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On 30 July, SOHR said that clashes erupted early morning near the airforce intelligence headquarters in Aleppo's Zahraa district.<ref>[http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-forces-blast-rebel-held-districts-aleppo-according-activists Syrian forces blast rebel-held districts of Aleppo, according to activists]</ref> Meanwhile, a General in the FSA said that they had seized a strategic checkpoint 5 KM from Aleppo after 10 hours of fighting. This meant that the FSA controlled a direct route between the Turkish border and the city of Aleppo, and during the battle it was reported that 4 rebels and 6 soldiers were killed, with an additional 25 soldiers taken prisioner. An AFP journalist on the ground said that the rebels captured seven tanks and armoured vehicles, and destroyed an eighth vehicle.<ref>[http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint-between-aleppo-and-turkey-according-rebel Syrian rebels seize strategic checkpoint between Aleppo and Turkey, according to rebel officer]</ref> |
On 30 July, SOHR said that clashes erupted early morning near the airforce intelligence headquarters in Aleppo's Zahraa district.<ref>[http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-forces-blast-rebel-held-districts-aleppo-according-activists Syrian forces blast rebel-held districts of Aleppo, according to activists]</ref> Meanwhile, a General in the FSA said that they had seized a strategic checkpoint 5 KM from Aleppo after 10 hours of fighting. This meant that the FSA controlled a direct route between the Turkish border and the city of Aleppo, and during the battle it was reported that 4 rebels and 6 soldiers were killed, with an additional 25 soldiers taken prisioner. An AFP journalist on the ground said that the rebels captured seven tanks and armoured vehicles, and destroyed an eighth vehicle.<ref>[http://blogs.aljazeera.com/topic/syria/syrian-rebels-seize-strategic-checkpoint-between-aleppo-and-turkey-according-rebel Syrian rebels seize strategic checkpoint between Aleppo and Turkey, according to rebel officer]</ref> |
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It is confrimed that the Army is in control of the two key suburbs of Salah-al-Din and Hamdaniya. The rebels also suffered heavy losses at the center of Aleppo in Bab al-Hadid, where the Army captured a vehicle with an implemented machinegun. Part of the rebel forces surrendered while some prominent leaders of the opposition where killed, including [[Ahmad al-Janoudi]], [[Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salloum]], [[Ali al-Hussein abu Hussein]] and [[Mohammad al-Saed]]. On the territory of the al-Barkoum suburb the Army suceeded in preventing a sabotage of several factories.<ref name=Advance>{{cite news |title=Veliki napredak sirijske vojske u presudnoj bitci za Aleppo, dvije ključne četvrti pod kontrolom vojske |trans_title=Great advance of the Syrian Army in a decisive Battle of Aleppo, two key suburbs under control of the Army |author= |url=http://www.advance.hr/vijesti/veliki-napredak-sirijske-vojske-u-presudnoj-bitci-za-aleppo-dvije-kljucne-cetvrti-pod-kontrolom-vojske/ |publisher=Advance.hr |date=30 July 2012 |language=Croatian |accessdate=30 July 2012}}</ref> |
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== Foreign reactions == |
== Foreign reactions == |
Revision as of 11:18, 30 July 2012
Battle of Aleppo (2012) | |||||||
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Part of the Syrian civil war | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi[2] Abu Abdu Bakri (Salaheddine district)[3] | Unknown | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
18 battalions[4] | Unknown | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
3,500-4,000 fighters[7][8] 12,000 foreign fighters (Syrian state media claims)[9] |
10,000 soldiers (1,500 Shabiha; including the countryside)[10][8] 100 tanks[8] 400 armored personnel carriers[8] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
49 killed[11] |
70+ killed, 100+ captured, 11-13 AFVs destroyed | ||||||
124 civilians killed[12][13] |
The Battle of Aleppo, also called "The mother of all battles",[14] is an ongoing military confrontation in Aleppo, Syria between the Syrian Government and the Free Syrian Army. The battle began on 19 July 2012 as a part of the Syrian civil war. Clashes began with an offensive by the Free Syrian Army against the city, which is the largest in Syria and holds great strategic and economic importance.[15]
Background
Large demonstrations against the government took place in Aleppo on 20 July,[16] and were fired upon by soldiers.[17] North of Aleppo city, the Free Syrian Army had already established control of several cities and towns, including Tal Rifaat, Azaz and Al-Bab. The FSA had previously reached within nine miles of Aleppo. The battle began when dozens of FSA rebels penetrated deep inside the city. Residents had painted walls with the pre-Ba'athist flag, the symbol of the revolution.[15]
Insurgents fighting the Syrian government have identified themselves as coming from from Algeria, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates - and claim to belong to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and the Shura Taliban.[18]
The Free Syrian Army has repeatedly refused attempts by the International Community, led by UN- Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, to engage in negotiations for peaceful settlement through a democratic process.[19]
Battle
Rebel attack
Violent clashes began on 19 July in several Aleppo districts.[20] On 20 July, according to activist groups, the military shelled the city. SOHR stated that “dozens of missiles fell in the city, and many houses were destroyed and flattened." Five explosions were heard in Aleppo early the next morning.[21]
On 21 July, fighting was still raging in the southwestern Salaheddine district, with the army trying to storm it with troops and armored vehicles. Meanwhile clashes started in the poorer, tribal northeastern district of al-Sakhour. Hundreds of families were forced to flee as the commercial city had been slowly turned into a war zone.[22] Violent clashes also took place in the northeastern Haydariya area in Aleppo.[23] The head of intelligence in Aleppo, Major General Mohamed Muflih, reportedly defected to the opposition and went to Turkey.[24][25]
On 22 July, the fourth day of major fighting in Aleppo, the Syrian army started to push into the Salaheddine district, which had been in rebel hands for two days, with armoured vehicles.[26] Battles took place near the main intelligence headquarters of Aleppo.[27] It was reported that rebels controlled three neighbourhoods in Aleppo. The al-Zabadia police station and the immigration and passport building in Aleppo saw clashes as well as the areas of Saif al-Dawla, al-Jameeliya and al-Meridian.[24] It was further reported that the FSA had set up checkpoints in the city. A Brigadier General defected inside Aleppo. General Adelnasser Ferzat made a video address in fluent Russian to Russia, urging Moscow to stop backing Assad and back "freedom" and the rebels' side.[15]
On 23 July, renewed fighting in Aleppo was reported, with rebel fighters attacking the main TV station of the city. The Free Syrian Army aired a live steam video showing their fighters moving freely in the Tareeq al-Bab district of Aleppo city.[28] 33 people were reportedly killed in the city in the previous two days.[29] State media reported that dozens of rebels had been killed by the Syrian Army north of Aleppo, among them Mahmoud al-Ashqar, leader of a rebel group.[30] A rebel commander inside Aleppo told Al-Jazeera via Skype that his fighters had captured five districts in the city, but that these districts were still being heavily shelled by artillery and attack helicopters.[31] During the night, eight people were reported killed at Aleppo central prison. The Syrian National Council said that security forces "opened fire with bullets and tear gas on the detainees at Aleppo central prison in response to a peaceful sit-in organised by prisoners because of the great injustice of which they are victims," and that a fire broke out at the prison.[32] Another report said that 15 prisoners were killed and over 40 were injured, according to Al Arabiya who were citing activists at the Aleppo Revolution Council. Furthermore, the group also said that security forces refused to hand over the dead bodies to relatives and that heavy clashes between the FSA and security forces took place around the prison after the killings.[33]
City centre fighting and Army reinforcements sent
On 24 July, FSA fighters began a new offensive in Aleppo, aimed at taking the city centre. Heavy clashes broke out near the gates of the Old city between rebel fighters and government forces.[34] Also, a resident of the Aleppo suburb of al-Sahkour said that the FSA had set up checkpoints in the district.[35] In addition, Al-Arabiya reported about clashes between rebels and army soldiers in the Aleppo neighborhood of Al-Arqoub.[36] The Sham news network said that 30 security force members were killed or injured and three tanks destroyed in a neighbourhood of Aleppo the previous day.[37] Later during the day, for the first time since the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Syrian war planes bombed Aleppo (with videos showing L-39 attack aircraft over the city). The coordinated attack started with a 10-minute artillery attack on the eastern Tariq al-Bab district, after which, fighter jets hit rebel positions, reportedly leaving dozens of fighters and civilians dead.[38] Government soldiers and rebels were still engaged in heavy fighting near the Old city, while the Free Syrian Army stated it had control of at least six districts of Aleppo, a claim partially supported by a BBC journalist outside Aleppo.[39] Two rebels were reported killed during the day.[40] Opposition activists stated that thousands of government troop reinforcements were moving from Idlib toward Aleppo.[41] One of the reinforcement's convoys was attacked with a roadside bomb while it was on its way to the city, killing eight soldiers.[42]
On 25 July, activists inside Aleppo reported that some 100 soldiers had defected to the Free Syrian Army, and that heavy fighting was ongoing in large parts of the city.[43] Also, a BBC reporter inside Aleppo confirmed that parts of the city (most notably the eastern suburbs) were under Free Syrian Army control[44] Heavy fighting raged at a police station in the city, during which three rebels were killed. The rebels managed to capture and burn the station in the end.[12][45] Meanwhile, FSA commanders called on rebels to attack the approaching Syrian Army of 2,000 soldiers. Rebels from all over Aleppo governorate were reported to be gathering ammunition and moving towards Aleppo.[45] Two alleged pro-government Shabiha militiamen, who were captured by the rebels, were executed in the Salaheddin district.[46]
On 26 July, the Free Syrian Army stated it was in control of 40-50% of Aleppo city. Government forces bombarded rebel-held districts with fighter planes, helicopters and artillery.[7][47] Two rebel fighters were killed during clashes.[48] Rebels were waiting for the military assault, most of them expecting to die in the battle.[46] Among the government troop reinforcements that were massing on the outskirts of Aleppo were also special forces units.[7] The Syrian Army had reportedly amassed 10,000 soldiers around Aleppo and its countryside.[10]
On 27 July, rebels captured a military base in Aleppo's city centre[10] along with 100 soldiers and pro-government militia.[49] It was reported that 15 people were killed by helicopters and bombs in the al-Fardous district. An activist, Omar, said that "We woke up to a huge massacre this morning at 7am. Fifteen people were killed as a result of the regime forces' bombs and helicopters ... I witnessed the massacre myself and helped rescue 25 injured people. I carried bloodied body parts in my own hands. The bombing stopped at 10am." and the FSA later took control of the Sour al-Hajj roundabout in the district, capturing a five-storey building which was holding 75 detainees.[50] State TV reported that five rebel pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns, that were heading from the countryside towards Aleppo, were attacked and destroyed by special forces units, killing and wounding a number of rebel fighters. A rebel commander partially confirmed this by saying opposition forces had skirmished with the military in the areas surrounding the city.[4] Meanwhile, six soldiers were killed during clashes with a Kurdish rebel force, the YPG, who attacked them in retaliation after government troops attacked their convoy on the airport road the previous day, killing three and wounding 11 YPG members.[1]
Syrian Army counter-offensive
On the morning of 28 July, the Syrian Army started its offensive to retake rebel-held parts of Aleppo. Troops attacked the Salaheddin district, which held the largest concentration of rebels.[51] The assault commenced with an eight-hour artillery bombardment, which started at four in the morning, after which tanks and ground troops moved in.[52] An estimated 80-100 tanks were seen on the southern outskirts of the city before the attack started.[53][54] The opposition stated that 12 rebels and 10 soldiers were killed during the fighting, that dozens of soldiers were wounded, and that 8-10 tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed or damaged. They also confirmed that one of the killed rebel fighters was a battalion commander.[12][54] Meanwhile, rebels from Salaheddin attacked a police station in the city center where 50-100 government troops were holding out for the past three days, in an attempt to link up with opposition forces in the northeastern Sakhur district six kilometers away.[54][55] By the end of the day, the rebels had repelled the assault with government troops pulling back and the bombardment resuming.[56]
On 29 July, a Turkish journalist reported Syrian soldiers defected to the opposition in Aleppo with four tanks.[57]Luke Harding from the Guardian reported that a rebel commander was pessimistic about the chances of victory for the rebels.[8] In the evening, state media reported that the Salaheddin district was recaptured by the Army; however, journalists were not able to reach it and confirm the report. Opposition SOHR activists said that fighting was still ongoing in the district.[58] However, Colonel Abdel Jabbar al-Oqaidi, head of the Free Syrian Army military council of Aleppo, denied the report and insisted government troops had "not progressed one meter." "We launched a new assault from Salaheddin during the night, and we destroyed four tanks," the rebel commander told AFP by phone." Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, said that regime forces were on Monday "just reaching the outskirts of the [Salaheddin] neighborhood."[59]
On 30 July, SOHR said that clashes erupted early morning near the airforce intelligence headquarters in Aleppo's Zahraa district.[60] Meanwhile, a General in the FSA said that they had seized a strategic checkpoint 5 KM from Aleppo after 10 hours of fighting. This meant that the FSA controlled a direct route between the Turkish border and the city of Aleppo, and during the battle it was reported that 4 rebels and 6 soldiers were killed, with an additional 25 soldiers taken prisioner. An AFP journalist on the ground said that the rebels captured seven tanks and armoured vehicles, and destroyed an eighth vehicle.[61]
Foreign reactions
The USA said it feared a new massacre in Aleppo by the government: "This is the concern: that we will see a massacre in Aleppo and that's what the regime appears to be lining up for."[62] William Hague, British Foreign Minister, also said that "the world must speak out to avert a massacre in Aleppo".[63] The French foreign ministry said that "With the build-up of heavy weapons around Aleppo, Assad is preparing to carry out a fresh slaughter of his own people", while Italy and the UN peacekeeping chief also accused the government of preparing to massacre civilians.[64]
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan urged international action, saying it was not possible "to remain a spectator" to the government offensive on Aleppo.[65] Reuters reported that Turkey had set up a base with allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the purpose of directing military and communications aid to the Free Syrian Army from the city of Adana. Reuters also quoted a Doha-based source which stated that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were providing weapons and training to the rebel fighters.[66]
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated "Our Western partners ... together with some of Syria's neighbours are essentially encouraging, supporting and directing an armed struggle against the regime". He also added that it would be unrealistic to expect Syrian forces not to fight when armed fighters were occupying Aleppo. "How can you hope that in such a situation, the government will simply reconcile itself and say 'All right, I was wrong. Come on and topple me, change the regime'?"[67]
External links
References
- ^ a b "Kurdish forces kill six Syrian soldiers in Aleppo". Kurdistan News Agency. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian forces 'step up attacks on Aleppo'". The Australian. Australian Associated Press. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "The Battle for Aleppo: rebels, regime, refugees inside Syria". Alaska Dispatch. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Clock ticks for 'mother of all battles' in Aleppo". CNN. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Paul Schemm and Ben Hubbard (22 July 2012). "Syria says will use chemical weapons if attacked". The Miami Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Clarissa Ward (26 July 2012). "Syria rebel leader says his men are ready to take on Assad's forces in fight for Aleppo". CBS News. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Luke Harding and Ian Black (26 July 2012). "Syrian forces gather for Aleppo assault". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Syria: Battle for Aleppo - live updates". The Guardian. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian army starts "purging" Aleppo from "Jihadists", minister pledges to eradicate terrorism". newstrackindia.com. Asian News International. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "Syria crisis: US fears Aleppo 'massacre'". The Guardian. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ 6 killed (20 July),[1] 2 killed (21 July),[2] 16 killed (23 July),[3][4] 2 killed (24 July),[5] 3 killed (25 July),[6] 6 killed (26 July),[7] 12 killed (28 July),[8] 2 killed (29 July),[9] total of 49 reported killed
- ^ a b c "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". Facebook. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "نحو 200 سوريا سقطوا يوم الخميس" (in Arabic). Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "'Mother of all' catchphrase, from Saddam Hussein to the bailout, is invoked again in Syria". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Luke Harding and Martin Chulov (22 July 2012). "Syrian rebels fight Assad troops in Aleppo". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Massive demonstration in Aleppo calls for government's downfall". Al Jazeera. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Crowd fired on in Aleppo, protest in Damascus, says NGO". Now Lebanon. Agence France-Presse. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian wheel of fortune spins China's way". Asia Times Online. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria opposition denies reports on forming coalition government". Xinhuanet. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ "Fierce fighting in Syria's Aleppo:activists". The Daily Star. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Zaid Sabah and Donna Abu-Nasr (21 July 2012). "Syria Rebels Fight for Border Posts as Aleppo Shelled". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ ""For the first time we feel Aleppo has turned into a battle zone," a housewife in Aleppo says". Al Jazeera. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian military and fighters clash in Aleppo". Al Jazeera. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b Zaid Sabah and Glen Carey (22 July 2012). "Syrian Rebels Battle for Aleppo After Seizing Border Posts". Bloomberg. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Aleppo intelligence chief defects". Al Jazeera. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria fighting spreads to Aleppo". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Rebels reportedly battle government forces near intelligence headquarters in Aleppo". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Live footage showing Free Syria Army fighters on the streets of the Tareeq al-Bab neighbourhood of Aleppo". Al Jazeera. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ David Enders (23 July 2012). "Fighting in Syria indicates Bashar Assad's end isn't imminent". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Authorities Inflict Heavy Losses upon Terrorists in Damascus, Aleppo and Hama
- ^ "FSA says several districts of Aleppo "liberated"". Al Jazeera. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Eight people killed in a prison mutiny in Syria's second city of Aleppo during the night, opposition says". Al Jazeera. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian regime forces commit massacre inside Aleppo prison as refugee numbers rise". Al Arabiya. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Rebels launched an offensive to take over downtown Aleppo, battling Syrian forces at the gates of the Old City". Al Jazeera. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian activist Tweets warning on what he says are FSA roadblocks". Al Jazeera. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Latest Syria developments". Now Lebanon. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Battle for Aleppo: Syrians react". BBC News. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Loveday Morris (25 July 2012). "'Dozens dead' as war planes bomb Syria's biggest city". The Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Ian Pannell (24 July 2012). "Syria conflict: Aleppo bombed by fighter planes". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian shelling kills six children". Courier Mail. Agence France-Presse. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Erika Solomon (24 July 2012). "Syria sends armored column to Aleppo, strikes from air". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Aleppo in for major battle". The Himalayan Times. Agence France-Presse. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Latest Syria developments". NOW Lebanon. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Ian Pannell (25 July 2012). "Syria's Turkish border units 'head for Aleppo'". BBC News. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Syrian rebels, regime forces clash in Aleppo". CNN. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b Bulent Kilic (26 July 2012). "Rebels in Syria's Aleppo ready to fight... and die". Google News. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian military bombards rebel strongholds". Al Jazeera. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria conflict: Troops 'mass before Aleppo battle'". BBC News. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria crisis: US fears Aleppo 'massacre'". The Guardian. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria crisis: US fears Aleppo 'massacre'". The Guardian. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian army launches Aleppo counter-offensive, activists say". Now Lebanon. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria rebels fend off Aleppo assault". Sky News. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Kareem Fahim (27 July 2012). "Syrian forces reportedly kill 12 in Aleppo". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b c "'Tragedy brewing' as Syria launches Aleppo assault". news.com.au. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syrian troops bombard rebels in Aleppo". The Australian. Agence France-Presse. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Paul Schemm (28 July 2012). "Syrian rebels survive regime onslaught in Aleppo". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Syria: Battle for Aleppo - live updates 15:21 BST". The Guardian. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Erika Solomon (30 July 2012). "Assad forces pound Aleppo, declare Damascus victory". The Star. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
- ^ |Date=30 July 2012 |work=Nowlebanon |acessdate=30 July 3012
- ^ Syrian forces blast rebel-held districts of Aleppo, according to activists
- ^ Syrian rebels seize strategic checkpoint between Aleppo and Turkey, according to rebel officer
- ^ "US fears Syria planning massacre in Aleppo". Al Jazeera. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ ""World must speak out to avert a massacre in Aleppo," says UK foreign minister". Al Jazeera. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29
July 2012.
{{cite web}}
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at position 4 (help) - ^ "Red Cross to pull some staff out of Syria as world powers fear Aleppo 'slaughter'". Al Arabiya. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "World cannot 'remain spectators' over Aleppo: Turkish PM". Al Jazeera. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Regan Doherty and Amena Bakr (29 July 2012). "Secret Turkish nerve center leads aid to Syria rebels". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Turkey in spearhead role against Syria". The Hindu. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.