E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Goran Tomasevic / Reuters
After months of protests and violent crackdowns, a look back at the violence that has overtaken the country.
PARIS -- France has started providing direct aid and money to five rebel-held Syrian cities as it intensifies efforts to weaken President Bashar Assad, in the first such move by a Western power, a diplomatic source said Wednesday.
The French aid comes as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized the Security Council on Wednesday for failing to take action to protect Syrians facing violence that has led to thousands of deaths.
Amid mounting calls for the international community to do more to prevent bloodshed, France — Syria's former colonial ruler — has pushed to create "liberated zones" in Syria.
France has increased its contacts with armed opposition groups and started giving aid last Friday to local citizens' councils in five cities outside the government's control, the diplomatic source told The Associated Press. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius promised last week that such aid was in the pipeline.
Stephen Chernin / AFP - Getty Images
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius speaks during a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria on August 30.
The aid is notably helping restore water supplies, bakeries and schools affected by Syria's civil war, with the aim of helping rebel-held areas run themselves, the diplomatic official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the French actions amid Syria's violence.
France's allies are interested in providing similar aid, the official said. He would not name the cities or explain how the aid is being provided, citing security reasons. He said the cities house a total of 700,000 residents and have been outside control of President Bashar Assad's regime for between one and five months.
NYT sources: Iran supplying Syria's military via Iraqi airspace
"In zones where the regime has lost control, such as Tal Rifaat (25 miles north of Aleppo), which has been free five months, local revolutionary councils have been set up to help the population and put in place an administration for these towns so as to avoid chaos like in Iraq when the regime pulls back," a diplomatic source told Reuters.
NBC News
People resisting the army of President Bashar al-Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.
French officials have acknowledged providing communications and other non-lethal equipment to Syrian rebel forces, but say they won't provide weapons without international agreement. France played a leading role in the international campaign against Libya's dictator Moammar Gadhafi last year.
France last week promised an extra 5 million euros ($6.25 million) to help Syrians.
NYT: Syrian children offer glimpse of future of reprisals
Civilians in rebel-held parts of Syria have suffered frequent deadly airstrikes from Assad's forces and questions have been raised on how Paris proposes to protect civilians and deter them from fleeing to neighboring countries.
The source admitted some areas still faced sporadic bombardments from Syrian forces, but there was little prospect of them falling back into government hands. He said people in these areas had asked for anti-aircraft weapons.
The diplomatic push for Syria continues as the death toll in the country rises, forcing more than 230,000 Syrians to escape in the past 17 months. Meanwhile, China and the US remain divided over how to end the conflict. NBC's Ayman Moyheldin reports.
No-fly zones patrolled by foreign aircraft could protect rebel-held areas, but there is little chance of securing a U.N. Security Council mandate for such action, given opposition from veto-wielding members Russia and China.
More Syria coverage from NBCNews.com
Paris has increased its dialogue with opposition fighters over the past few weeks, although at this stage no French military advisers are helping them, the source said, adding that France was working to develop links between Syria's political opposition, defectors and rebel fighters.
Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.
At the U.N. General Assembly, Ban demanded urgent action to protect Syrians now fleeing the country in record numbers. "We have seen the immense human cost of failing to protect," he said.
In January, the death toll from the Syrian conflict — which began in March 2011 as a peaceful protest against President Bashar Assad's regime — was approaching 6,000. Activists now put the death toll at between 23,000 and 26,000.
At a U.N. summit in 2005, world leaders agreed that governments have a collective responsibility to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing. The concept arose from the World War II Holocaust, the killing fields of Cambodia in the late 1970s and the genocides in Rwanda in 1994 and Srebrenica in 1995.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad makes a rare public appearance by giving an interview to a pro-government news channel in Syria. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
The Security Council's paralysis on Syria has its roots partly in how the responsibility to protect has been used.
Last year, the Security Council authorized measures to protect civilians from attacks by Gadhafi's forces in Libya. Russia and China then complained that NATO went beyond the council's mandate.
As fighting continues in Syria, observers blame government airstrikes for mounting casualties which activists now say top 20,000. ITV's John Ray reports.
Since the Syrian conflict erupted, Russia and China have strongly allied themselves with the Syrian government and have vetoed three Western-backed Security Council resolutions demanding that his forces end the violence and threatening sanctions if they didn't.
Ban told the General Assembly that "inaction cannot be an option for our community of nations."
The number of people fleeing the fighting in Syria continues to rise with more than 200,000 leaving for neighboring countries because of continuing violence. Government forces continue to shell Aleppo and other suburbs of Damascus. Jonathan Miller Channel 4 Europe reports.
Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig, the current Security Council president, told a news conference Wednesday that the Security Council has not been united on crucial questions to deal with the Syrian crisis.
"But that doesn't mean that we simply cease to discuss this crisis," he said.
More world stories from NBC News:
- Rights group: US waterboarded Gadhafi opponents, sent them to Libya
- Deadly shooting mars new Quebec premier's victory rally
- Couple held hostage by pirates for 388 days to set sail on new journey
- Car crash politics: Laws don't touch rich in Thailand
- Hundreds of Afghan soldiers detained, fired over 'links with insurgents'
- Mexico arrests 'El Gordo,' alleged leader of Gulf Cartel drug gang
- Cringe! Britain's finance chief booed at Paralympic Games
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
It is only fair that France take the lead here. Syria is (as are so many other Middle Eastern countries) a country that was artificially created after World War I, specifically so that France could have a piece of the Ottoman Empire.
I hope this protracts the insurgency.
As long as they are shooting at each other, they aren't shooting at us.
Bill, I thought a protractor was something used for measuring. Can you tell me what happens when you protract someone?
Protractor. n. A tool for measuring angles.
Protract. v. To prolong in time.
Protract is not usually used with respect to people, but I guess you could use it as a term for lengthening someone. That, however, would take a stretch of the imagination. Or, perhaps, a limited vocabulary.
France, stay out of it!
What is it with these countries that think they have the right to intervene in other countries, specially poor third world countries?? Why doesn't France intervene in Russia or China? Right, because the Chinese or Russians will put a nuclear rocket up the French president's a** in half a second! French cowards!
Stupid person!
one1000percentAmerican,
"France intervene in Russia"
France has intervened in Russia in the past. Haven't you ever heard of Napoleon?
Not that I understand what your getting at but France has it's own nuclear "rockets" to respond with.
Finally someone other than the U.S has taken the first step in rendering aid to Syria. For years the European community has relied on the U.S to take the first step in aid to any country engulfed in civil war. Is everyone so afraid of China and Russia and the possibility of starting a world war that no one wants to commit to sending aid? So what if they have veto power as for as a United Nations commitment, at least individually they can choose to commit rather than have someone else dictate their position. At least France has the balls to step up and make public their position, which is far more than what can be said for the rest of the community. VIVA La France!! Now the rest can send individual messages to North Africa. But to remain silent shows fear in politics of Russia and China. Neither is going push the magic button. Only a fool would and a bigger fool would return the favor. Either supply aid or shut up when someone else does!
At least someone in the West has the balls to send Syria some help! I'm ashamed that the US (and everybody else) has stood by and done nothing while China and Russia are cocking things up for the UN. If you want something done right, do it yourself, and France has. I hope other countries follow suit. Obama doesn't dare do anything if it's going to tip the votes away from him before election time. He'd get my vote if he'd only stand up and do something.
Well put. At least France is trying to do something to stop the massacre of defenseless civilians, unlike the craven leadership in Washington. I say that as a disappointed American.
Yes, let's stop the massacre in a CIVIL WAR by adding more weapons to the conflict --- by the way, ironically, the Christian west would be supporting and arming a bunch of thugs that see Christians also as part of the enemy....strange. These tax payer bullets from France would go to kill in part, Christians. SICK>
Sure, George, more cynicism from people like you--and probably from most Americans--who are happy to let the Muslims in the Middle East slaughter themselves, no matter if women and children get caught in the crossfire and who can't possibly believe that Muslims could also want democracy and freedom from their oppressive regimes.
But since you people seem to need another reason to intervene to stop a massacre that has already claimed 20,000 lives, consider that democracies create stability in the world and are much more likely to become our political allies and trading partners and much less likely to commit terrorist acts against us or fight us on the battlefield. That's especially true if we help them to win their freedom.
Why do you think China and Russia oppose action against the monstrous Syrian regime? Because they are afraid of pro-democracy movements rising up in their own countries.
So if you can't support some type of U.S. intervention on humanitarian grounds, try to realize that it's in America's self-interest to support the rebels.
And since you seem to be worried about the fate of Christians in Syria if the rebels win their freedom, just consider that it's the Christian thing to do to stop a genocide. Don't you think? Just ask yourself, what would Jesus do?
Hey, Dan. I asked myself for the George here: american Jesus would provide weapons to fanatics that kill everybody including themselves and then will bomb the survivors! He will waterboard all few that still remain. That's freedom, man! Democracy for the dead!
Paul Rathwell,
"VIVA La France!!"
I agree with you 100%, but that would be "Vive la France" in French. "Viva" is Spanish. Just the final letter is different.
Well I can think of better things to do with the aid money then send it to syria. Like start giving aid out in our own countries to our own people who need help. Why should any tax payers have to give their hard earned money to a bunch of idiots? That money would be better spent, in its respective countries, on schools and infastructure. Not a bunch of bafoons that want to be in charge.
and France wonders why they were bombed raided and raped during WW2. Go figure. They obviously deserved what they got from Hitlers army. These people are a bunch of cowards that can only do things behind the scenes. The French are no better than the Americans. They get what they deserve.
France looks like a third world country ! French are low life cowards with no backbone ! They are the big terrorist of mankind !
This kind of reminds me of how the french helped us win the american revolution, mainly because they hated the British, now they're trying to help rebels overthrow the regime that overthrew them. Except I'm not sure if it was a peaceful concession by France to give Syria independence, or if they had to fight for it.
A major part of the problems in the region started from the French and the British meddling IN the region, this is just a continuation of it...but this time, the world has changed, Muslims are dominating in Europe and the vast space the separated France from the middle east (and the blow back from its actions) has shrunk because of technology, the world is much smaller now and more connected.
and how did that work out in Libiya?.......................
France is on the brink of going broke.
Can't take care of their own people but always money to send to other counties and sticking their nose into what is none of their business any more than it is ours.
Yup, the British and French, so-called, republics, are fighting hard as their nations head for the dust bin of history (sewer), bankrupt, desperate and acting like regurgitated colonists as they fight 'against the tide' of despotism. while pretending (like pariah Israel) that they are truly democracies with human values.
Funny and when Iran does this it is cause for alarm - this is a civil war and people, and apparently nations are taking sides, this is a dangerous game that France is playing, just like getting in the middle of a family squabble in which you are NOT part of the family, you may get burned.
This is all of no importance anyway as the rebels don't really have any ground to receive this hence the obstacle to getting any aid, it all can be bombed from above. Just like the US in Iraq and Afganistan, the Government owns the skies -- and in time they will retake everything back as the government is not isolated, it has allies in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Russia and China. This is a fact. Just like the opposition is attracting foreign fighters so is the government - and the PKK would do best if it sides with Assad as it does NOT want a government friendly with the Turks governing Syria, it will be a disaster for their aspiration, as it is now, they can create an autonomous region in northern Syria to merge with the one in northern Iraq, if Assad falls, their will be NO autonomous region as Turkey will not allow it, right now it does not want chemical weapons raining down on Ankara so it stops short.
That penciled neck Assad should be hung out to dry, just like Saddam was. Folks no matter how much one wish's it weren't true, the fact is that eventually every nation will have to decide which side of the battle field to take. Sooner or later the armies of the world will array themselves for the battle of battles. And perhaps this will be the end of wars for a while. But rest assured something will be the catalyst for this prophesied scenario. History has shown that civilizations rise and fall and there is nothing we can do to change that.
Source: Al-Qaeda-Trained Terrorists Sent to Syria from Waziristan
TEHRAN (FNA)- Al-Qaeda, backed by Turkey, the US and its regional Arab allies, has set up a new camp in Northern Waziristan in Pakistan to train Salafi and Jihadi terrorists and dispatches them to Syria via Turkish borders, sources said.
“A new Al-Qaeda has been created in the region through the financial and logistical backup of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a number of western states, specially the US,” the source told FNA.
From Pakistan to Syria via Turkish borders? Hey Brian, before you spread inept "news" like this, why don't you look at a world map. At least you won't make such a big fool of yourself.
Al-Qaeda Leader Strikes Deal With U.S., Saudis To Send 5,000 Jihadists To Syria
Following revelations that Saudi Arabia is financing a Jihad against Syria an Yemeni Jihadists announces a deal to supply 5,000 fighters.
Brain-709891 Shame on you man for telling the TRUTH , these brained washed people here , are believing every thing our Paid off Media and Politicians , Man I am beginning to believe what Ron Paul and his conspiracy about 9/11 . Its getting clearer by the day , but some of us here are too damn dumb to see it .
Assad, how 'bout we cleanse your ass! ANOTHER WALKING DICKHEAD...
Haven't you been advised that 'dick heads' with no GED degrees and extremely poor command of the Kings English (i.e. very limited vocabularies in 'civilized' English) are not permitted on this site, Pilgrim?
One has to wonder what the 'problem'' would be if was Iran was sending money and weapons to the 'rebel's' in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, and some of the other hoodlum monarchies that have teamed up with team UNITED SNAKES (US/Israel/NATO) to smother their people with state terrorism and abuse.
*French Voice* We will wave so many white flags, that we will blot out the sun!!!!
the french are like the us, they meddle and then they bitch about illegal immigration
France is one of the biggest terrorist states in history ! It helped the brutal Turks murder most of the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, & Syrian Christians ! It also gave Turkey the Sanjak of Alexandretta for reward ! They carved up Syria under their brutal occupation and promised all the different sects everything ! Now they want to kill more Syrian Christians by giving the Al Qaida thugs of the fsa more arms ! France should be wiped off the map !!!
As we know there is a legacy of French Brothels, and of course even in and around Syria it is cash only.
France is the biggest terrorists supporter in the world , the kiss ass of the Saudis and Qataris and all the Gulf States , they are the thieves of Africa , till this day they have present in Africa and they interfere in their business , they carved Syria after WW2 and Gave Turkey the best part of Syria , and off course helped the Jews in taking over Palestine and in killings of the Palestinians civilians , but the Palestinians deserve every thing coming to them from Israel and every body else , these SOB bit the hand that fed them , Syria helped and fed them and took care of them all these years , but they turn to their Muslims brother hood thugs against Syria , and showed the world , they do not care about their land as much as they care about helping their Alqada and Muslims brother hood thugs in Killing the Christians in Syria and the destroying the country , so let them get their day too , I am sure their day is coming , they are too cowards to go into Syria , because they know they will kick their ass , so they help the Alqaida thugs and train , and get money from the Saudis and Qataris , France does not have pot to piss in , they are broke and they want us to help them . that's why they went into Libya , the Europeans are nothing but thieves , all their lives Hell we should know here , what the hell you think the British came here for , so they can get the FING Queen some flowers , and why do you thing the FING french helped us , because they hate each other , but they love to get together to steal other countries wealth .
Why does the world think it is ok to interfere in Holy wars that have been going on for centuries? No matter what we or any other country may do they will continue. These wars are started over extremist attitudes on both sides. Let them fight it out. Why should we send our troops in to be slaughtered yet once again? Anyone who thinks it is a good idea to arm any extremist group needs to have their head examined. The only thing can be accomplished by sticking our nose into this is more hatred towards Americans. We cannot change the attitudes of these people. Read your history. They have been killing themselves for centuries. Do you really think it will ever end?
Mark my word, after the Nov. presidential election is over in the US you will suddenly see a much more aggressive approach to Syria....no-fly safe zones to start with. Right or wrong to get involved, it will be the beginning of the end for Assad.