Talk:Siege of Aleppo

The siege of Aleppo is, I guess, all the different rebel sieges to try and gain control of Aleppo and its environs. This is how their peoples' uprising works there. This is perhaps too big a subject to need a front page summary anytime soon. --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:23, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

Starvation Orders Publicized
On about June 9, 2013, it became public knowledge that rebel forces in Aleppo, enjoying massive international support in doing so, have ordered a total life blockade on some two million residents in parts of Aleppo they don't yet control. They're to be punished for that with the ultimatum of inviting in rebel control, or dying for lack of all necessities. Food is forbidden, as are medicine and fuel.

Fliers shown on Facebook, as tweeted by Edward Dark. Images hosted on Facebook, in Arabic. Asked for translation, he said "basically: rebels ban food & fuel from entry into regime controlled parts of Aleppo (2 million people)." --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:23, 9 July 2013 (UTC)

I think I saw a photo too of a big banner across the street saying in Arabic you're not allowed to take food or anything past that point. --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:23, 9 July 2013 (UTC)
 * I don't think this is where I saw it, but a "Syrianboy" posted this photo at the Prison Planet forum. I'm uploading it here (inset above).

FSA new STRATEGY in Aleppo Given translation: "NO FOOD OR GASOLINE OR OIL OR CHILDREN NEEDS OR MILK OR MEAT OR VIGs CAN ENTER."

T.B. Hinchey, Pravda: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/09-07-2013/125063-syrian_opposition-0/
 * Of course, the forced starvation of some two million people, the decree that distributing food and medicines to areas supporting the Syrian Government is punishable with a death sentence means nothing to the pro-terrorist west and its bought media lackeys. Surprise, surprise, in a world in which morals and ethics are meaningless.
 * To be fair, they're not necessarily starving Aleppo. Just TRYING to, for their part, from the areas they control, which are substantial. So yeah, it's a problem. And that death is the penalty for violating the order doesn't seem to be clear just yet. Punished "by law," it's said to say. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

But citizens report that the shortage is starting to pinch in the last few days. Food really is getting scarce. The SOHR reports Food shortage in the regime held parts of Aleppo:
 *  The regime held neighbourhoods of al-Siryan, al-Meridian, Halab al-Jadida (both north and south), al-Aziziya, Jam'iyat al-Sakaniya, Jam'iyat al-Zahra', al-Neel street, Aleppo University and the other parts of Aleppo city that are under regime control are facing an intense food shortage crisis. Many food supplies are not available in the stores and markets, non-food necessities are also in short supply. this is twinned with the skyrocketing prices of whatever supplies can be found. 
 * Not to mention the rocketing, on top of the skyrocketing. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC)
 * This is largely due to the rebel siege on the area, in an attempt to take over the city. the regime has been unable to break the blockade, despite several attempts through the Salamiya-Aleppo highway.
 * In other words, this is due to the government's inability so far to kick the rebels out of Aleppo. Human need recognized, more clearly than usual.--Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Syrian Girl Partisan video interview with an Aleppo resident. 0:54 we cann see the documents translated to English on-screen. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Aleppo Central Prison
SOHR, June 20: Urgent call: ICRC should head to the Aleppo Central Prison


 * The SOHR reports that the humanitarian conditions in the Aleppo Central Prison have plummeted to a catastrophic level due to the severe lack of medicine and food. 3 prisoners died of Tuberculosis in the besieged prison yesterday for lack of medicine, other deaths have been reported. There is an outbreak of Scabies amongst the prisoners and the guards. Food is very scarce, and only reaches the prison by helicopter drops. 


 * More than 100 prisoners died in the prison since April 2013, killed by the rebel bombardment, malnourishment, lack of medicine and execution by the regime forces.


 * The rebel factions began the move to siege on the prison on the beginning of April 2013, in operation "freeing the prisoners". It began with taking control of the Jandoul roundabout, Riuhbet Shqeif, the Shqeif neighbourhood and the Henderat camp and mainly the road that lead to the prison. This cut off the main supply line to the prison. The battles and siege began on 27/4/2013 with the taking over of the Kaziya checkpoint, which is by the prison. Buildings by the prison were taken over on 2/5/2013, that was the beginning of the full siege on the Aleppo Central Prison.


 * The battle over the prison began when 2 men detonated car bombs by the main gate checkpoint of the prison on 15/5/2013

June 23, SARC heeded the call, and sent in a team "after coordination with all parties on the ground" to deliver immediate supplies and assess further needs Then someone broke their oath and attacked the unarmed convoy, killing no one but badly injuring a judge, a driver, and a volunteer. Both sides blame each other. But it works towards the same end of freeing/starving the prisoners as the overall rebel campaign up to that point. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC)

Zahra and Nubol
(will be organized soon) In the late-June sectarian Hatlah Massacre next to Deir Ezzor, at least 15 civilians, mostly related to a Shi'ite cleric, were killed in revenge for others in their religion kicking the rebels out of Qusair, Afterwards, a foreign Sunni cleric who had sponsored the operation bragged of this slaughter ("with knives") of a religious leader and his son ("bad people"). Luridly referencing the battle of Karballah and Hussein and Ali, Skeikh al-Ajmi threatened the same in these two heavily besieged and blockaded Shi'ite towns near Aleppo. "As for tomorrow, we have a date with Nubl and Zahraa."

Rebels had been heavily shelling the towns for some time and by then imposed a blockade of all life essentials. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on July 1:
 * Aleppo province: Rebel factions taking part in the campaign labelled 'Echo of al-Quseir', who are besieging the towns of Nubul and al-Zahra', released a statement (statement number 3) saying that they intend to liberate the towns of Nebel and al-Zahra', which are inhabited mostly by Muslim Shi'a civilians, from regime forces, pro-regime gunmen, Hizbullah forces and Iranian elements.
 * Shi'ite Hatlah had just been overrun and vacated, with massacres and burning homes and destruction of shrines, in a clear echo of Quseir. Here, they didn't clearly promised to be reasonable in victory, but did offer "an alternative peaceful solution with 6 demands," SOHR reported. Shia defenders could prevent the battle by surrendering and defecting on video, "Handing over all regime and pro-regime forces who are responsible for acts of murder and "tashbih"," agreeing to prisoner exchanges and "joint checkpoints by both sides to protect the inhabitants." In return, rebels offered this:

- After [the other terms are met] the siege on the towns by the rebels will cease and they will allow food, medical aid, and basic human necessities into Nubul and Zahra' Clearly, therefore, at the time they were not letting these things through. This is a life embargo, saying -to every man, woman, and child in there - accept our solution, make it happen somehow, or die. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:37, 10 July 2013 (UTC) A helicopter was shot down for breaking the blockade. Members of the education department were on-board and died. http://www.mideastpress.org/a-tragic-state-of-events-in-the-aleppo-governate/ Another source says they were carrying examination papers. For example, this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkNi-gTj63k

Other
Electricity, internet, and water shut-offs Heavy bombardment Targeting non-Sunni areas (see Zahra and Nubol, Khan al-Assal chosen for chemical attack, etc.) "Scud missile attacks?" Etc.