2012 Homs offensive

Military campaign in Homs, Syria February 2014 March 2021 2012 Homs offensive the Siege of Homs and the Early insurgency phase of the Syrian Civil War Destruction in Homs (4).jpg 300px Neighbourhoods in Homs under artillery bombardment (8 February 2012). 3 February – 14 April 2012(02 03 2012 04 14 2012) Homs, Syria 34.7308 N 36.7094 E dms region:SY_scale:50000_type:event inline,title Syrian government victory By March 2012, the Syrian security forces retake control of half a dozen districts, leaving them in control of 70 percent of the cityhttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1195589/1/.html More than 11,100 killed in Syria in 13 months: NGO Agence France-Presse ChannelNewsAsia 16 April 2012 16 April 2012 18 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120418173704/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1195589/1/.html dead Syrian opposition Syrian Opposition Syria 1980 Syrian GovernmentHezbollahSupported by:IranIran helped Syria in key early battle The Australian https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-times/iran-helped-syria-in-key-early-battle/news-story/c2cd450faf329399062a292e2c0aea1e Syrian opposition Lt. Abdul Razzaq TlassSyrian opposition Col. Ahmed Jumrek Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Gen. Fo’ad HamoudehFlag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Gen.Ghassan Afifhttps://www.hrw.org/node/103558/section/12 By All Means Necessary! Human Rights Watch 16 December 2011 6 February 2012Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Gen. Mohamed Maarufhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:019:0006:01:EN:HTML https://archive.today/20120708055509/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:019:0006:01:EN:HTML dead 8 July 2012 Eur-Lex – – En Official Journal of the European Union 24 January 2012 6 February 2012 Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army Al-Liwaa.svg Farouq Brigades Khalid ibn al-Walid Brigade Saddam Hussein Martyrs Brigadeالذاكرة السورية مقاطع الفيديو اشتباكات على جسر قرية الخالدية من قبل كتيبة صدام حسين في ريف حمص https://syrianmemory.org/archive/multimedia/616081459c5e3000019bf77b 2025-08-05 الذاكرة السورية ar Syrian opposition Opposition protesters Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg Syrian Armed Forces Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg Syrian Army Syrian-4thDIV-TRF.svg 4th Armoured Division 154th Army Regiment 1st Division 46th Armoured Brigade 42nd Mechanised Brigade flag of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg Syrian Air Force Flag of the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate.png Security Agencies Shabihahttp://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/65073/syrias-president-ends-state-of-emergency Syria's President ends state of emergency 21 April 2012 Buenos Aires Herald 20 April 2012https://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/16/world/meast/syria-homs-profile/index.html Homs: Bloody winter in Syria's revolution capital Nick Thompson 7 April 2012 CNN 20 April 2012 Syrian opposition 1,000 fightersSyrian rebels pushing back into Baba Amr in Homs, scene of heavy shelling Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg 7,000 soldiershttps://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/03/01/the_fall_of_homs#.T1ACJ0Cb3Tc.twitter The Fall of Homs Michael Weiss Foreign Policy 1 March 2012 2 March 2012 Syrian opposition 140–200 fighters killed(opposition claim)A BBC report stated that 80 percent of those killed were civilians while the rest were FSA fighters, since H.R.W. and the opposition claimed a figure of 700–1,000 fatalities, that would make a total of 140–200 dead opposition fightersSyrian opposition Tens of fighters killedSyrian opposition 40 fighters capturedhttp://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/26/402832.htm A Number of Terrorists Give Themselves up to Authorities at Baba Amro in Homs 26 February 2012 Syrian Arab News Agency 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120418135728/http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/26/402832.htm 18 April 2012 (government claim) Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg 38 soldiers killedhttps://archive.today/20120719062533/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-26-2012-1738 Syria live bloghttp://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/24/402410.htm Four Law Enforcement Personnel Martyred in Homs and Idleb, 2 Officers and a Woman Found Dead, Tens of Terrorists Surrender Syrian Arab News Agency 24 February 2012 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120413164853/http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/24/402410.htm 13 April 2012 http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/04/05/205560.html At least 38 killed across Syria as fierce clashes rage on in rebel towns 5 April 2012 Al Arabiya 20 April 2012Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg 19 soldiers captured 700–1,000 civilians and rebels killed overall (per H.R.W. and the opposition, see Deaths below for other estimates) Note: Numbers of dead are only for the period up to the fall of the Baba Amr district The 2012 Homs offensive was a Syrian Army offensive in early February 2012 on the armed rebellion stronghold of Homs. The offensive occurred within the scope of the Siege of Homs and ended with an U.N. brokered ceasefire on 14 April 2012. The offensive began by artillery bombardment by the Syrian armed forces in response to an attack by the Free Syrian Army on Syrian Army checkpoints on 3 February 2012, killing 10 soldiers.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/201223231333768854.html 'Hundreds of casualties in Syria's Homs' in army assault on Syria's Homs Al Jazeera 4 October 2011 6 February 2012http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Syria Syria Live Blog Al Jazeera 6 February 2012 11 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120311043736/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/Syria dead Government forces then began to bombard the city using tanks, helicopters, and artillery, rockets and mortars.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/09/syrian-troops-suburb-homs Syrian troops bombard sealed-off suburb of Homs The Guardian Julian Borger Mona Mahmood 9 February 2012http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501713_162-57375720/city-of-homs-becomes-focus-of-syrias-uprising/ City of Homs becomes focus of Syria's uprising Associated Press CBS News 11 February 2012August 2024 medicmedichttp://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html U.N. Security Council to meet on Syria as violence rages CNN 4 February 2012 6 February 2012 The Syrian government has denied that the bombardment is indiscriminate and blamed "armed groups" for the civilian deaths, including the deaths of foreign journalists.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-denies-massacre-of-200-in-homs/ Syria denies massacre of 200 in Homs CBS News 1 February 2012 6 February 2012 12 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121012130917/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57371564/syria-denies-massacre-of-200-in-homs/ live Heavy shelling continued on 29 February, as the Syrian armed forces launched a ground operation to restore control of the Baba Amr neighbourhood. The Syrian government announced that the army was being sent into the areahttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9113504/Syrian-troops-move-to-retake-Homs-district-Baba-Amr.html Syrian troops move to retake Homs district Baba Amr 29 February 2012 The Telegraph 20 April 2012 and were "cleaning" it from rebel fighters, and that the operation would be over in a matter of hours.http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/306605/20120229/syria-news-assad-war-criminal-clinton-homs.htm Syria Forces Threaten to 'Clean' Rebel City; Assad Branded War Criminal Oliver Tree 29 February 2012 International Business Times 20 April 2012 At this stage, water supplies, electricity and communications were entirely cut off in the Baba Amr district according to opposition activists.https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/29/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html Fresh diplomatic efforts target Syria 29 February 2012 CNN 20 April 2012 Heavy clashes continued throughout the day, as the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division sent in tanks and infantry. Baba Amr was finally secured by the Syrian army on the morning of 1 March, as rebel forces claimed they had made a "tactical retreat" from the area, after running low on weapons and ammunition. Background Syrian civil war Following the killing of 10 Syrian Army soldiers at a checkpoint and the capture of another 19 soldiers by the Free Syrian Army, government forces began an artillery bombardment of the city of Homs on the night of 3 February 2012. The operation February bombardment The bombardment began on the 30th anniversary of the Hama Massacre, a significant event for many Syrians. The Khaldiyeh neighborhood in particular was targeted when the bombardment began on 3 February, and opposition activists soon claimed that the initial attack led to over 200 deaths. According to the opposition activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, after more than two hours of shelling, at least 217 were killed in Homs, with 138 of the deaths having occurred in Khaldiya. They later raised their estimate of the death toll to over 260. Within a few days, the opposition Syrian National Council claimed the death toll had reached 416, and cited residents as saying at least 36 houses with families still inside were totally destroyed.http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11449832-syrian-opposition-416-civilians-dead-in-assads-regime-assault Syrian opposition: 416 civilians dead in Assad's regime assault AllVoices 31 January 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130511093617/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11449832-syrian-opposition-416-civilians-dead-in-assads-regime-assault 11 May 2013 dead They later revised their toll down to 290 killed in that period, however.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9061181/Homs-massacre-leaves-260-dead.html Homs 'massacre' leaves 260 dead The Daily Telegraph 31 May 2011 6 February 2012 According to an Al Arabiya correspondent in Homs, the district hospital was also destroyed. The correspondent claimed that at least 337 people had been killed and that over 1,300 people were injured in the shelling. However, the SNC and Al Arabiya figures were not independently confirmed and several western media outlets (including Reuters,Charbonneau Louis https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-idUSTRE80S08620120204 Russia, China veto U.N. draft backing Arab plan for Syria Reuters 29 January 2012 6 February 2012 France24,http://www.france24.com/en/20120204-syria-homs-shelling-assad-arab-spring-protests-khalidiya 'More than 200' killed in Homs ahead of UN resolution vote France24 4 February 2012 6 February 2012 BBCPaul Wood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16883911 4 February 2012 Syria Assad: Army massacres 'scores' in city of Homs BBC 6 February 2012 and CNNhttp://us.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t1#/video/bestoftv/2012/02/04/ac-intv-syrian-activist-says-more-than-200-people-killed.cnn Activists: More than 200 Syrians killed CNN 3 February 2012 6 February 2012) reported the death toll at around 200. The Free Syrian Army vowed to fight back with intense operations against the governments' forces and claimed to have destroyed an air intelligence building in Homs.http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/04/192423.html Obama asks Assad to 'step aside,' condemns mass murder in Homs Al Arabiya 4 February 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120205182524/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/04/192423.html 5 February 2012 dead Opposition activists posted many videos depicting burning buildings and dead bodies that they said were filmed in Homs.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0135 Live Blog Al Jazeera 9 January 2012 6 February 2012 7 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120707062550/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0135 dead http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0328 Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 03:28 Al Jazeera 6 February 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120206094612/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0328 dead http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0037 Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 00:37 | Al Jazeera Blogs Al Jazeera 6 February 2012 24 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120724115438/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0037 dead At least 30 buildings, including a hospital, were said to have been destroyed or severely damaged in the shelling.Paul Wood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16883911#TWEET72479 Syria Assad: Army massacres 'scores' in city of Homs BBC 6 February 2012 4 February 2012 According to the SOHR, 14 Syrian Army soldiers and five army defectors were also killed in the shelling and fighting in addition to the civilian deaths. The Local Coordination Committees also initially claimed that the death toll was more than 200 people, saying that they were working to confirm the number of deaths.http://www.lccsyria.org/6016 Syria Under Fire 4-2-2012 Local Coordination Committees 26 January 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430202300/http://www.lccsyria.org/6016 30 April 2012 dead They later revised their figures, confirming only 55 deaths.http://www.lccsyria.org/6032 85 Martyrs till now 4-2-2012 Local Coordination Committees 26 January 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120229013329/http://www.lccsyria.org/6032 29 February 2012 dead Paul Wood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16890107 Russia and China veto resolution on Syria at UN BBC 6 February 2012 4 February 2012 On 5 February, the LCC stated that they had documented the names of 212 people that had been killed in Homs, but counted only 181 bodies.http://www.lccsyria.org/6080 The Martyrs of the Khalediyeh Massacre Local Coordination Committees 6 February 2012 6 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402183254/http://www.lccsyria.org/6080 2 April 2012 dead thumb|Artillery firing towards Homs, Syria. Smoke rising from the subsequent shelled buildings, 25 February.|left|300px At least 300 rockets struck Homs on the morning of 6 February, leading to 15 deaths,Paul Wood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16902819 Syria crisis: Army steps up Homs shelling BBC News 6 February 2012 2 March 2012 with some claiming up to 50 dead,Meikle James Syrian forces 'kill at least 50' in Homs bombardment https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/06/syrian-forces-homs-bombardment The Guardian 6 February 2012 20 April 2012 and later 95 dead. The FSA attempted a counter-attack against the government forces, managing to hold them at bay for a short time before they had to fall back. Two rebel fighters were killed in the fighting.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16941399 Syria: Homs under 'heaviest' shelling yet 8 April 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012 The assault continued on 7 February, resulting in at least 19 deaths and 40 injuries as government forces shelled the city and attempted to move into rebel-held areas. At least 47 people were killed on the morning of 8 February. Tanks were reported moving down the main thoroughfares and were poised to advance into residential areas, according to locals. The Syrian state news agency reported that an oil refinery near Homs was attacked by "armed groups."The siege of Homs: scores killed in fifth day of shelling https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/08/siege-homs-syria-opposition?newsfeed=true The Guardian 8 February 2012 Luke Harding Mona Mahmood Matthew Weaver James Meikle On 9 February, activists said 110 people were killed in Homs by artillery shelling.http://www.lccsyria.org/6224 137 Martyrs 9-2-2012 9 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402193250/http://www.lccsyria.org/6224 2 April 2012 dead Another group of activists reported a toll of 57 dead.https://archive.today/20120708161920/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-9-2012-1909 Thu, 9 Feb 2012, 16:09 GMT+3 – Syria On 10 February, five FSA fighters were killed in the continued shelling, including Colonel Ahmed Jumrek, who had defected from the Syrian Army.Weaver Matthew Syria: bombs hit Aleppo as tanks pound Homs - Friday 10 February https://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2012/feb/10/syria-aleppo-bombs-homs-tanks-live#block-20 The Guardian 10 February 2012 Haroon Siddique Ben Quinn 20 April 2012 On 14 February, an FSA commander told reporters that his men had repelled a ground assault on the Bab Amr district, saying that four government tanks had been destroyed when they tried to enter the district.Macleod Hugh Annasofie Flamand http://www.salon.com/2012/02/13/syrias_looming_threat_of_civil_war/singleton/ Syria's looming threat of civil war Salon 13 February 2012 2 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120605151946/https://www.salon.com/2012/02/13/syrias_looming_threat_of_civil_war/singleton/ 5 June 2012 According to the opposition, rockets struck parts of Homs at a rate of four per minute on 18 February, the most violent bombardment for two weeks. The BBC reported shells were hitting the Homs neighborhoods of Baba Amr, Inshaat, Bayada and Khaldiya, according to opposition and human rights activists.Associated Press https://www.npr.org/2012/02/20/147152954/syrian-army-reinforcements-head-to-homs Red Cross Tries To Broker Syria Cease-Fire NPR 20 February 2012 2 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120229191724/http://www.npr.org/2012/02/20/147152954/syrian-army-reinforcements-head-to-homs 29 February 2012 On the morning of 21 February 2012, news sources were reporting a new wave of heavy bombardment had begun,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17110164 Syria: Homs comes under heavy bombardment BBC News 21 February 2012 20 April 2012 killing at least 30 people.Karouny Mariam https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-idUSL5E8DB0BH20120221 Red Cross seeks Syria ceasefires; more than 100 killed Reuters 21 February 2012 2 March 2012 An opposition member who was broadcasting live footage of the quarter of Bab Amr on the website Bambuser was killed in the fighting.http://blog.bambuser.com/2012/02/we-mourn-loss-of-very-brave-syrian.html Bambuser: We mourn the loss of a very brave Syrian journalist Blog.bambuser.com 21 February 2012 2 March 2012 22 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120222173535/http://blog.bambuser.com/2012/02/we-mourn-loss-of-very-brave-syrian.html dead American journalist Marie Colvin, working for The Sunday Times of London, was killed in Homs on 22 February during an artillery attack, along with French photographer Rémi Ochlik.Wardrop Murray Syria: Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin 'killed in Homs' https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9097762/Syria-Sunday-Times-journalist-Marie-Colvin-killed-in-Homs.html The Guardian 22 February 2012 In her last broadcast, an interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN, Colvin accused the Syrian Army of perpetrating the "complete and utter lie that they are only targeting terrorists." Describing what was happening as "absolutely sickening", Colvin said: "The Syrian army is simply shelling a city of cold, starving civilians." Colvin, who had lost an eye to shrapnel in Sri Lanka and had covered conflicts in Chechnya, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Libya, and East Timor, described the bombardment of Homs as the worst conflict she had ever experienced.Syria's Government Lies http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/22/video-journalist-syrias-government-lies/ CNN Marie Colvin 22 February 2012 25 February 2012 23 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120223114025/http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/22/video-journalist-syrias-government-lies/ dead Soon after Colvin's death, Lebanese intelligence claimed to have intercepted communications between Syrian Army officers to the effect that direct orders had been issued to target the makeshift press centre from which Colvin had been broadcasting. Jean-Pierre Perrin, a journalist for the Paris-based Liberation newspaper who had been with Colvin in Homs as recently as the previous week, claimed he had been told that the Syrian Army was "deliberately" going to shell their centre. Mr Perrin said the Syrians were "fully aware" that the press centre was broadcasting direct evidence of crimes against humanity, including the murdering of women and children. Perrin claimed that "[t]he Syrian Army issued orders to 'kill any journalist that set foot on Syrian soil,'" saying that he received news of the intercepted Syrian Army radio traffic upon arriving in Beirut. The Syrian government knew that if they destroyed the press centre, said Mr. Perrin, there would be "no more information coming out of Homs."https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9098511/Marie-Colvin-Britain-summons-Syria-ambassador-over-killing.html Marie Colvin: Britain summons Syria ambassador over killing Nabila Ramdani Peter Allen 22 February 2012 The Telegraph 20 April 2012 Activists told that 81 people, both FSA rebels and civilians, were killed the same day. One activist told that helicopters were used to identify the targets. A Lebanese official told that the Syrian government wanted to finish the battle before the referendum poll on the new Syrian constitution.Yacoub Khaled http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKL6E8C52E220120222 https://web.archive.org/web/20160203050524/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-idUKL6E8C52E220120222 dead 3 February 2016 Assad forces bomb Syria's Homs Reuters UK Reuters 22 February 2012 2 March 2012 On the same day, Syrian state media claimed men had killed two officers, a first lieutenant and a captain, when men fired an RPG at their car from a bridge. SANA said another member of the security forces was killed by a bomb in Homs.Syrian Arab News Agency http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/22/402032.htm Two Officers, a Security Member Martyred in Homs, Civil Engineer Martyred in Hama 22 February 2012 2 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120225053342/http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2012/02/22/402032.htm 25 February 2012 thumb|Building burning in "Bab Dreeb" after shelling by the Syrian Army. On 23 February, the Syrian army entered the Jobar area close to Bab Amr. One activist told that the army successfully cut all escape roads of Bab Amr and that unlike the previous fights, the FSA will be unable to escape.https://www.npr.org/2012/02/23/147296530/syrian-forces-tightening-grip-on-parts-of-homs Syrian Forces Tightening Grip on Parts of Homs NPR 23 February 2012 Peter Kenyon 2 March 2012 On 26 February, SANA reported that 40 rebels surrendered in Bab Amr quarter. At least 89 people died in Homs between 26 and 27 February as clashes and bombardment continued. 64 of those killed were refugees kidnapped and executed by the Syrian Army, according to opposition sources. At least 25 people were wounded in shelling on 27 February.https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/27/world/meast/syria-unrest/?hpt=hp_bn2 Syrian minister vows to defend 'independence' as deaths mount 28 February 2012 CNN 20 April 2012 Government ground assault on Baba Amr Heavy shelling continued on 29 February as government forces launched an operation to retake control of the Baba Amr neighbourhood. The Syrian government announced that the army was being sent into the area and were "cleaning" it from rebel fighters, and that the operation would be over in a matter of hours. Helicopter gunships were reported to have fired upon FSA fighters and civilians, according to people on the ground. At least 11 people were reported killed initially, including a family of five. Water supplies, electricity and communications were entirely cut off in the Baba Amr district according to opposition activists. Heavy clashes continued throughout the day, as the Syrian Army's 4th Armoured Division sent in tanks and infantry. Although the FSA Farouq Brigades defending Baba Amr stated that they would fight to the last man, it was reported that some of the FSA leaders already made an escape from the district.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-idUSL5E8DB0BH20120229 "Pray for us" say Syria rebels as army closes in Khaled Yacoub Oweis 29 February 2012 Reuters 20 April 2012 Baba Amr finally fell to government forces on the morning of 1 March, as the Free Syrian Army claimed they had made a "tactical retreat" from the area, after running low on weapons and ammunition. They made the decision to withdraw from Baba Amr and into other parts of Homs because "worsening humanitarian conditions, lack of food and medicine and water, electricity and communication cuts as well as shortages in weapons."https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203753704577254712115662208 Syria to Allow Aid as Rebels Pull Back Farnaz Fassihi Nour Malas Joe Lauria 1 March 2012 The Wall Street Journal 20 April 2012 During their retreat, 17 rebels were captured by the military and executed on the spot.http://www.cyprus-mail.com/syria/syrian-rebels-quit-besieged-homs-stronghold/20120301 Syrian rebels quit besieged Homs stronghold Mariam Karouny 1 March 2012 CyprusMail 20 April 2012 3 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231003004207/https://cyprus-mail.com/syria/syrian-rebels-quit-besieged-homs-stronghold/20120301 dead http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4197352,00.html 8 Syrian soldiers, 7 deserters killed near Golan 1 March 2012 YNetNews 20 April 2012 The activist group Avaaz, for its part, claimed they were civilians and that they were beheaded, but this was not confirmed by other sources.http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaelweiss/100140744/assads-security-forces-have-beheaded-17-civilians-in-baba-amr/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120305053324/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaelweiss/100140744/assads-security-forces-have-beheaded-17-civilians-in-baba-amr/ dead 5 March 2012 Assad's security forces 'have beheaded 17 civilians in Baba Amr' Michael Weiss 1 March 2012 The Telegraph 20 April 2012 Afterwards, at least 10 Syrian civilians were killed by government forces, who had also turned the shopping centre into a detention area.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-2-2012-2111 https://archive.today/20120707210517/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-2-2012-2111 dead 7 July 2012 Fri, 2 Mar 2012, 18:11 GMT+3 - Syria 2 March 2011 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 At a later date, an FSA commander stated that out of 250 rebel fighters defending the district 114 were killed in the fighting.http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/23/146425/rare-inside-view-of-syrias-rebels.html Rare inside view of Syria's rebels finds a force vowing to fight on 30 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120701095914/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/04/23/146425/rare-inside-view-of-syrias-rebels.html 1 July 2012 dead Karm al-Zeitoun massacre On 9 March, 30 tanks of the Syrian Army entered the quarter of Karm al-Zeitoun.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-idUSBRE8280G820120309 Reuters Annan to meet Assad, seeking end to Syria violence 9 March 2012 After this, it was reported that the Syrian Army had massacred 47 women and children in the district (26 children and 21 women), some of whom had their throats slit, according to activists. The opposition claimed that the main perpetrators behind the killings were the government paramilitary force the Shabiha.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/12/syria-16-killed-homs-reprisal-attacks Syrian activists claim 16 people killed in Homs reprisal attacks 24 March 2012 The Guardian 20 April 2012 The Syrian National Council (SNC), the main opposition group, called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the "massacre", which it said took place on 11 March. Hadi Abdallah, a Syrian activist, said: "Some of the children had been hit with blunt objects on their head, one little girl was mutilated and some women were raped before being killed," he said. Video footage was made of the bodies. The Syrian Government acknowledged that the massacre had indeed taken place, but claimed that "armed gangs" in the district killed them.http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16186872 Dozens of Bodies Found After Syria 'Massacre' 13 March 2012 Sky News 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120414152016/http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16186872 14 April 2012 Dozens of Bodies Found After Syria 'Massacre' On 13 March, opposition activists posted a video on the internet purporting to show the army shelling the district of Karm al-Zeitoun.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-13-2012-0807 Tue, 13 Mar 2012, 08:07 GMT+3 - Syria 13 March 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 7 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120707100710/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-13-2012-0807 dead March–April fighting On 20 March, 14 were reported killed from a new round of shelling, which continued into the next day, hitting the opposition stronghold neighborhoods of Khalidiya, Qussor, and Bayada in northern Homs.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/20123215921238440.html Syrian forces assault opposition strongholds 22 March 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 The military also reportedly entered Khalidiya.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17466453 US urges Syria to work with Annan peace plan 21 March 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012 The opposition activist group, the L.C.C., stated that another 40 people were killed on the second day of the bombardment, including 25 in Khalidiya.https://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/21/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html Syria hammers Homs; Security Council backs Annan mission 21 March 2012 CNN 20 April 2012 On 24 March, most rebel forces retreated from the Bab Sbaa district, under intense shelling, as the military moved in and a number of civilians were also attempting to leave the neighborhood.https://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/syria-army-shell-rebel-strongholds-10-civilians-4-soldiers-dead-1.420470 https://web.archive.org/web/20120325114434/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/syria-army-shell-rebel-strongholds-10-civilians-4-soldiers-dead-1.420470 dead 25 March 2012 Syria army shell rebel strongholds; 10 civilians, 4 soldiers dead Reuters 24 March 2012 Haaretz 20 April 2012 However, activists reported the neighbourhood was still under bombardment of heavy shelling as of 26 March.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-26-2012-0736 Syria - Mar 26, 2012 - 07:36 - Al Jazeera Blogs 8 April 2012 30 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120330190246/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-mar-26-2012-0736 dead Still, an activist stated that the FSA presence in the district was small and they were not in a position to do anything.http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/syrian-tanks-enter-northern-town-homs-pounded-again_765862.html Syrian tanks enter northern town, Homs pounded again 25 March 2012 ZeeNews 20 April 2012 Another activist also later confirmed the capture of the district.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/10/syria-middleeast?newsfeed=true Syrian rebels run low on food and hope Mona Mahmood Peter Walker 10 April 2012 The Guardian 20 April 2012 On 2 April, about 40 FSA members captured the National Hospital in Juret al-Shayah district. They found 78 corpses stacked in a refrigerator.http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/02/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 CNN Syria promises to pull forces from population centers 2 April 2012 In renewed fighting on 8 April, mortars were described as falling "like rain" on the opposition-held neighbourhood of Khaldiyeh, according to an activist. A makeshift hospital was allegedly stacked with 40 bodies which the opposition were desperately trying to keep cool with fans. According to the activist, they may have to be buried "in public gardens" due to a lack of other feasible options.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17651616 Fears grow for peace deal in Syria after new demands 8 April 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012 Mid-April Starting on 14 April 2012, a nationwide cease-fire came in effect, though separate clashes continued in several friction points. Into the morning of the same day, major shelling happened in the districts of Juret al-Shayah and al-Qarabis that violated the implemented Kofi Annan truce.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/201241464750115376.html Syrian forces 'shell districts of Homs' 14 April 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 The following day, the Syrian Army was reportedly shelling the neighborhood of al-Waer from the nearby military academy. SANA also reported that terrorists killed 12 civilians in the Alawite, pro-government, neighborhood of al-Zahra in what seemed like an FSA attack on the neighborhood.https://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/15/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html U.N. monitors arrive in Syria as killings continue 15 April 2012 CNN 20 April 2012 On 16 April, heavy shelling was coming from three sides into al-Khalidiya. The government also stormed al-Bayada and took control of half of it. They were also trying to storm Juret al-Shayah and al-Qarabis, but were being repelled by the FSA.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/201241693050730153.html Fighting in Syria as UN monitors go to work 16 April 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 Aftermath (summer 2013) On 27 July 2013, the Syrian Army took control of the Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque located in Khalidyeh, one of the two last rebel stronghold in Homs. The quarter of Khalidyeh was now in the hand of the government forces at 60%. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/27/syrian-troops-homs-mosque_n_3663894.html Syrian Troops Capture Historic Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque in Homs' Khaldiyeh District Albert Aji Bassem Mroue huffingtonpost.com 27 July 2013 11 August 2013 After the Battle of al-Qusayr (2013), the government launched an offensive against Homs. By the end of July it was reported that at least most of Homs was in government hands. Though state television said that the government was in control of the strategic enclave, some opposition fighters said they were still fighting from pockets of the city. One unnamed FSA Islamist brigade showed videos of its fighters without ammunition but strapped with suicide vests as their only remaining weapons. Other sources indicated that it was a matter of time that the government took control of the city if already had not done so. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23495733 After Khalidiya, Syria conflict goes on Paul Wood bbc.co.uk 29 July 2013 11 August 2013 Deaths The number of deaths during the artillery strikes and subsequent clashes has varied widely, with the lowest estimate for the first day of the bombardment being 181, while the highest was 416, which was later revised down. While opposition sources have claimed that most of those killed were civilians, government sources stated that out of the 500 reportedly killed by 13 February, most were either insurgents or government troops.http://m.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0214/1224311745911.html?via=rel Syrian army enters remaining insurgent strongholds Michael Jansen 14 February 2012 The Irish Times 20 April 2012 Journalist Marie Colvin in her last report before her death, said that due to the lack of identified military targets, many civilian buildings were damaged. According to her report, the casualties she had seen were about 80% civilians and the rest were FSA fighters.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-17120484 Journalist Marie Colvin in Homs: 'I saw a baby die today' 21 February 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012 Day-by-day Note: No precise casualty counts have been confirmed by any independent agencies Source Casualties DayL.C.C.181–212http://www.lccsyria.org/6080 The Martyrs of the Khalediyeh Massacre 6 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402183254/http://www.lccsyria.org/6080 2 April 2012 dead 3/4 FebruaryS.N.C.2603/4 FebruaryLocals290Martin Chulov Paul Harris https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/feb/05/syria-homs-hundreds-dead-barrage?newsfeed=true Syria: '300 killed' as regime launches huge attack on besieged city of Homs The Guardian 6 February 2012 4 February 20123/4 FebruaryAl Arabiya3373/4 FebruaryS.O.H.R.48https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/04/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html U.N. Security Council fails to pass resolution on Syria 5 February 2012 CNN 8 February 20123/4 FebruaryL.C.C.29http://www.lccsyria.org/6072 More Martyrs 5-2-2012 5 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430181313/http://www.lccsyria.org/6072 30 April 2012 5 FebruaryVarious42https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9065771/Syria-violence-Women-and-children-flee-shelling-in-Homs.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120207165608/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9065771/Syria-violence-Women-and-children-flee-shelling-in-Homs.html dead 7 February 2012 Syria violence: Women and children flee shelling in Homs 7 February 2012 The Telegraph 20 April 2012–95https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-idUSTRE80S08620120207 Russia's Lavrov seeks peace in Syria as forces bombard Khaled Yacoub Oweis Reuters 7 February 2012 20 April 2012 6 FebruaryL.C.C.197 FebruaryVarious53–67 killedhttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0209/1224311519794.html Dozens die as Syrian tanks shell city of Homs Michael Jansen 9 April 2012 The Irish Times 20 April 20128 FebruaryVarious57–1109 FebruaryL.C.C.16http://www.lccsyria.org/6258 51 Martyrs 10-2-2012 10 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430193523/http://www.lccsyria.org/6258 30 April 2012 10 FebruaryVarious7http://www.cyprus-mail.com/syria/syria-forces-shell-homs-russia-oppose-un-resolution/20120211 Syria forces shell Homs, Russia to oppose UN resolution Khaled Yacoub Oweis Dominic Evans 11 February 2012 CyprusMail 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120213043113/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/syria/syria-forces-shell-homs-russia-oppose-un-resolution/20120211 13 February 2012 –31Syria Rockets Homs As Arab League Meets in Cairo http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/syria-rockets-homs_n_1271382.html Huffington Post 12 February 2012 Khaled Yacoub Oweis Angus MacSwan 20 April 201211 FebruaryVarious23https://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5E8DD00420120213 https://web.archive.org/web/20160203050523/http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptNews/idAFL5E8DD00420120213 dead 3 February 2016 Arabs back Syria opposition; Homs bombardment resumes 13 February 2012 Reuters Reuters Africa 20 April 201212 FebruaryVarious3–11U.N. Official Rebukes Syria Over Violence https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/world/middleeast/syrian-forces-continue-attack-on-homs.html The New York Times 13 February 2012 Rick Gladstone Neil MacFarquhar13 FebruaryVarious6http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201202141348-cro-ren1044-six_civilians_killed_by_loyalist_fire_in_homs_syria https://archive.today/20120724164709/http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201202141348-cro-ren1044-six_civilians_killed_by_loyalist_fire_in_homs_syria dead 24 July 2012 Six civilians killed by loyalist fire in Homs, Syria 14 February 2012 Agenzia Giornalistica Italia 20 April 2012 –9http://www.lccsyria.org/6416 49 Martyrs 14-2-2012 15 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430205735/http://www.lccsyria.org/6416 30 April 2012 14 FebruaryL.C.C.4http://www.lccsyria.org/6440 More Killing 15-2-2012 15 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430195007/http://www.lccsyria.org/6440 30 April 2012 dead 15 FebruaryL.C.C.4http://www.lccsyria.org/6473 Massacre in Idlib 16-2-2012 16 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430205056/http://www.lccsyria.org/6473 30 April 2012 16 FebruaryL.C.C.17http://www.lccsyria.org/6515 61 Martyrs 17-2-2012 17 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430175505/http://www.lccsyria.org/6515 30 April 2012 dead 17 FebruaryL.C.C.5http://www.lccsyria.org/6515 Syria Today 18-2-2012 18 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430175505/http://www.lccsyria.org/6515 30 April 2012 dead 18 FebruaryL.C.C.10http://www.lccsyria.org/6559 23 Martyrs 19-2-2012 19 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430213747/http://www.lccsyria.org/6559 30 April 2012 19 FebruaryVarious9https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1134168--syrian-troops-converge-on-homs?bn=1 Syrian troops converge on Homs 20 February 2012 The Star 20 April 2012–13http://www.lccsyria.org/6588 Syria This evening 20-2-2012 20 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430175216/http://www.lccsyria.org/6588 30 April 2012 20 FebruaryVarious45https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17120224 Syria: US backs Red Cross call for truce 21 February 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012–49http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/22/196206.html Shelling of Homs resumes as U.S. signals possibility of arming Syrian opposition 22 February 2012 Al Arabiya 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120419050302/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/22/196206.html 19 April 2012 dead 21 FebruaryL.C.C.30http://www.lccsyria.org/6644 Syria Today 22-2-2012 22 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430195030/http://www.lccsyria.org/6644 30 April 2012 dead 22 FebruaryL.C.C.4Bloody Day in Syria 23-2-2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430224240/http://www.lccsyria.org/6686 30 April 2012 23 FebruaryL.C.C.32http://www.lccsyria.org/6722 103 Martyrs for Today 24-2-2012 Local Coordination Committees 24 February 2012 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120402201141/http://www.lccsyria.org/6722 2 April 2012 dead 24 FebruaryL.C.C.36https://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=259295&R=R3 'Assad's forces kill 103 in Homs, rest of Syria' 25 January 2012 The Jerusalem Post Reuters 20 April 201225 FebruaryL.C.C.23http://www.lccsyria.org/6781 Syria 26-2-2012 27 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430215943/http://www.lccsyria.org/6781 30 April 2012 dead 26 FebruaryVarious64–10427 FebruaryL.C.C.50http://www.lccsyria.org/6835 More Killing 28-2-2012 28 February 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430233033/http://www.lccsyria.org/6835 30 April 2012 28 FebruaryL.C.C.16http://www.lccsyria.org/6887 30 Martyrs 29-2-2012 1 March 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430233046/http://www.lccsyria.org/6887 30 April 2012 29 FebruaryL.C.C.22http://www.lccsyria.org/6887 37 Martyrs 1-3-2012 1 March 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120430233046/http://www.lccsyria.org/6887 30 April 2012 1 March Total Source Casualties PeriodVarious3213–5 FebruaryS.O.H.R.400https://vancouversun.com/news/Dozens+dead+Syria+regime+pounds+Homs+Activists/6119448/story.html Dozens dead as Syria regime pounds Homs: Activists Agence France-Presse 8 February 2012 The Vancouver Sun 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120209222656/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Dozens%2Bdead%2BSyria%2Bregime%2Bpounds%2BHoms%2BActivists/6119448/story.html 9 February 2012 3–8 FebruaryAI2463–8 FebruarySawasiah300http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/worldupdates/2012-02-09T104424Z_51_L6E8C52E2_RTROPTT_0_UK-SYRIA&sec=Worldupdates https://archive.today/20130221035729/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/9/worldupdates/2012-02-09T104424Z_51_L6E8C52E2_RTROPTT_0_UK-SYRIA&sec=Worldupdates dead 21 February 2013 Syria forces bombard Homs, U.N. condemns "appalling brutality" Khaled Yacoub Oweis Angus MacSwan 9 February 2012 The Star 20 April 2012 3–8 FebruaryH.R.C.559http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/20122101097421319.html The battle for Homs Nir Rosen 11 February 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 20123–10 FebruaryL.C.C.427http://www.lccsyria.org/6298 The Regime Intensifies its Operations Against Children 12 April 2012 Local Coordination Committees 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120430175338/http://www.lccsyria.org/6298 30 April 2012 dead 3–11 FebruaryVarious500–7543–13 FebruaryVarious700–1,000http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/04/syria-opposition-heavy-weapons_n_1319597.html Syria Violence: Opposition Seeks Heavy Weapons And Support Abroad For Bosnia-Style War Reuters 4 March 2012 The Huffington Post 20 April 2012 Beirut3 February – 1 March Reactions to 2012 incident Government The Syrian Interior Ministry stated that in criminal groups escalated their aggressions and criminal acts "perpetrating heinous crimes that claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, booby-trapping private buildings, kidnapping and looting private and public properties". A statement by the Ministry explained that "the competent authorities practiced the utmost self-restraint and gave terrorists a number of opportunities to return to the road of right.. but they refused and escalated their terror instigated by foreign sides.. all of this pushed the authorities to intervene and deal with them to restore security and stability to Homs".http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=en/Article/view/112549 Interior Ministry: Terrorist groups in Homs escalated aggressions against citizens Champress.net 2 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120210035025/http://www.champress.net/index.php?q=en%2FArticle%2Fview%2F112549 10 February 2012 Opposition Abu Rami Alhomsy of the Syrian Revolutionary General Commission claimed the shelling in lasted more than three hours. "It was a normal day for a demonstration but last night they started shelling this neighbourhood. We have many injuries. Many women and children have been killed and injured. I am hiding in the street with many people around me. They are shooting into here from an outside area."http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16162872 'More Than 200 Die in Homs' As UN Vote Nears Sky News 6 February 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120205051650/http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16162872 5 February 2012 The Syrian government denied that the shelling occurred and that it was a fabrication by opposition groups to try to influence a UNSC resolution that sought to condemn the Syrian government the same day. It also accused the armed groups in Homs of killing soldiers and civilians. International Many news sources, and the governments of Turkey and France, have described the attack as a "massacre".http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_37_-4-february-2012_-press-release-regarding-the-latest-attacks-perpetrated-by-the-syrian-administration-against-the-people-of-homs.en.mfa No:37, 4 February 2012, Press Release Regarding the Latest Attacks Perpetrated by the Syrian Administration Against the People of Homs Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4 February 2012 5 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140517164436/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_37_-4-february-2012_-press-release-regarding-the-latest-attacks-perpetrated-by-the-syrian-administration-against-the-people-of-homs.en.mfa 17 May 2014 deadhttps://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/world/middleeast/syria-homs-death-toll-said-to-rise.html Russia and China Block U.N. Action on Crisis in Syria The New York Times Neil MacFarquhar Anthony Shadid 5 February 2012 In response, protesters attacked Syrian embassies in a number of cities worldwide.http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/04/syria-mourns-%E2%80%9Chorrific-massacre%E2%80%9D-in-homs.html https://archive.today/20130121075711/http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/04/syria-mourns-%E2%80%9Chorrific-massacre%E2%80%9D-in-homs.html dead 21 January 2013 Syria mourns "horrific massacre" in Homs DAWN Agence France-Presse 4 February 2012 5 February 2012 The United Nations Security Council voted on an Arab League proposal to resolve problems in Syria following these events. China and Russia vetoed the resolution.http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/World/Syria-crisis-Russia-China-veto-UN-resolution/Article1-806890.aspx https://archive.today/20130125115828/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/World/Syria-crisis-Russia-China-veto-UN-resolution/Article1-806890.aspx dead 25 January 2013 Syria crisis: Russia, China veto UN resolution Reuters Hindustan Times 4 February 2012 5 February 2012 EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton has stated: "I am appalled by the reports of the brutal attacks by the Syrian armed forces in Homs. I condemn in the strongest terms these acts perpetrated by the Syrian regime against its own civilians The international community must speak with one voice, demanding an end to the bloodshed and urging Assad to step aside and allow a democratic transition."https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E8DB0BH20120211 https://web.archive.org/web/20160203050523/http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E8DB0BH20120211 dead 3 February 2016 Syria forces shell Homs, Saudis push U.N. resolution Khaled Yacoub Oweis Angus MacSwan 11 February 2012 Reuters Africa Reuters 20 April 2012 The UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, says he has received "grisly reports" that Syrian government forces are arbitrarily executing, imprisoning and torturing people in Homs after opposition fighters in the city retreated. "A major assault on Homs took place yesterday," Ban told the UN General Assembly in New York on 2 March. "Civilian losses have clearly been heavy. We continue to receive grisly reports of summary executions, arbitrary detentions and torture. This atrocious assault is all the more appalling for having been waged by the government itself, systematically attacking its own people". Activists said that government forces were rounding up people aged between 14-50 and executing them in batches.http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/2012334752803236.html UN chief criticises 'atrocious' Homs assault 3 March 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 UN rights chief Navi Pillay called for urgent international action to protect civilians in Syria: I am appalled by the Syrian government's wilful assault on Homs, and its use of artillery and other heavy weaponry in what appear to be indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas in the city. The failure of the Security Council to agree on firm collective action appears to have fuelled the Syrian government's readiness to massacre its own people in an effort to crush dissent."http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/20122854220167748.html 'Besieged' Homs endures tank assault Al Jazeera 8 February 2012 2 March 2012 Tunisia said it would expel the Syrian ambassador in response to what it called a "bloody massacre" and announced it no longer recognises the ruling government.Keath Lee http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/syrian-activists-200syrian-activists-200-dead-1330716.html Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria ajc.com 6 February 2012 Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE agreed to withdraw their ambassadors from Damascus, and expel the Syrian ambassadors to their respective countries, in protest at the Syrian governments crackdown, particularly in Homs.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16932556 Syria crisis: Gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors 7 April 2012 BBC News 20 April 2012http://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20120207-gulf-cooperation-council-countries-say-they-will-expel-syrian-ambassadors Gulf Cooperation Council countries to expel Syrian envoys France24 7 February 2012 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20180919121313/https://www.france24.com/en/breaking/20120207-gulf-cooperation-council-countries-say-they-will-expel-syrian-ambassadors 19 September 2018 dead Germany, Spain, Belgium and France also announced the withdrawal of ambassadors from Syria.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/eu-gulf-countries-recall-ambassadors-to-syria-amid-bloodshed.html Russians Huddle With Syria's Assad as Europe Joins Gulf in Pulling Envoys Terry Atlas Caroline Alexander 8 February 2012 Bloomberg 20 April 2012 The Netherlands also recalled its ambassador.http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/02/the_netherlands_recalls_ambass_2.php The Netherlands recalls ambassador from Syria 8 February 2012 Dutch News 20 April 2012 The United Kingdom followed these countries and also recalled their ambassador.https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-syria-hague/uk-makes-diplomatic-protests-over-syria-violence-idUKTRE8151BD20120206 UK makes diplomatic protests over Syria violence Reuters 6 February 2012 2 March 2012 In Libya, protesters took over the Syrian embassy and the official National Transitional Council handed control of the embassy to the opposition or "revolutionaries".http://feb17.info/media/video-syrian-embassy-in-libya-becomes-the-first-under-revolutionary-control/ Video: Syrian Embassy in Libya becomes the first under revolutionary control 5 February 2012 Feb17.info 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120222125209/http://feb17.info/media/video-syrian-embassy-in-libya-becomes-the-first-under-revolutionary-control/ 22 February 2012 Syrians residing in Libya protested outside the country's Russian embassy in Tripoli, eventually hoisting a Syrian opposition flag.http://feb17.info/news/photo-gallery-syrians-and-libyans-raise-syrian-revolution-flag-at-russian-embassy-in-tripoli-libya/?pid=95&pageid=41300 Photo Gallery: Syrians and Libyans Raise Syrian Revolution Flag at Russian Embassy in Tripoli, Libya 5 February 2012 Feb17.info 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130517115927/http://feb17.info/news/photo-gallery-syrians-and-libyans-raise-syrian-revolution-flag-at-russian-embassy-in-tripoli-libya/?pid=95&pageid=41300 17 May 2013 Libyans and Syrians also rallied outside the Chinese embassy in Libya, "to denounce China’s decision to veto a UN resolution that would seek to end the violence and bloodshed in Syria."http://feb17.info/news/video-syrians-and-libyans-rally-at-the-chinese-embassy-in-tripoli-libya/ Video: Syrians and Libyans Rally at the Chinese Embassy in Tripoli, Libya 6 February 2012 Feb17.info 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130517175517/http://feb17.info/news/video-syrians-and-libyans-rally-at-the-chinese-embassy-in-tripoli-libya/ 17 May 2013 Libya also expelled the ambassador for the al-Assad government; the ambassador's car was attacked by unarmed Syrian protesters as he fled Tripoli.http://feb17.info/media/video-syrian-ambassador-fleeing-embassy-in-libya/ Video: Syrian Ambassador fleeing embassy in Libya 11 February 2012 Feb17.info 20 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130517173040/http://feb17.info/media/video-syrian-ambassador-fleeing-embassy-in-libya/ 17 May 2013 This came after the prime minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron accused the government of butchering its own people. This is while 10 civilians were said to have been executed outside a shop in Bab Amr. Speaking in Brussels, he said: "The Assad regime is butchering its own people. The history of Homs is being written in the blood of its citizens." "The situation in Syria is absolutely appalling and it is vitally important that there is humanitarian access into Homs and elsewhere so that people can get the help they need." "But above all, what I think matters, is building the evidence and the picture so we hold this criminal regime to account and make sure that it is held to account for the crimes it is committing against its people and that one day, no matter how long it takes, there will be a day of reckoning for this dreadful regime."2012-03-02 Leaders' comments from European Union summit https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-summit-highlights/leaders-comments-from-european-union-summit-idUKTRE8210JX20120302?mod=related&channelName=worldNews https://web.archive.org/web/20201127103156/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-summit-highlights/leaders-comments-from-european-union-summit-idUKTRE8210JX20120302?mod=related&channelName=worldNews 2020-11-27 2025-11-23 Reuters en-GB The French President (at the time) Nicolas Sarkozy accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of seeking to "wipe Homs from the map", comparing his campaign to the Libyan government's attacks on the city of Benghazi. "Bashar al-Assad is lying in a shameful way, he wants to wipe Homs from the map like (former Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi wanted to wipe Benghazi from the map," Sarkozy said.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/france-apr-19-2012-1221 https://archive.today/20120708033957/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/france-apr-19-2012-1221 dead 8 July 2012 Thu, 19 Apr 2012, 10:21 GMT+3 - France 19 April 2012 Al Jazeera 20 April 2012 Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said that the government had "broken all the limits of barbarism. And when I see the Syrian president paraded around this voting station in Damascus for this phony referendum, it makes you deeply indignant." Juppe said he felt "immensely frustrated" at difficulties in obtaining security guarantees to enable wounded civilians and Western journalists to be evacuated from Homs.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/28/syria-journalists-escape_n_1306010.html Syria Violence: Wounded Journalists Escape, Military Pounds Opposition Areas Khaled Yacoub Oweis 28 February 2012 The Huffington Post Reuters 20 April 2012 In other countries, Syrian expatriates protested against the attack. Syrian embassies in Egypt and Germany were attacked, with protesters setting fire to part of the embassyhttp://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-1512 https://archive.today/20120707005431/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-1512 dead 7 July 2012 Syria – Feb 4, 2012 – 15:12 | Al Jazeera Blogs Al Jazeera 9 January 2012 6 February 2012 and at least 30 people storming the premises, respectively. There was more than 150 protesters chanting outside the London embassy at 3:00. Around 50 mostly Syrian protesters broke into their country's embassy in Greece on that morning, smashing windows and painting anti-government slogans on the walls, a police source told the AFP. Twelve Syrians and an Iraqi were arrested afterwards.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/greece-feb-4-2012-1118 https://archive.today/20120701175315/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/greece-feb-4-2012-1118 dead 1 July 2012 AJE live blog Al Jazeera 9 January 2012 6 February 2012 In Kuwait, witnesses said demonstrators stormed the Syrian embassy compound breaking windows and hoisting the flag of the opposition.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/kuwait-feb-4-2012-1012 https://archive.today/20120710083320/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/kuwait-feb-4-2012-1012 dead 10 July 2012 AJE live blog Al Jazeera 6 February 2012 The Syrian Embassy in Australia was also damaged and ransacked.http://www.newsday.com/news/protesters-attack-7-syrian-embassies-around-world-1.3504104 Syrian Embassy Attacks Newsday 8 February 2012May 2026 medicmedic There were also protests outside the Syrian embassy in the United States.http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0845 https://archive.today/20120711092155/http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/syria-feb-4-2012-0845 dead 11 July 2012 Syria live blog Al Jazeera 9 January 2012 6 February 2012 See also Battle of Rastan (2011) Battle of Idlib (2012) Battle of Taftanaz External links In Cold Blood, Human Rights Watch, 10 April 2012. References 30em Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war in 2012 Category:Homs in the Syrian civil war Category:2012 massacres in the Syrian civil war Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Syrian government Category:Military operations of the Syrian civil war involving the Free Syrian Army Category:February 2012 in Syria Category:March 2012 in Syria Category:April 2012 in Syria Category:March 2012 crimes in Asia Category:Massacres committed by the Syrian Army in the Syrian civil war