[146] On the morning of 29 February, an activist claimed that the Syrian Army had launched a ground assault with infantry on the rebel-held district of Baba Amr. Al Arabiya News. [233] The same day, the Army launched an operation in al-Hamidyeh, killing tens of rebels in two hideouts and destroying an ammunitiom dump. News.sky.com. 26 March 2013. Reuters. [328] The remaining 18 fighters were missing. "Syrian tanks shell central city, Bedouin villages". [285] Meanwhile, fighting was reported in the Jobar section of the city. [271], At the same time, BBC News reported that in the rest of the city, which is government-controlled, a 'fragile calm' had returned. 9:!8 - Massive bombardment reported with Scud missiles, artillery and mortars firing simultaneousy. [293] Syrian state TV was quoted as saying the Army had "great success" in the battle for Homs, "killing many terrorists in the Khalidiya district". Allvoices.com. "Syria – Dec 28, 2011 – 08:38 | Al Jazeera Blogs". The correspondent claimed that at least 337 people had been killed and over 1,600 people were injured in the shelling. Weaver, Matthew (11 January 2012). [61], In early December a Sky News correspondent, Stuart Ramsay, was able to smuggle himself and his crew, with help of defectors from the FSA, into Homs where he reported heavy fighting each day despite the heavy presence of Syrian army checkpoints. Rfi.fr, "Syrie : régime et opposition s'accusent d'avoir violé la trêve humanitaire à Homs - L'Orient-Le Jour". "[325], On 12 October, Asharq Al-Awsat (a Saudi-linked pan-Arab newspaper) reported upon an exclusive interview with "FSA media and political coordinator Louay Miqdad" that "the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has announced that it is prepared to abide by a “temporary truce” in Homs and Rif Dimashq with Assad forces during Eid Al-Adha in order to facilitate humanitarian access to the two governorates. The Russian-supervised evacuation of Waer was agreed earlier this month and is expected to last several weeks Sama al-Sibai Documented Homs’ Siege from the Outside. However, armoured Army reinforcements were sent from Damascus towards Homs. "Turks seek world action as Syria's Homs bleeds". [305], On 10 July, government forces captured several areas in the Bab Hud district. Civilian among seven dead' in Syria violence". [33] An April offensive led by Hezbollah, a Lebanese group allied with the Assad government, into rebel-held villages near al-Qusayr compelled the rebels to halt their operations in Homs and send reinforcements to al-Qusayr. With the main body of the Byzantines dealt with, the Arabs then overwhelmed Menas' bodyguard unit at the citadel and slew almost every last man. "Syria army retakes key Homs rebel district", Syrian TV: Troops capture key Homs neighborhood. According to the activist, they may have to be buried "in public gardens" due to a lack of other feasible options. [287] The district is located in-between the rebel-held Old Homs and Khalidiya districts, thus with its capture government forces had cut the link between those two areas and they had become completely separated and surrounded. Later, the military conducted raids against farms further to the west killing another 15 people. [275], By 6 March, government forces were bombarding the Old City and Khaldiyeh for four straight days.[276]. Destroyed building in Homs as a result of the siege. The Siege of Homs was a military confrontation between the Syrian military and the Syrian opposition in the city of Homs as a part of the Syrian Civil The North. According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, "Three armoured vehicles were destroyed and those inside were wounded and killed,"[70][71] a civilian was also apparently killed in the violence. [108], Following the killing of 10 Syrian Army soldiers at a checkpoint and the capture of 19 by the Free Syrian Army, during the night hours of 3 February and into the early hours of the following day, on the 30th anniversary of the Hama massacre, government forces began an artillery bombardment of Homs, particularly the Khaldiyeh neighborhood, with opposition activists claiming that it led to over 200 deaths. "BBC News – Syria Assad: Army massacres 'scores' in city of Homs". "Pray for us' say Syria rebels as army closes in". 24 dead from the system during an attack yesterday in Homs, "Syrian opposition chooses Saudi-backed leader". [40], By 10 May, total control was established over the city by the military. "Syria Live Blog Wed, 11 Jan 2012, 15:39 GMT+3". Government forces ambushed them near Khalidiya leaving at least 45 rebel fighters dead in fighting that lasted into the next morning. [205], The Syrian opposition said that, at that point, 30,000 soldiers and pro-government militiamen had amassed at the city. Speaking in Brussels, he said: Assad's government had "broken all the limits of barbarism". As they were broadcasting the siege of Homs live to the world, the Syrian regime was using their satellites to locate and target them. Hundreds of civilians still lived in Khalidiya, despite heavy shelling. Update. Details of the siege of Homs have emerged as the Alawite regime under Bashar al-Assad appears to be winning its two-year war against rebel fighters and … Video footage was made of the bodies. [322], On 5 August, Syrian defence minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij met with SAA troops in the captured district of Khalidiya. [312] That night, state TV broadcast a report with footage from inside the heavily damaged mosque. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in an email that the Syrian army renewed shelling of the Khalidiya, Jouret Shiyah and Old Homs neighborhoods. "Clashes in Damascus, at least 52 dead in Syria: NGO", Armed gangs turn Syria’s Homs into military field, "Syria: Mutiny In Homs Prison As 550 Killed Within 48 Hours", "Two killed in Homs prison mutiny - Syrian activists", Syrian Army Disbands Tens of Terrorist Cells in Damascus, http://208.43.232.81/eng/337/2012/07/31/433946.htm, "Syrian troops kill 40 insurgents in Homs amid violence elsewhere", Armed Forces Continue Chasing Gulf and Turkish Militias in Neighborhoods in Aleppo, "Sixteen Syrians, mostly Alawite and Christian, die in attack, says NGO". [66], On 8 December, a pipeline carrying oil from the east of the country to a refinery in Homs was blown up, an activist group said. [140][141], However, other activists reported another version of the killings, saying that the victims were Alawites, from the same sect as the president. [167], A BBC journalist, Paul Wood, returning to Homs in early March, reported that he encountered many groups of women and children, without men, who told stories of raids and of massacres and of a populace terrified of what the government forces are doing now they are back in control. This was accompanied with intense and violent bombing of the district which it had not been subjected to before, and which transformed the district into areas of total ruin. [202] The FSA stated their forces made an attempt to reclaim the Baba Amr district and had got to the entrance of the neighbourhood, but were repelled by Army helicopters. [257] An U.S. official told Danger Room that, based on the video of the victims, “It just doesn’t jive with chemical weapons”. [341] Later, reports suggested either an ambush by government forces[340][342] or a Grad missile that hit a rebel ammunition depot[5] in the Jourat al-Shayyah area left 50–75 rebels dead, including dozens of senior officers. [112] According to an Al Arabiya correspondent in Homs, the district hospital was also destroyed. Zakarya, a 28-year-old who has advocated tirelessly for his hometown, is now witnessing his townspeople starve to death. The source further described the conditions of those trapped in the city where "most buildings in the Old City district, the last rebel-held enclave, had been flattened by artillery and the remaining inhabitants were living in basements." The exiled spokesman of the armed rebels regrouped under the Free Syrian Army called early January the Arab League mission a failure and that stated that they did not want them to stay in Syria eventough the Syrian Army withdrew its heavy weapons from the city. I had to stop writing these updates for a couple of days because the tragedy of the situation combined with the indifference demonstrated by Reddit's 'progressive' community really started to get to me. "Bashar al-Assad is lying in a shameful way, he wants to wipe Homs from the map like (former Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi wanted to wipe Benghazi from the map," Sarkozy said. A massive incursion into Homs follows two months of a serious siege there by government forces. [351], By 16 April, an estimated 300–1,000 rebel fighters had surrendered since March. His footage appeared on the sites of loose-knit citizen news organisations. [266] However, there was no independent verification of the claims and one opposition activist was able to count only 27 bodies. This article was sourced from Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. [111], The opposition Syrian National Council claimed the death toll was at 416 residents of the city. [171], On 20 March, 14 were reported killed from a new round of shelling, which continued into the next day, hitting the opposition stronghold neighborhoods of Khalidiya, Qussor, and Bayada in northern Homs. [267], On 15 January, government troops overran the village of Basatin al-Hasawiya on the edge of the city. Rebel leaders reported that they pulled out of the quarter and that some fighters stayed to cover the retreat. An Army officer stated that his forces had killed or injured more than 400 rebels in the recent fighting in Joret al-Shayyah. Now that the UN is involved with evacuating people in Syria, it reminds me of that time. Sama al-Sibai, a media activist, couldn’t document the happenings in Homs and the Syrian regime’s violations of human rights from inside the city. Al Jazeera. The Arabs attacked the Byzantines in the town square from all sides, massacring the Byzantine soldiers, their mercenary desert slingers, and their Persian mercenary contingent. If Turkey sets up refuges within Syria and no-fly zones as was suggested today, then safe corridors and areas for the opposition can be maintained under humanitarian principles. Sky News. [249], On 13 October, the military reported killing 25 rebels in the Bab al-Hood district. Human Rights Watch. During the fighting 15 protesters were killed, according to the opposition, while the government stated that 11 soldiers and policemen were killed, including five at one checkpoint, after they were attacked by unknown gunmen. "[365], On 4 May, talks entered the implementation phase. [286], On 2 May, the Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, pushed into and regained control of the strategic Wadi al-Sayeh neighborhood. [97], On 22 January, two Swiss journalists blamed Syrian authorities for the death of their French colleague killed in Homs. Aus Wikipedia, der freien Enzyklopädie . Langue; Suivre; Modifier; Fichier; Historique du fichier; Utilisation du fichier; Usage global du fichier; Métadonnées; Taille de cet aperçu PNG pour ce fichier SVG : 800 × 597 pixels. World Heritage Encyclopedia™ is a registered trademark of the World Public Library Association, a non-profit organization. Reproduction Date: 11th Armored Division "Syrian army launches offensive in Homs city". [7], On 5 September, Breaking News Network reported that 40 rebels where killed during clashes with the Syrian Army in Bab Hud neighborhood,[236] 32 more rebels were killed in a qualitative operation, Sham media reported. "Al Jazeera receives footage of rebels blowing up tanks.". 24 December 2012, "Assad's forces seize Homs district from rebels", "Syrian troops hit Homs, kill 23 children". Air strikes on Homs district attacked by Syria rebels: NGO. [176] Still, an activist stated that the FSA presence in the district was small and they were not in a position to do anything. [151] During their retreat, 17 rebels were captured by the military and executed on the spot. "Retreat from Homs: Assad conquers cradle of revolution". Published on the Facebook page of Homs-based activist Yazan, the statement also said: "On Tuesday the siege entered its 600th day." [181], On 15 April, the Syrian Army was reported to be shelling the neighborhood of al-Waer from the nearby military academy. He noted in addition that Baba Amr was a significant base for the organization and weapons supplies of the opposition. "2 Journalists Are Among Scores Dead in Syrian Shelling". Aljazeera.com. "There is no food. Yahoo! Reuters. [27], All through September and October there were reported clashes in the northern section of the city, especially the neighborhood of Dayr Baalba. On 10 March, rebels infiltrated the Baba Amr area of Homs under the cover of night. The battle for Aleppo continues where telecommunication services have been cut off. [90], On 11 January, A France 2 journalist Gilles Jacquier, who covered conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Algeria among others, was among several people killed in Syria's central city of Homs, becoming the first Western reporter to have died in the unrest in the country. During the assault, Army units entered the districts of Bab Baba and Sebaa Amr. 1 March 2012. "[247] Activists rejected Government claims about districts in the city of Homs and an FSA colonel pointed out that the Government hadn't seized control of any districts but “they are advancing in some districts and retreating in others.” he stressted that “al-Assad’s forces are able to do nothing more than storm the entrance of a district and then immediately withdraw, despite the magnitude of the destruction they are causing.”[248], On 12 October, the Syrian military launched another series of intense aerial and artillery bombardments on Homs and its surrounding towns. "Ya'alon: We don't have proof Assad has used WMD", "Large operation for Syrian Army in Deir Ba'alba". Massive raid' reported in heart of Damascus", http://208.43.232.81/eng/337/2012/08/12/435965.htm, "Former officer describes being ordered to rape in Homs", "Syrian Army annihilates 40 gunmen in Bab Hood of Homs". [52] More than 100 people, including civilians, were reportedly killed by the next day. [157] At a later date, an FSA commander stated that out of 250 rebel fighters defending the district 114 were killed in the fighting. [45] On 30 May, seven protestors and one member of the security forces were killed in clashes in Homs. 22 November 2013. The next day, these clashes spread to Baba Amr and al-Qusur. 1 March 2012. The convoys were not allowed to enter the towns the previous day as well by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front. The state run "SANA" news agency reported that the general conducted a tour of the area and "visited army units restoring security and stability in the neighbourhood". 1,096 killed. [67] One military tank was destroyed and seen burning on a city street. [196] With the capture of al-Ghouta the Army had completely encircled the city's rebel-held areas and cut them off from the outside world. One of a few areas where life still had not gone back to a full normal was the Armenian area, which reportedly was hit by several shells fired by the rebels from the Old City. The mixed foot and horse unit ran into fierce resistance from the Byzantine spearmen, and, once the main force fought its way past the gate, it fought its way towards the mixed unit. by Sherifa Zuhur) The current Sunday death toll is 90. Siege lasting six years by the Syrian government in the northern part of the Homs Governorate during the Syrian Civil War as a result of the rebel capture of Rastan and surrounding areas in 2012, the rebel-held pocket in northern Homs was fully taken by the Syrian government in 2018 after clearing opposition held areas around the capital. Meanwhile, most civilians had fled Khalidiya, with only rebel fighters and their families remaining, according to an opposition activist. [345], On 10 April, the military launched a major offensive against the Old Homs area. [122] They later revised their figures with a confirmation of 55 deaths. "Shelling in Homs as UN warns of escalation". On 14 May 2011, during the 2011–2012 Syrian uprising, the Syrian military began an operation in the Syrian town of Talkalakh. "Welcome To Homs, A Syrian City Under Siege". "War intensifies across Syria, refugee crisis deepens". But Homs may get the last laugh". [129] On 9 February, activists said 93 people were killed in Homs by artillery shelling. [374], Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Syria, Arab Spring, YouTube, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Civil War, Syria, Al-Qaeda, Afghanistan, Nato, Syria, Beirut, Iran, Shia Islam, Syrian Civil War, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Al Jazeera English, Jerusalem, Al-Alam News Network, Eutelsat, Syrian Civil War, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Civil War, Syria, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Free Syrian Army, Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon, Syrian Civil War, Syria, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Hezbollah, Killed in action, Syrian Civil War, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Sheikh Maqsood, Syria, Hezbollah, Syrian Civil War, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, United Nations, Homs, Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, Syrian civil war, Protest in the Bab Dreeb district of Homs. "Homs is calm for now –but the fear remains". "Monitors land in Syria as violence continues". Soldiers had reached 50 meters from the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque. "During the early 1990s, the military intelligence in Sudan was responsible for the arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, and torture or other ill-treatment of numerous people in Sudan," it said in a statement. London: The Independent, Syria rebel shelling sparks oil refinery fire, "Syria: FSA open to “temporary” ceasefire", "Islamist group in Syria calls on rebel forces to unite behind it". [152][153] The activist group Avaaz, for its part, claimed they were civilians and that they were beheaded, but this was not confirmed by other sources. [304] In a desperate attempt, rebels threatened they would blow themselves up along with government forces if the Army managed to enter the mosque complex. Historica Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. [104] The Syrian Al-Watan newspaper reported that 37 rebel fighters were killed in the fighting in Homs. "Annan to meet Assad, seeking end to Syria violence". [134], An FSA fighter told British journalist Paul Wood, that they summary executed 11 prisoners of war under the pretext that they were Shabiha, following an ambush of armored vehicles in December, during which eight other soldiers were also killed. [211], On 29 June, according to SANA, another rebel group leader was killed during fighting in the Joret al-Shayyah quarter of Homs. "SYRIE. Nine fatalities were unidentified. "Inside Syria: Daily Life Amid The Gunfire". On 17 July 2011, tanks and troops of Syrian security forces took up position in Zeenews.com. Human Rights Watch interviewed a Syrian security officer in Homs, who said that he received orders from his prison director to assist with irregular detainee transfers. [128] In Bayyada quarter of Homs, a bomb placed in a car killed several people, with civilians and security forces being among the casualties. Two opposition groups said that the Syrian Army did not take the quarter, while according to another the army took a portion of the quarter, Avaaz group reported.          Sexual Content [68][69], On 18 December, fierce fighting between regular army units and defectors near the town of al-Qusair in Homs, six soldiers were killed in the clashes, including an officer. 7 August 2012, Authorities Storm Terrorist Hideout in Damascus, Pursue Mercinaries in Aleppo, "Civilians executed in Homs round-up as army shells Aleppo: Syria opposition", "Syria steps up attacks on rebel-held areas", "Syria army shells Damascus and suburbs: watchdog", "Iranian officers led Syrian regime militias in Homs: defected general", Agencies. "Syrian opposition warns of looming Homs massacre". "Syria unrest: activists say 20 killed in Homs". Syrian Army Kills 400 Terrorists in Aleppo, Homs, "Syria army, rebels in fierce battle for Homs", Bleary-Eyed Troops Fight a Building at a Time in Syria. [321], On 1 August, rebels launched rockets into the Wadi Dahab district of Homs, causing massive explosions at a weapons depot that killed at least 40 people and injured at least 120. [36] As protests continued into April, security forces fired on demonstrators, resulting in dozens of deaths. Video surfaced that purportedly showed defectors in control of Bab Amr again, with a checkpoint at the entrance to check for "Shabiha infiltrators". They looted a number of assault rifles and rocket-propelled-grenades and threatened to fire the missiles at the presidential palace in Damascus if president al-Assad did not surrender. [213], On 3 July, the military made an attempt to storm Joret al-Shayyah. "Military operations never stopped in Homs, but their pace increases according to priorities," an Army officer told AFP. This was again suppressed by the military in clashes that left 3 people dead. It is hard to confirm the exact number of those killed. By 12 March, heavy fighting was still ongoing in both Khaldiyeh, where government tanks were in action, and Baba Amr, which was being hit by Army rocket fire. Attempting to disperse the crowds, police conducted many arrests and assaulted protesters. [34], In early May 2014, following an agreement reached between the government and the rebels, rebel forces were allowed to evacuate the city, leaving Homs under full government control. image caption The Old City of Homs was under siege between 2012 and 2014 One activist in the city told the BBC there was widespread starvation. Following the shelling, the Syrian Army made an attempt to storm the district. Patrick Vallelian and Sid Ahmed Hammouche told the Associated Press that they believe the attack was part of an elaborate trap set up by Syrian authorities. [106], The Free Syrian Army assaulted on, 1 February, the government-controlled district of Bab Drib, which was used as a staging post for Syrian army raids and shelling of other districts such as Karm Al Zeitoun. "Russia says will veto "unacceptable" Syria resolution". Rebels battle in Assad stronghold of Damascus. [138] The editor of The Sunday Times also said he believed his reporter had been targeted. The neighborhoods attacked were the Old City, Jouret al-Shiah, Khaldiyeh, and Qarabees. [265] The opposition Shaam news network reported that about 150 charred bodies were found in the Deir Baalba neighborhood. [177] Another activist also later confirmed the capture of the district. The government controlled most of the city, however, the opposition still held onto 15 to 20 percent of the city, with a similar area still being contested. "Syrian army pounds Homs after 79 killed nationwide". "The Arab League's decision to appoint as the head of the observer mission a Sudanese general on whose watch severe human rights violations were committed in Sudan risks undermining the League's efforts so far and seriously calls into question the mission's credibility," Amnesty said. Syria Lashes Out At US Move To Arm Rebels, "Syrian troops capture historic mosque in central city of Homs amid fierce government offensive", AP (27 July 2013). He divided his army into three portions: an infantry assault force against the main gate, a cavalry force against an open gate, and a force of spearmen and cavalrymen against a gate guarded by missile troops and spearmen. Fisk, Robert (29 September 2013). He said that some areas are under the control of the Free Syrian Army, army defectors.[83]. [307], On 22 July, opposition activists claimed Army shelling had destroyed the historic mausoleum of a companion of the Prophet Mohammed in the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque. Tempsreel.nouvelobs.com, par RFI. He added that "very few civilians remain in the neighborhoods around Homs. So a short disclaimer before I begin. "Syria Forces Threaten to 'Clean' Rebel City; Assad Branded War Criminal". [261][262] With the loss of Deir Baalba, rebel forces were left only with Khalidiya and the Old City as the last remaining neighborhoods under their control. Army troops sealed off several roads around Baba Amr and the Air force conducted air strikes on the district. She was killed along with her mother, father and three of her sister's children. [47] The operation was apparently prompted after three government supporters were kidnapped a week prior and killed, with their dismembered bodies being returned to their relatives on 17 July. [79], On 28 December, the head of the Arab League observers said that the situation was calm in Homs and that there were no clashes. "Syrian troops move to retake Homs district Baba Amr". A fourth attempt at a negotiated ceasefire, to evacuate the trapped civilians, was underway. He also showed him video which he claimed was from one of the Shabiha cellphones showing beheading of opposition prisoners. In 2011 and early 2012, the opposition sometimes called … The civilians, the group said, had been seized from several "anti-regime neighbourhoods" in Homs, probably meaning Bab Amr. [282] 20 rebels and 22 soldiers were killed in the fighting. Weaver, Matthew (2012-02-10). Siège du nord de Homs - Siege of Northern Homs. [201], On 15 June, more fighting erupted with the Army reportedly shelling, among other rebel-held districts, Baba Amr. "Syria: Dutch priest Fr van der Lugt shot dead in Homs". On 29 May, a young Syrian filmmaker Bassel Shahade who had filmed Homs during the conflict and appeared on a new show talking about how the army had besieged the city was killed in Homs. We have had no electricity for 500 days. [252], By late October, a Syrian army officer in Homs estimated that 1,500-2,000 rebels were left inside the Old City district. [182], On 16 April, heavy shelling was coming from three sides into al-Khalidiya. [32] In mid-March, rebels attempted to retake Baba Amr, but were forced to pull back later in the month. Karouny, Mariam (23 January 2012). "Death toll from attacks in Syria's Homs now at 100".