Damascus Bombed After Failed Truce in Syria

A short-lived truce meant to halt fighting over the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha was immediately violated,according to Arab News (SRPC), when government forces fired missiles on rebel strongholds and opposition fighters shot back on Sunday. Since the expiration of the truce agreement, the war has continued to escalate, with Syrian warplanes bombing Damascus suburbs on Wednesday as reported by the Associated Press .

A separate AP report indicated that despite tensions between Syria and Turkey, the Turkish Prime Minister was unwilling to recommend a no-fly zone to the U.N. Security Council.

Following are the latest updates on the Syrian civil war.

Regime bombs rebel strongholds in the capital

While much of the war activity in the past weeks has focused on Aleppo and activity to the north, rebel activities in the suburbs of Syria's capital city of Damascus were the focus of regime bombings on Wednesday.

Warplanes carried out five strikes in the eastern district of Ghouta and three attacks at the city of Maaret al-Numan on the Aleppo-to-Damascus road. Nationally, 185 people died in air strikes and shelling on Wednesday. The day prior, 47 soldiers died in fighting.

Experience with no-fly zones discourages Turkey

Following a visit to Germany, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear that he didn't want to call for a no-fly zone.

"If the U.N. hasn't made this decision, we have no authority, no right to declare such a zone in northern Syria," Erdogan said, according to the AP. He said that a no-fly zone over Iraq had come at a high price, discouraging him from endorsing the measure in Syria.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had called for a safe zone inside northern Syria back in August, but the Security Council failed to pass such a measure.

State Department clarifies Clinton's remarks on Syrian opposition leadership

The U.S. State Department was asked if recent statements by Secretary Hillary Clinton indicated that the U.S. was now suggesting leadership for Syria, having "recommended names and organizations" that should participate in a Syrian opposition council. Deputy spokesperson Mark C. Toner stated that "in fact, as the Secretary recognized, we also need to include those opposition people who are on the ground, those who are taking the risks, who are fighting the fight, not necessarily just those who are outside of Syria."

Shawn Humphrey is a former contributor to The Flint Journal and an amateur Africanist, focusing his personal studies on human rights and political issues on the continent.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/damascus-bombed-failed-truce-syria-161500487.html

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