riad Alasad after he praised JAN & hinted there were penetrated #FSA brigades youtube.com/watch?v=ZS1bU6… @brown_moses

— Gharib الغريب (@troublejee) March 25, 2013

Wild speculation? If this attack did in fact occur in Al Mayadin, 40+ kilometers south-southeast of Deir Ez Zor (map), then there are two important things to keep in mind:

1) the regime has lost this town, and even before then, Mayadin often displayed strong opposition sympathies.

2) Jabhat al Nusra is in charge of this area, though other opposition groups do operate here as well.

1335 GMT: Riad al-Assad Wounded. Today we've been following reports that Riad al-Assad, an insurgent commander, has been wounded in an attack in Deir Ez Zor. Now, a prominent activist, "The 47th," shares a graphic video that reportedly shows Al Assad in the hospital having his badly-shredded leg operated on.

There's no shot of his face in the video, so that aspect of the story is still unconfirmed.

Riad al-Assad, who once claimed to be the leader of the Free Syrian Army, but was replaced by Brigadier General Selim Idris. Al-Assad was reportedly injured in Deir Ez Zor, in the eastern half of Syria. The area is home to many insurgent groups, but Jabhat al Nusra is widely considered to be in charge. The Islamist group with reported links to Al Qaeda in Iraq in generally not considered to be part of the Free Syrian Army, but rather is operating alongside FSA units to meet the same goal. Why Riad al-Assad was in Deir Ez Zor or which groups he was working with remain not fully understood at this moment.

James Miller takes over today's live coverage. Thanks to Scott Lucas for getting us started today.

1106 GMT: Insurgent Commander Wounded in Attack. A Turkish official and a relative have now confirmed that Riad al-Asaad, once a leading insurgent commander, was injured in an attack inside Syria and is now in Turkey for treatment.

The official said al-Asaad had lost a leg in the explosion.

1016 GMT: Damascus. More on this morning's attacks in the capital (see 0951 GMT) --- residents and a "security source" say that insurgents fired dozens of mortars into the centre, including Ummayad Square and a high-security area within a kilometer of President Assad's residence.

The military retaliated with artillery fire from Mount Qasioun, overlooking Damascus.

1003 GMT: Insurgent Commander Wounded in Attack? Overnight and all morning, we have followed rumours that Riad al-Asaad --- once a leading insurgent commander but increasingly sidelined in the last year --- has been seriously wounded in an attack in Mayadeen in Deir Ez Zor Province.

There has been no confirmation of the attack, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights is putting it around as "fact". Pro-regime outlets appear to have said that al-Asaad was killed.

In contrast, the Local Coordination Committees said this morning that the story is one of mistaken identity, with a local man injured in the attack.

0955 GMT: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Ministry of Interior, in what appears to be an attempt to control the foreign presence in the Syrian insurgency, has said that any Saudis involved in fighting will be detained immediately upon return to the Kingdom.

0951 GMT: Damascus. Reports are circulating of a blast in Umayyad Square nn the centre of the capital --- video of smoke above the area:

0846 GMT: The Opposition. In a note posted on his Facebook page, Moaz al-Khatib says that --- despite his resignation as head of the Syrian National Coalition yesterday --- he will be speaking to the Arab League conference in Doha on Tuesday.

0840 GMT: The Regime's Dialogue. State news agency SANA proclaims the launch of the Syrian National Dialogue Forum on Sunday in Damascus, with "the participation of a number of national parties and figures".

According to SANA, the two-day Forum will discuss the political programme to "solve the crisis in Syria", the Constitution and national charter, and laws for elections, media, and politicsl parties.

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Politician and Forum spokesman Adel N'eisah said, "Syria is now at a historic juncture where we either fall or open the doors wide and enter the new Syria that shouldn't be takfiri, Salafi or obscurantist, but rather a democratic and pluralistic Syria where the values of justice, equality and freedom of expression prevail."

0820 GMT: The Opposition. Speaking on Al Arabiya, leading figure Michel Kilo --- who was instrumential in reconciling insurgent forces and Kurds in northern Syria earlier this year --- has accused the Muslim Brotherhood and a Qatari-backed faction in the Syrian opposition of installing Ghassan Hitto as Prime Minister-designate of the interim government: “Qatar wanted Hitto…and the Qatari-backed group in the National Coalition agreed on Hitto and imposed Hitto without any political or consensual considerations that considers Syrian interests in terms of a national cause…”

Analyst Joshua Landis adds, with a view to explaining Moaz al-Khatib's resignation as head of the Syrian National Coalition, "Qatar invited Hitto to represent Syria in the Arab Summit meeting to take place on Tuesday. Khatib was also invited, but he would be a third wheel."

0750 GMT: The Regime Story. A report from pro-regime Addounia TV, celebrating the "victory" of Syrian forces in regaining control of the Jobar section of Damascus:

0730 GMT: Weapons and Insurgents. The New York Times confirms the reports from January --- including those of EA's James Miller --- of a surge in foreign-supplied advanced weapons to the insurgency, adding some useful detail:

With help from the C.I.A., Arab governments and Turkey have sharply increased their military aid to Syria’s opposition fighters in recent months, expanding a secret airlift of arms and equipment..., according to air traffic data, interviews with officials in several countries and the accounts of rebel commanders.

The airlift, which began on a small scale in early 2012 and continued intermittently through last fall, expanded into a steady and much heavier flow late last year, the data shows. It has grown to include more than 160 military cargo flights by Jordanian, Saudi and Qatari military-style cargo planes landing at Esenboga Airport near Ankara, and, to a lesser degree, at other Turkish and Jordanian airports.

As it evolved, the airlift correlated with shifts in the war within Syria, as rebels drove Syria’s army from territory by the middle of last year....

From offices at secret locations, American intelligence officers have helped the Arab governments shop for weapons, including a large procurement from Croatia, and have vetted rebel commanders and groups to determine who should receive the weapons as they arrive, according to American officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

0630 GMT: Casualties. The Local Coordination Committees claim that 139 people were killed on Sunday, including 75 martyrs in Damascus and its suburbs, 26 in Aleppo Province, and 20 in Homs Province.

The Violations Documentation Center records 53,965 deaths since the start of the conflict in March 2011, an increase of 114 from Sunday. Of the dead, 43,234 were civilians, an increase of 76 from yesterday.

0620 GMT: The Opposition. After a series of political setbacks this weekend for the main opposition group outside Syria, we start with an analysis, "An Opposition in Disarray", and a blunt conclusion:

The stark question --- which was always there, but which elevated itself on Sunday --- remains:

Who represents that opposition?