Talk:Jabal Badro Rocket Attack

Location
Jabal Badro is in the east of Aleppo, here on Wikimapia. It's fairly near the airport and a few miles from Al-Safira and military bases to the east and southeast that have recently seen much fighting and some rebel conquests, as well as some suspicious massacres. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:39, 21 February 2013 (UTC)

Videos

 * عملية انتشال الشهداء والجرحى في حي جبل بدرو 19 2 2013
 * Syria - Anger in Aleppo as Assad Scud Missile Levels Entire Block in Jabal Badour
 * قصف على حي جبل بدرو أثناء قيام الأهالي بانتشال الضحايا

Was it a Rocket/Missile Strike?
My own best guess is yes, but I've barely looked yet. The damage is quite severe, and while there are other ways of making that happen, one or two powerful missiles launched is the quickest way. Of course, both sides have had or taken possession of the nearby facilities where such missiles would most likely be either fired from or stolen from. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:39, 21 February 2013 (UTC)

Whodunnit?
As described, this is a rebel-held district. In that regard, the logic clearly suggests it was the other side that hit it. As with the Aleppo University Attack, the question why the government would bomb a refugee center in an area under its own control. Same goes here, and again it won't disprove anything, really. As soon as someone can easily make that argument, the law of reverse psychology says the opposite might well be true just because of that fact. The rebels would hit themselves to blame to government and, in the wake of the University bombing and its ambiguities, to prove that it really is the government that's firing powerful surface missiles around aleppo, some of which get described as jet strikes instead. --Caustic Logic (talk) 10:39, 21 February 2013 (UTC)

This spate of rocket attacks is reported (by CNN, as being among "at least eight fired at the ravaged city of Aleppo by government forces since Friday, according to a U.S. official." Or is this a different spate? "In Washington, the U.S. official told CNN that Syria has been launching Scuds about twice a day from outside Damascus toward Aleppo." Are these hitting Jabal Badro, Tal Rifaat, and al-Bab coming from near Damascus? Really? Or is that alleged firing a coincident? Anyway, it brings into focus continued rebel rocket acquisition. Foreign-funneled sources are always possible, but stolen Syrian gear is better in many ways, is about, and keeps getting filmed by rebels standing right over it. So, I'll start a page for that: Rebel Rocket/Missile Acquisition --Caustic Logic (talk) 13:57, 21 February 2013 (UTC)

Area Fighting
Some reports from the last day or two (partial list):

SOHR: Aleppo province: The al-Bab city of Reef Aleppo was bombarded by regular forces at midnight with several mortar shells which led to the injury of several civilians and material losses. (Al-Bab is a few miles northeast of Aleppo)

SOHR Feb 18, 3:05 PM: In Reef Aleppo a large explosion rocked the town of Tel Rif'at, it is thought to be the result of a surface-to-surface missile, initial reports of dead and injured. (also north)

SOHR Feb. 20: Aleppo province: Violent clashes took place this morning in the Saba' Bahrat neighbourhood and by the Neyrab military airport, both sides are using rockets and mortars, 1 rebel was killed in Saba' Bahrat, there are reports of further losses on both sides. The Aleppo neighbourhoods of Aqyoul and Qastal Harami were bombarded by regime forces' heavy artillery, several residents were injured. In Reef Aleppo the skies of Orum al-Kubra, Kafarnaha and Khan al-Asal witnessed fighter jets. Rebels from several factions are still surrounding the police academy in Khan al-Asal, they are continuously trying to storm it. The area around the Kweiris military airport, by al-Bab city, is witnessing bombardment from both rebels and regime forces; the rebels have been trying to take the airport for several months.


 * SOHR Feb. 18:
 * Aleppo province: 4 rebels killed. 2 rebels killed by clashes in the al-Jarrah military airport, 1 rebel by the Aleppo international airport and the Neyrab military airport, 1 in al-Sfeira. 1 man was killed by wounds from the bombardment on the town of Tel'aran, by the city of al-Sfeira. In Aleppo city the Marjeh, Masaken Hanano and Karm al-Trab neighbourhoods were bombarded, clashes are taking place in the Bab al-Nasr and Saba' Bahrat neighbourhoods. A rocket fell on the city of al-Bab, no reports of losses. Rebels retreated from the military gas station (Sariyat al-Mahruqat) by the Neyrab military airport, after taking over it for a few hours today. Clashes took place by the police academy in the Khan al-Asal area of western Reef Aleppo, where rebels from several factions, including non-Syrian combatants, have been trying to storm for several months; they are using home-made rockets.
 * AU relevance. Also, SANA reported factories raided there the same day were making explosives and made-up armored vehicles. Rockets too? Why not? --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:18, 21 February 2013 (UTC)


 * LCC Feb. 18: Syria Today 18-2-2013
 * :Aleppo: Tal Rifaat: A surface-to-surface missile targets the town''
 * Video: A Surface-to-Surface Missile Lands in Tal Rifaat, Aleppo" (night-time)

Syrian Perspective
Syrian Perspective has this to say:
 * FIRST POST - FEBRUARY 23, 2013 - REAL NEWS FROM THE BATTLEGROUND
 * 44 rats killed in Hanano when a SCUD missile landed on their headquarters. According to both Wael and our friend, Izzat (who finally contacted me),  the missile was incredibly accurate.  Civilian casualties are also reported, unfortunately, but without detail.