Syria: 'Deadly Military Attack' on Latakia (Protestors; 6 Killed, Forces Storm Under Heavy Shelling)

[Hissyspit]

Source: BBC News

14 August 2011 Last updated at 04:41 ET

Syria unrest: 'Deadly military attack' on Latakia port

Syrian warships have joined a military assault targeting protesters in the port city of Latakia, leaving a number of people dead, activists say.

Warships shelled districts, killing at least six people, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

- snip -

Some 20 tanks and personnel carriers were also said to be taking part in the Latakia assault, with heavy gunfire reported in the Ramleh neighbourhood.

One witness told Reuters news agency by telephone: "I can see the silhouettes of two grey vessels. They are firing their guns and the impact is landing on al-Ramleh, al-Filistini and al-Shaab neighbourhoods."

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14520830

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1. Aljazeera: Syrian 'warships shell port of Latakia'

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/08/201181475734965763.html


A large anti-government protest was held in Latakia on Friday

At least 11 people have been killed and 15 injured after Syrian warships and tanks opened fire on the port city of Latakia in two residential districts, activists have said.

Sunday's deaths were reported as a military assault on Latakia extended into a second day.

On Saturday, at least five people were killed and several were injured as at least 20 tanks and armoured personnel carriers rolled into the city.

Al Jazeera's Nisrene El-Shamayleh reporting from the Jordan-Syria border on Sunday said: "We understand from the activist and the Local Co-ordination Committee (LCC) that the Syrian tanks and the boats that are mounted with machine guns have halted opening fire and shelling neighbourhoods right now.



Apparently tanks and troops aren't getting the job done to quell the protests, so Assad has started using the navy to shell towns now. You have to wonder how much longer the Syrian people can keep protesting against such military force.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Rights group, activists now confirm at least 19 dead (AP update)

Syrian gunboats fire on coastal city; 19 killed

http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-gunboats-fire-coastal-city-19-killed-115751789.html

[No Elephants]

3. Aw, crap.

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4. Aljazeera: Syrian forces 'shell Latakia' for third day

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/08/20118158309760895.html

Syrian tanks have reportedly shelled a residential district in Latakia as the assault on the port city continued for a third day, according to residents. At least one person was killed in Monday's attacks, according to activists, bringing the total killed to 29 since security forces moved into areas of the city on Saturday.

Al Jazeera's Nisreen El-Shamayleh, reporting from Ramtha on the Syria-Jordan border, said additional military reinforcement has reportedly been deployed around the al-Ramel neighbourhood on Monday. "We understand from the local co-ordinating committee that at around 6am local time some women and children in the al-Ramel neighbourhood were trying to flee to nearby al-Tamra," she said. "Syrian forces verbally allowed them to pass through, but then opened fire on the families. One man was killed and several women and children were injured.

Syrian troops backed by tanks also entered several towns in the central province of Homs, a flashpoint of pro-democracy demonstrations. "The community of Hula is under siege ... The army is carrying out raids and arrests under the cover of heavy gunfire," the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A resident said at least three gunboats had taken part in Sunday's offensive, the first time the navy has been deployed in President Bashar al-Assad's months-long crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. "Many homes have been destroyed and the shabiha have broken into shops and businesses," he said, referring to pro-government gangs.

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5. BBC: Syria unrest: Palestinian refugees flee camp, says UN

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14533967

Thousands of Palestinian refugees are fleeing a camp in Syria's port of Latakia which is being shelled by government troops, a UN agency says.

A spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works agency (Unrwa) told the BBC that more than 5,000 of 10,000 refugees were on the move. He said at least four people had died, urging immediate access to the site.

On Monday, Unrwa spokesman Christopher Gunness told the BBC that more than 5,000 Palestinian refugees from the camp in Latakia's al-Ramel district and surrounding areas were on the move.

"We have no idea where these people are now... how many women and children," he said. He added that some refugees had been told by the Syrian government to leave the camp.