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Subscribe to RSSA civil war is breaking out in Syria between the Sunnis and Shiites with militia groups fighting along sectarian lines. Sources report regular gun battles close to the presidential palace where the Syrian regime is experiencing problems controlling its own armed forces. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Syrian forces shelled opposition strongholds in the central province of Homs and eastern Deir al-Zor on Monday and clashed with rebels in violence that killed 29 people across the country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Activists said Syrian troops attacked a rebel-held town with helicopter gunships and shelled other restive areas across the nation. The aerial assault targeted the strategic river crossing town of Rastan, which has resisted repeated government offensives for months, the activists said.
"The regime is now using helicopters more after its ground troops suffered major losses," said Rami Abdul-Rahman of the Britain-based anti-government group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which uses a network of sources on the ground. "Dozens of (military) vehicles have been destroyed or damaged" since the end of May, he said.
'Battle is in Damascus' as Syrian tanks fire in 12-hour exchange
Undeterred by international condemnation, the Syrian military continued its unrelenting shelling of the city of Homs. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi recently said that rebels are now using sophisticated anti-tank missiles. Videos posted by activists over the past week have shown many destroyed tanks and armored personnel carriers.
According to videos posted online, fireballs of orange flame and black rubble exploded in the air as waves of shells pounded residential buildings in Homs on Monday. The sounds of shells whooshed through the sky and there was occasional sporadic machine gun fire.
The videos could not be independently verified.
Annan: 'Gravely concerned'
Also on Monday, international envoy Kofi Annan said he was "gravely concerned" about the latest violence in the country, citing shelling of opposition areas of Homs and reports of mortar, helicopter and tank attacks near the coast.
Reporter: Syrian rebels set us up to be shot at by Assad's army
In a statement, Annan said there was an escalation of fighting by government and opposition forces. Violence has spiked in recent weeks, with both sides ignoring a U.N.-brokered cease-fire that was supposed to go into effect on April 12 but never took hold.
Annan demanded both sides "take all steps to ensure that civilians are not harmed."
In Damascus, the state-run news agency SANA said authorities foiled an attempt to blow up a car rigged with 1,500 pounds of explosives in the Damascus suburb of Chebaa. Experts dismantled it Monday, SANA said.
The Dylan Ratigan Show Mega Panel of Karen Finney, Susan Del Percio, and Jimmy Williams discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria, where on Thursday alone 80 people died and 18 homes were either destroyed in the shelling or burned down. The Mega Panel goes on to cover New York's evolving relationships with larger sugary drinks and marijuana.
Syrian activists say 13,000 people have been killed in violence since the uprising began in March 2011. According to U.N. figures, soldiers and militias loyal to President Bashar Assad have killed at least 10,000 people.
Smell of death at the scene of massacre in Syrian village, UN monitors say
The bloodshed has led to broad condemnation of the regime from the international community, although Russia, Iran and China have stood by Assad. Russia and China have vetoed two Security Council resolutions that threatened sanctions against Syria.
Russia has refused to support any move that could lead to foreign intervention in Syria, Moscow's last significant ally in the Middle East.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to visit Syria's ally Iran on Wednesday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed this this report.
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The West needs to stay out of the Syria civil war. Let The Saudi's with their substantial military fight this one.
Every time a Syria article comes up, someone with propaganda comes in and says 'stay out of it.'
Really? Every time I need to hear this? Everybody got the message already. It takes a scum to stand aside while someone shoots a baby, but it is also true that we of the West know what kind of scum we are. We are the kind of scum that only gets upset when our own babies die. And we are, therefore, no less of a scum than anyone else in the world. So stand aside while people in Syria kill each other. We know that already. Just don't go to sleep tonight thinking you are some sort of f**king superhero for wanting to stay out of this.
By all means Derek I'm sure you can catch a flight to Syria or a bordering country and join the rebels if it's that important to you. Oh wait, you just want to be Mr. Morals and someone else can end up being sent to war because you think "it's the right thing to do."
Syrian's are capable of handeling Syria, not our problem.
They call it a clash when Syrian forces combine with Iranian death squads and kill everything that moves ?
Iranian death squads?
It has been acknowledged that Iranians have been "supervising" troop activity on the ground since the start of the conflict.
Derek-probably has something to do with the fact that we helped Afghanistan boot out the Soviets, and helped the Muslims in Kosovo get independence from Serbia, but we still get no love from the Muslims. The Muslim baby that another Muslim baby is likely one that will grow up to hate the West anyway.
If the tide turns and the Allawites start being genocided by the Sunni rebels, I suppose you will support going in and bombing them, too?
One solution would be a 50 caliber long range "HEAD" shot to ASSAD- done
Cyrax
Paganponderer
you don't read, do you? Because if you did, you wouldn't have posted what you did. Because you would have actually read my post.
Derek shut your mouth and go to Syria if thats what you believe. Don't try and drag others with you unless you are willing to personally lead them to their deaths. People die all over the world there is no point adding to the kill count.
And the beat goes on! Leave it to Syria to work this out...We, the USA are not the world's "police force".
Tom if G. W. Bush were still Pres. would you want the U. S. to stay out of it then? Or is it only when a Dem. Pres. is in office?
I can't speak for Tom but when Bush was President I was opposed to invading Iraq and with Obama as President I still think we should stay out of Syria.
A different president doesn't necessarily turn a bad idea into a good idea.
America supplied the Afghanistan Muhajadeen with weapons to help in their independence drive against the Russians. The result was the expulsion of the Russian army from Afghanistan. The side effect was that Afghanistan and North Pakistan became a hotbed for Islamicists and terror camps. Al Qaida was the result, and 911 was the thanks. Who will America be supporting if arms are being sent to the rebels in Syria? Sometimes the foe that you know is better than the 'friend' that you don't.
Its strange to me , How come we always getting one side of the conflict , How come we never ask a sovereign government , What's happening in their country , We always ask the rebels and their cronies in London . That guy in London , A restaurant owner ,that was kicked out of Syria years ago for his involvement in troubles and killing with the Muslim Brother hood Movement . Is that that our Fair and Balance Reporting . Our Media should be Ashamed of them self's . Have you looked at all of these Osama Bin Ladin Look alike . All of these rebels , That's what they are Alqaeda thugs that the Saudis and Qataris brought into Syria and We are Arming them .Tell that to our Fallen Heroes Hillary and McCain and all of you politicians that supporting these thugs .
Syria's a mess.
they are shelling the towns because they are infested with tunisian, saudia and qatari terrorists.
yallareabunchasheeple You are so Right buddy , People here just getting fed what's Our bias Media feeds . One side and one Side only ( The rebels side ) and off course our Honorable senator McCain and Hillary . I wish they tell the American people the real reason they want to go to Syria . I hope Assad wipes out all of these Alqaeda and Wahhabi's Extremist and send their Masters the Saudis and Qataris a Message.
yallareabunchasheeple where are you getting your info?
Oh By the way , Would some body tell Mrs. Clinton , there are 250 Christian families in Homes in the hand of these rebel thugs ,They are holding them as Hostages . And they are using them for human shields . Would some body tel her and McCain that these innocent rebels destroyed the most beautiful and oldest Churches in that city . Or Just ask our Media to ask the Rebels and their sources in London and Cairo ( These Alqaeda and Muslim Brother hood guys ) I am sure they will let them know .
I would just appreciate it if Mrs. Clinton would put a bag over her head.
Obviously you are one big ignorant hot head who is least educated in world affairs. Tha Assad family, whom you seem to be a member of, are the real thugs in this senario. 30 years of brutality in Lebanon thanks to the Alawite sect headed by Assad. 50 years of brutal repression in Syria, yet you only see rebels as trouble causing osama look alikes. Take yourself off-line and rid the world of your biased and blind hatred. The only thing that matters in Syria is freedom and protection of innocent lives, not your stupid conspirocy theories.
valentine-4075- Your stupid comment shows exactly how dumb you are . WMD was real , I bet you were the first one to go to war . Weren't you . Or you just in the back and cheer for your Israel and want to send our troops to fight on a big fat lie. You Ignorant jerk , Our Intel already admitted that Alqaeda in Syria . But people like you want to arm them . And why not , your kind of people only care about other countries affairs and have no Interest in the American people affairs . How about your Saudis and Qatar and all Of these democracy loving countries you support . Do not go around and try to run the world ,
Ignoring the arabs, africans and all muslims should be the official policy of the United States, unless it interupts our securing a cheap and uninterrupted supply of energy. The world has no use for these backward, tribal societies.
Thomas did you include yourself in these groups?
Let's stay out of it. we are broke. Both sides are the bad guys. High body count helps us. They are doing a good job. Let them use all those weapons they have been hoarding to kill each other. When they run out of roadside bombs we might want to get involved. but not sooner than that.
We're not broke for much longer with all the strawman purchases of m4s and m16s heading that way.
Tanks being blown up with anti-tank missiles?
Can we call it a Civil War yet?
Shame on all Governments around the world for not stepping in and helping the innocent people get out. We should have put a stop to this a long time ago. Are we all so used to seeing so much violence on T.V. that it doesn't mean anything anymore when you see innocent people getting slaughtered like animals. What happened to "World Peace"? What's wrong with us? This isn't an Arab thing, it's a Global thing!
Dare to imagine PEACE between Man vs. Man and the rest of the world.
ms clinton keeps blubbering about those poor sunni who by the way were responsible for 9/11. Please tell me why we would intervene in this mess. I hope assad kicks ass. At least he doesn't behead women for witchcraft.