Syrian regime issues 48-hour deadline to Damascus rebels

[Lucy Goosey]

Source: The Guardian

The Syrian military gave residents 48 hours to leave the parts of Damascus now held by rebel forces as it prepared a counterattack aimed at retaking control of its power base and pushing back four days of dramatic rebel gains.

The rebel Free Syria Army on Thursdaycontinued to hold ground it had seized in key parts of the capital during this week's major attack, and was bracing for a decisive battle against loyalist forces who appear to have been caught off guard by the co-ordinated assault.

Guerrilla units continued to push their gains elsewhere in the country, apparently seizing control of at least two border crossing points into Turkey and all crossings into Iraq, according to videos posted on the internet. Such crossings could prove crucial in funnelling supplies into besieged rebel areas.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/19/syrian-regime-damascus-rebel-held-areas

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. They are going to destroy those rebel-held areas and anyone remaining in them.

Or try to, anyway.

[bemildred]

2. Yipes.

To the death then. Battle in the rubble, coming right up.

[Zyzafyx]

3. Assad is looking in the mirror

ans seeing Qaddafi.

[TheWraith]

4. I don't get how these guys can think they get away with it.

How does it not occur to them at some point that a comfortable, wealthy exile is better than trying to cling on to power and ending up beaten to death in a ditch?

[David__77]

5. I hope that the insurgents won't try to use residents as human shields against their will.

There were many reports of people in Homs being forced to remain while the army fought to restore control.

[Odin2005]

7. Wow, project much?

[may3rd]

11. I'm sure they'll take care that no child gets in the way of a power struggle

winning hearts and minds of dumb asses

[Posteritatis]

6. "Die or we'll kill you," then? (nt)

[Odin2005]

8. If Assad doesn't want to be Mussolini'd, he'd better flee.

Maybe his apologists could put him up in Iran.

[roamer65]

9. Sounds like Assad is getting ready to use chemical weapons.

[Massacure]

10. 48 hours to melt away and pick a fight in another city...

[may3rd]

12. Rebels attack in another direction

Syrian rebels say fight for Aleppo has begun

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014173245