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On 17 July, shooting was reported in one of the main central streets and machine-gun fire was reported in nearby ], site of the ], which was the scene of several major ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18866265|title=Syria conflict: 'Fresh clashes rock Damascus'|publisher=]|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=17 July 2012}}</ref> These clashes were only 400 Metres away from the Syrian parliment building.<ref></ref> Fighting was ongoing in the southern Midan and Kfar Sousa districts and the northern Barzeh and Qabun districts. Artillery shelling was reported in all of them and specifically in Midan it was reported to be "hysterical", according to activists. At the same time, in Barzeh and Qabun, helicopter rocket strikes were reported.<ref name=centraldamascus></ref> |
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On 17 July, shooting was reported in one of the main central streets and machine-gun fire was reported in nearby ], site of the ], which was the scene of several major ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18866265|title=Syria conflict: 'Fresh clashes rock Damascus'|publisher=]|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=17 July 2012}}</ref> These clashes were only 400 Metres away from the Syrian parliment building.<ref></ref> Fighting was ongoing in the southern Midan and Kfar Sousa districts and the northern Barzeh and Qabun districts. Artillery shelling was reported in all of them and specifically in Midan it was reported to be "hysterical", according to activists. At the same time, in Barzeh and Qabun, helicopter rocket strikes were reported.<ref name=centraldamascus></ref> |
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The rebels claimed to had killed 70 soldiers and pro-government militiamen in the previous two days of clashes,<ref name=fightingrages></ref> while the government reported 14 rebel vehicles were destroyed.<ref name=soldiersjump></ref> The FSA stated they destroyed one armored vehicle and that, among the members of the Syrian military who were killed, were several rooftop snipers.<ref name=losesgrip></ref> The opposition also claimed to had shot down an army helicopter in the Qaboun district.<ref name=centraldamascus/><ref name=converge></ref> One FSA commander claimed that the Battle for liberation of Damascus had begun.<ref></ref> with another dubbing it ''Operation Damascus Volcano''.<ref></ref> Government Information Minister Omran Zoabi stated that the military confronted rebel forces who infiltrated the city, surrounded them and forced many to retreat, while the rest were still being dealt with.<ref name=converge/> |
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The rebels claimed to had killed 70 soldiers and pro-government militiamen in the previous two days of clashes,<ref name=fightingrages></ref> while the government reported 14 rebel vehicles were destroyed.<ref name=soldiersjump></ref> The FSA stated they destroyed one armored vehicle and that, among the members of the Syrian military who were killed, were several rooftop snipers.<ref name=losesgrip></ref> The opposition also claimed to had shot down an army helicopter in the Qaboun district.<ref name=centraldamascus/><ref name=converge></ref> One FSA commander claimed that the Battle for liberation of Damascus had begun.<ref></ref> with another dubbing it ''Operation Damascus Volcano''.<ref></ref> Tarek, a rebel spokesman said thathe thought the clashes still only represent skirmishes and the army attacked first.<ref name="guardian1"> Government Information Minister Omran Zoabi stated that the military confronted rebel forces who infiltrated the city, surrounded them and forced many to retreat, while the rest were still being dealt with.<ref name=converge/> |
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Rebels captured at least one armoured vechile and the Syrian army had to bring in reinforcements from the Golan heights. A rebel spokesman in Damascus said that he thought the clashes still represented skirmishes. A deputy police chief, Brigadier general Issa Duba is said to have died from wounds sustained during the clashes in Damascus, according to a pro-Assad website. Meanwhile, activist Shakeeb al-Jabri claimed that more than 200 soldiers have been injured or killed during the clashes.<ref name="guardian1"></ref> The opposition also controlled two districts of central Damascus, Al-Midan and Tadamon according to an FSA spokesman for the military council in Damascus. This was described as a "turning point" while a pro-government newspaper said they will not "surrender Damascus".<ref></ref> Government attack helicopters were used in at least four districts, with heavy fighting reported.<ref></ref> |
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Rebels captured at least one armoured vechile and the Syrian army had to bring in reinforcements from the Golan heights. A deputy police chief, Brigadier general Issa Duba is said to have died from wounds sustained during the clashes in Damascus, according to a pro-Assad website. Meanwhile, activist Shakeeb al-Jabri claimed that more than 200 soldiers have been injured or killed during the clashes.<ref name="guardian1"></ref> The opposition also controlled two districts of central Damascus, Al-Midan and Tadamon according to an FSA spokesman for the military council in Damascus. This was described as a "turning point" while a pro-government newspaper said they will not "surrender Damascus".<ref></ref> Government attack helicopters were used in at least four districts, with heavy fighting reported.<ref></ref> |
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The head of Israeli army intelligence said Syrian forces had been redeployed from the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to help defend the capital. "The Syrian military is acting very brutally, which shows the regime is desperate. Its control of Damascus is getting weaker," Maj-Gen Aviv Kochavi told a parliamentary committee in Israel.<ref></ref> |
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The head of Israeli army intelligence said Syrian forces had been redeployed from the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to help defend the capital. "The Syrian military is acting very brutally, which shows the regime is desperate. Its control of Damascus is getting weaker," Maj-Gen Aviv Kochavi told a parliamentary committee in Israel.<ref></ref> |
On 15 July, fierce fighting was reported in some quarters of central Damascus as the army moved in to dislodge rebels. The rebels fighting were the ones who were routed from Douma and other suburbs and fled to Damascus itself. Fighting also closed the road leading from central Damascus to airport.
On 16 July, for a second day, heavy clashes in the southern Midan and Tadhamon districts of Damascus raged with the military managing to surround the rebel forces in the area and sending tanks and other armored vehicles into the neighborhoods. The rebels called the clashes a raid by them against the capital, while the government called it a 48-hour military operation to clear the area of any opposition forces. There were also indications that the government knew about the planned rebel raid and acted on the information. According to state TV, the military killed over 80 rebel fighters during the fighting.
On 17 July, shooting was reported in one of the main central streets and machine-gun fire was reported in nearby Sabaa Bahrat Square, site of the Central Bank of Syria, which was the scene of several major pro-government demonstrations. These clashes were only 400 Metres away from the Syrian parliment building. Fighting was ongoing in the southern Midan and Kfar Sousa districts and the northern Barzeh and Qabun districts. Artillery shelling was reported in all of them and specifically in Midan it was reported to be "hysterical", according to activists. At the same time, in Barzeh and Qabun, helicopter rocket strikes were reported.
The rebels claimed to had killed 70 soldiers and pro-government militiamen in the previous two days of clashes, while the government reported 14 rebel vehicles were destroyed. The FSA stated they destroyed one armored vehicle and that, among the members of the Syrian military who were killed, were several rooftop snipers. The opposition also claimed to had shot down an army helicopter in the Qaboun district. One FSA commander claimed that the Battle for liberation of Damascus had begun. with another dubbing it Operation Damascus Volcano. Tarek, a rebel spokesman said thathe thought the clashes still only represent skirmishes and the army attacked first.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The opposition also controlled two districts of central Damascus, Al-Midan and Tadamon according to an FSA spokesman for the military council in Damascus. This was described as a "turning point" while a pro-government newspaper said they will not "surrender Damascus". Government attack helicopters were used in at least four districts, with heavy fighting reported.
The head of Israeli army intelligence said Syrian forces had been redeployed from the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to help defend the capital. "The Syrian military is acting very brutally, which shows the regime is desperate. Its control of Damascus is getting weaker," Maj-Gen Aviv Kochavi told a parliamentary committee in Israel.
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Free Syrian Army
