Talk:Aqrab Massacre

Akrad Ibrahim

 * Prensa Latina Syrian Residents Blame Mercenaries for the Massacre in Akrab Town
 * The massacre did not happen in Akrab, but in Akrad Ibrahim village, about five kilometers away. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 12:44, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Where did Thomson go then? Will follow up on this - so far that's the odd man out. --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:56, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * This page says that Akrad Ibrahim is located at 34° 58' 0" North, 36° 27' 0" East – five kilometers north of Akrab. There is nothing at that spot, but there is a small village 2,5 km north of Akrab. In two videos we see people pointing that way. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 13:04, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Prensa Latina says: Arab mercenaries of various nationalities took control of the Syrian Army checkpoint a week ago, located between Akrab and Houla. The checkpoint is in fact between Akrab and Akrad Ibrahim village. It may be, that Akrab is Sunni and has been in opposition hands for some time. The geography is similar to other parts of Houla. Allawite villages on the hills look different. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 15:39, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Akrad Ibrahim (أكراد ابراهيم, translated back to "Kurdish Ibrahim") on wikimapia. That's a fascinating article from Prensa Latina. There's one very dominant building in that little spot (don't even have to describe where, I guess), and it looks very much like a school. --CE (talk) 15:51, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * I finally figured out how to access and copy Arabic language place names on Google Earth: Here is the link. You are right about the translation. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 03:58, 14 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Searching for the Arabic name on google brought me to this facebook announcement from the "Hama Coordinators Union". Auto-translate shows that it's from Dec 9, talking of "gangs of Arabs" (likely meaning non-Syrians) who are looting and abducting in and/or west of the (in quotes) "Kurdish" village of Sunni majority and Kurdish minority. No mention of Alawites. They expect a massacre somehow: "We ask all press full speed before the massacre against our shows and our brothers and children in the besieged village of Kurds Ibrahim left villages in support of al-Asadi of the offender" Maybe something like "we ask our brothers and sisters in villages supporting Assad to leave before the offenders show up and do like they did in Akrad Ibrahim"? --CE (talk) 16:44, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * WTF, the above was what "microsofttranslator.com" made of that text. Ran it through Google Translate and that gives "Gangs of Arabs" as "Shabiha Gangs"! Very strange. The last sentence now sounds like the upper villages surrounding Akrad Ibrahim are Assad supporters and the announcement calls for help against them (and the guys from Houla following the call?)
 * Note that the village of "Kurds Ibrahim" top-majority Sunni and Kurdish minority is located north of the village of scorpion 7 km and is surrounded by the upper villages following: "Qvelon - Humairi - short Der encompassed - Crdoman - Baran ..."That stand with Asadi system in killings, kidnappings and we Alchbih from everyone spreading the word as quickly as before for massacre against Oaradhana and our brothers and our children in the village of Kurdish Ibrahim besieged villages upper supporting Asadi criminal system.
 * Great, now we even have politicized auto-translators telling different stories... ;o) --CE (talk) 16:57, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Another mentioning in a post on a Qatari forum from Dec 10 - Same names as in the facebook message announced as kidnapped: Families of Mohammad Najjar and Ahmed Najjar, apparently by Alawites, or they are Alawites themselves. Calls for help - and to inform international media, Sheikh Ali in Aqrab can confirm the news - to prevent a massacre. --CE (talk) 17:15, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

I am starting to think Aqrab may be mainly Sunni and may have been in "opposition" hands for some time – except of course for the checkpoint outside town. Jalal's video, Hula saw a scorpion battle full 2 ​​12 does not show any fighting in the town itself. Also, looking at Google maps, Aqrab is typical lowland Sunni land, different from the rocky highlands of Akrad Ibrahim. Sunnis seem to practice open field farming whereas the Allawites have closed fields. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 04:04, 14 December 2012 (UTC)

Official Response
CE says, and thanks:
 * SANA has a rudimentary item today saying (in total) "A military source in the Central Region on Wednesday denied news claiming that a massacre took place in Aqrab in Hama countryside.". The guy from SyrPer also claims it's completely made up. documents.sy only quotes an "Al Hatay" newspaper based in London citing other news outlets.

It's my opinion that that statement of nothing to see is suspiciously terse. It's been said this was a regime crime meant to frame the FSA, and they're trying to say nothing at all (except suspicious denials?) that could be seen as propaganda, accusing "terroists" of anything. (BTW I've long felt they should change over to "activists." "Despite what they say, it was the armed activists who today stormed a pre-school with machetes..."). There's too much saying this happened, and I can't see why the rebels would fake THAT. --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:36, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Syrian Perspectives might know people who know the line and he then toes it. The line may well change within a few days, and it may not. Reading it, he might just be inferring from the fake witnesses (plus the official denial, of course), that everything is fake, as he pretty much says. --Caustic Logic (talk) 12:36, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * I didn't mean to imply that there is necessarily weight to what he says, but he's kind of "official" in some weird way. Reminds me of good old comical Ali sometimes, although he may be closer to the truth sometimes. Half the time for sure he's bullshitting or trolling (demanding that Assad finally blows up those Dams in Turkey n'stuff). And as you predicted he already changed his line - latest piece is far from "everything fake". But likely equally useless. --CE (talk) 23:55, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * [cut Akrad Ibrahim discussion from here --CE (talk) 17:21, 13 December 2012 (UTC)]

We also need to consider how hoarse the Syrians have gotten saying the same thing so many times. Every time little kids get massacred and rebels hold all the evidence, everyone waits for the silly part where "the regime" blames"terrorists." For once, it's this clear what happened. There might be a softpower to saying, basically, "hey, you guys figure it out. Whaddyou think?" That's not quite compatible with "there was no massacre." That's more like passive agressive reverse-psychology. "Alawites, never happier! We're all good, thanks! (a******s)"--Caustic Logic (talk) 12:55, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Antiwar.com: Hundreds Reported Slain in Attack on Syrian Alawite Village -- Petri Krohn (talk) 13:20, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * NYT: Members of Assad’s Sect Blamed in Syria Killings Links to a video the BBC shot of the boy seems to be from. AlHoula Samer. --CE (talk) 13:49, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Same video with english language description...
 * Eyewitness testimony of what happened in Aqrab, Hama on Tuesday December 11th, 2012: The"FSA" surrounded a building belonging to regime loyalists in Aqrab village, which was occupied by regime forces who had taken women and children (mostly Allawite) captive to use them as human shields to protect themselves from attack by the FSA. After this, a group of eight senior figures in the village, including Sheikh Ali Al-Omar Sheikh Saa'do Hamash and retired Colonel Shaker Akkash went to negotiate the release of the women and children, and to ask the regime forces to turn themselves in, promising their safety. These community leaders were kidnapped, however, in an attempt to pressurisee the FSA, which retreated from the building as instructed. Immediately after this, the regime shabiha killed all eight of the negotiators and fled, throwing hand grenades into the building still housing the women and children as they attempted to escape in an attempt to frame the FSA for the despicable attack. Regime forces also fired missiles and ordered air strikes on the building, destroying it completely and killing almost all of the 200 - 250 civilians (including women and children) inside. Some people survived the massacre and verified this report. This is the testimony of one of the children who escaped: (12-11-12) Alhoula Homs Syria l Alawite Children Describe how Regime Thugs Held them captive as Human shields vs FSA
 * ...and the boy in a third scene with a cute little baby for more emotions thrown in. Astonishing lack of evidence for hundreds of victims so far. --CE (talk) 15:32, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Here's the transcript of a TV report, apparently Syrian "pro-regime", but it's next to useless in auto-translate. One big clan detained for 12 days, then the Farouk brigade who controls everything shelled the house and killed them all, or something. Could be complete BS. --CE (talk) 18:16, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Found an interesting site, "Enduring America" - quite impressive live coverage going on. Tuesday they dealt with Aqrab and they have one advantage over us: Translators. Here today's conclusion after two days. Follow the first link in the article for the live research they did on Tuesday (including some translations of Jalal's videos). --CE (talk) 18:50, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Child survivors

 * Not sure if Thomson really was in Aqrab. He says "this report is only from people Channel 4 News has spoken to both in and near to Aqrab itself", which could mean someone else, and by Skype. SANA has a rudimentary item today saying (in total) "A military source in the Central Region on Wednesday denied news claiming that a massacre took place in Aqrab in Hama countryside.". The guy from SyrPer also claims it's completely made up. documents.sy only quotes an "Al Hatay" newspaper based in London citing other news outlets. --CE (talk) 20:28, 12 December 2012 (UTC)


 * The BBC article has a picture of a boy who is quite obviously the same our friend Jalal interviewed yesterday, on a different "bed". --CE (talk) 21:10, 12 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Yes, this is "Jalal Solomon" (جلال سليمان) from the Houla Media Office. The channel now has 360 uploaded videos. There are a large number of battle and rebel videos from the last two weeks, many from a place called Scorpion.
 * This older one has an ironic title: Hula Free Army prepares to defend civilians 9-11 I have been following this machine gun for some time now, it seems to be from one of the ARC:s in front of the sequrity HQ. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 23:04, 12 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I noticed the references to "Scorpion" as well. It's Jalal for sure, found it on his channel after all. Question is if it's the same boy. Even without having seen the video the BBC is referring to, I think it quite definitely is. What do you guys think? --CE (talk) 23:16, 12 December 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm not even looking at videos yet, but sounds like the same boy from what you guys say. Actual informed opinion later. They're saying it's all made up? By the rebels? ?? Trying too hard to not make propaganda out of it as they're alleged to have intended? Thomson sais "in and near" the town. He goes places like that, and spoke to locals, so my impression is he went. "Scorpion" appears as a victims on the DCHRS Houla massacre victims list. --Caustic Logic (talk) 23:47, 12 December 2012 (UTC)
 * The head of the new puppet show called for the alawites to rise up today (besides calling on the US to re-think their terrorist filing of Al-Nusra, which of course isn't mentioned in that rag ;o)], so that would fit with your mentioned - maybe propaganda manufactured - Alawite uprising. Thomson - I doubt he was in Syria lately, but looking at context at blog and/or twitter (if he does that) should help clarify. --CE (talk) 23:54, 12 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Yes, I have exchanged tweets with @alextomo (alex thomson) on Twitter. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 00:11, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * Great! Context definitely tells that he really is in Syria again. Just wanted to double-check that as the article isn't clear. Kudos to him. --CE (talk) 00:25, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Re: "What do you guys think?" – What I think is not fit to print.
 * I have long since stopped following any "main stream" Western news channels. Propaganda works on at least six different levels, from the intellectual to the emotional. Even if you have defenses against most of them, some little lie will sneak through.
 * Quoting BBC: "pro-government militiamen besieged by rebels had blown up a building in the village where they had been holding the civilians hostage, and it had then been bombed by warplanes."
 * There are ethical norms in journalism, that govern what lies are fit to print. The BBC editors who published this should be hung from the gallows on Fleet Street have their heads examined. This is so absurd, that I cannot be bothered with any of today's details.
 * What I really think is this: When Syria is finished these terrorist will move to Russia. It is thus in Russia's vital national interest to defend Syria. The red line is in any direct military intervention. If NATO initiates any attack or "no-fly-zone" – without a UN mandate – Russia will respond by sinking the nearest NATO aircraft carrier, with nuclear armed missiles or torpedoes if necessary. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 00:02, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * P.S. – I went ahead and read the crap on BBC – how can any news organization sink this low? They are repeating "activist" claims as fact or as plausible fact. From the "contradictory reports" received by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights they selectively choose and pick the snippets that fit their narrative. Do they really believe in this?
 * Even if this was true, it is unverified and biased – not fit to print by any news organization. I took a Freeze Page of the crap. I think someone should file a complaint with the British Press Complaints Commission.
 * (Is the web site of the BBC outside the self-regulation of the Press Complaints Commission? Broadcasts are regulated by Ofcom .) -- Petri Krohn (talk) 01:23, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Here is another video: Hula scorpion 11-12 certificates children survivors of the massacre – (should be translated: Houla Aqrab December 11th, testimonies of child survivors of the massacre.) Facebook comments here. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 06:38, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Is this the same Salafist guy who is doing the interview, and saving children? here and here -- Petri Krohn (talk) 08:27, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Three more videos here. Uploaded by Hula proud. There is plenty of relevant footage there, like this one: Hula 12/10/2012 child wounded after bombing al-Asadi of the city -- Petri Krohn (talk)

More testimony: Certificate or Ayham after leaving the safety of the hands of Shabiha -- Petri Krohn (talk) 08:35, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Can I just start a new spot and ask a perhaps stupid question? What's the thing with this boy? How do we know he's supposed to be a Sunni from Houla in one spot and an Alawite in the other? Both videos are from the same recent events, right? I'm barely looking at videos now. Some aren't playing on Youtube, but strangely they convert. --Caustic Logic (talk) 11:43, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * We did not know that our friends from Taldou are directly involved in this. That's the relevance: Jalal our Taldou ambassador interviewed the kid which also ended up illustrating the BBC article. The question was just me speculating what it could mean. Petri has now shown us below that the events are closely connected - will look at that later and try to make sense of it. --CE (talk) 11:50, 13 December 2012 (UTC)


 * I was asking the same question. But as CE says, the fact that we have Jalal speaking for both sets of victims is big news. As Oscar Wilde said: "To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." Misfortune or not, it cast a shadow over BOTH massacre stories.
 * Note by the way, that we have one Eric the Red at both massacre sites. There are other rebels we may recognize. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 12:06, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Victims from one big family
There's a french guy on twitter who runs a restaurant in Damascus and says he has an employee who has family in Aqrab and says the Alawite victims (or at least many of them) belonged to a large family called Jbeili. --CE (talk) 18:03, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * The boy in the videos is called Mohamed Judl. Jbeili=Judl? Could be. --Caustic Logic (talk) 00:36, 14 December 2012 (UTC)

Scorpion?
"عقرب" is Arabic for scorpion, pronounced ʕáqrab. Must be the name of the town. Searching for Houla + Scorpion ("عقرب الحولة‎") is likely to produce relevant results – like this crap. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 06:29, 13 December 2012 (UTC)
 * It was a description, not a name, for a victim I think translated "Zainab Veins." Did an Aqrab person die in the Houla massacre, or what? Later ...--Caustic Logic (talk) 10:53, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Al Kanteera

 * Hadi al-Abdullah returned Hula blood flowing and the massacre of scorpion 11-12 – live on Al Jazeera. -- Petri Krohn (talk) 06:46, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Context: December 6th battle
The Jalal Solomon YouTube channel has uploaded a large number of videos of some December 6th battle. Some of the same videos are linked on this Facebook page. The videos show the Houla Scorpion Brigade taking over some nearby town.


 * This is amazing, by the way, Petri. I'm out of time now and might never quite absorb all of this, but I'll scan soon. The big gap up to and including the massacre is of course what I'd most like to see. Why in the days preceding this event did fighting and filming cease, as if someone were preparing for something? And why are the key events themselves (apparently?) included entirely in the blank spot? --Caustic Logic (talk) 14:57, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

December 2nd
Attack on government security HQ / checkpoint just outside Aqrab, next to what may by the local Baath party office. The location is on the road leading east north-east, over the bridge. Google Maps Wikimapia also has the marked by a small triangle. The text reads "تمركز الدبابات الحاجز الشرقي (Aqrab) حاجز للجيش والشبيحه", which Google translates to "Stationing tanks eastern barrier (Aqrab) An army checkpoint and Shabiha" – or with little tweaking – to "Tanks stationed at the eastern checkpoint".


 * Hula saw what happens بعقرب 3-12. – Jalal filming the battle from a distance, 10:43 am, December 2.
 * Hula saw a scorpion battle full 2 ​​12 – Armed mob attacks security HQ.
 * Hula free control of the army on one of the barriers 2-12 – Jalil leads the mob
 * Video 0024 – Rebels drive away one BMP, enter HQ. Some incoming fire still seems to be coming from somewhere, possibly school building next door.
 * Video 0025 – Rebels celebrate capture of HQ. Inside views of building show plenty of blood, possible executions.
 * Hula clashes continue in the vicinity of the barrier 3-12. – HQ building set alight.


 * Uploaded December 6th:
 * Hula Martyrs Brigade adopt liberalization barrier بعقرب – Burnt-out building with bullet marks around windows, telecom equipment inside. Possible location, same crossroads.
 * Hula Scorpion Brigade dignity of all كتائبه Yun barrier scorpion – Baath party headquarters taken over, APC destroyed.
 * Hula Revolutionary Council adopts destroy the barrier scorpion. – More men outside, Eric the red.
 * Hula battalion sniper Mohammed Saheb Alasakr during the fight – Same battle, rebel snipers with FN_FAL and M-16 rifles. Security HQ with evidently new telecommunications tower seen from window accross river. (Note, how rebels take over Allawite living room.)
 * Mohammed Saheb battalion catch just intrusion Alasakr before – same living room.
 * Hula sidekick battalion snipers working cover for Mguethmin. – sidekick battalion? Mguethmin evidently means "peaceful protester".
 * Hula sidekick battalion snipers how they work to cover a scorpion.
 * Hula Mohammed Saheb battalion stormed barrier بعقرب.
 * Hula Martyrs Brigade adopt liberalization barrier – "Barrier" seems to be an APC or tank, i.e. Hula Martyrs Brigade "liberate" an APC.
 * Hula one hand free army vehicles 7-12 – Burnt-out police APC, seems to be outside same post / telecom office. – Suleiman is wearing same Ferrari shirt as on "survivor" video.


 * Tank taken to Houla
 * Hula seize tank tracked 02/12/2012 – Seize the Free Army tank tracked after storming the village checkpoint scorpion
 * Hula - 02-12-2012 - thus motivating men to withdraw tanks – Tractor pulls captured BMP over bridge on main road to Kafr Laha in the next village up north. (Google Maps) Is this place called Tell Dahab?
 * Hula spoils Free Army checkpoint scorpion 2-12.
 * Hula saw the spoils of the Free Army 3-12.
 * Hula 02/12/2012 seize armored scorpion barrier – Houla rebels have captured a BMP. (Via hassan husein)


 * Hula interview with one of the survivors who came out of the scorpion 3 12 – Jalil Suleiman interviewing
 * 2 12 Al Hoole Homs Ugarit Houle Homs, battalion commander Farouk in barrier scorpion battle
 * Hula bombs thrown at the city Hula 12/02/2012 – via Hula proud – This "cluster bombs" are in fact fin-stabilised anti-armour bomblets of type PTAB-2.5M. (More here)

December 3rd

 * Funerals
 * Hula funeral of the martyrs who were killed by the clashes.


 * People fleeing
 * Hula saw how people migrate for fear of shelling 3-12. – Women in truck and walking from Aqrab towards Houla. Location is here in Google Maps.
 * Hula saw how people fleeing for fear of bombardment 3 12
 * Hula displaced people Khovamn aircraft bombed 12-12 – Giant power plant in background – WOW, this is huge: AL-ZARA Thermal Power Plant
 * For future use: The 150 m high chimneys are projected as 198 m ground distance on the tilted satellite image now used by Google Maps. This helps in calculating the height of minarets etc.


 * More bombing?
 * Hula Free Army is preparing to address the aircraft 3-12.
 * Hula scorpion shell of the aircraft did not explode viewed 6-12.
 * Hula mass undescribable village scorpion the shelling 6-12.
 * Hula scorpion more destruction as a result of drums 6-12.
 * Scorpion destroy field hospital by aircraft 6-12. – This "field hospital" evidently offered the services of a gynecologist and a dentist.

December 6th

 * Hula Scorpion Army free cleanses scorpion and the barrier. – armed men at crossroad outside village. Location: just outside Aqrab, on the road leading east north-east, over the bridge, in front of school. (One rebel is fielding an Austrian Steyr AUG bullpup rifle. Where do the Houla rebels get all this 5.56×45mm NATO ammo?)
 * Saw how Atmn expatriates to their families 6-12. – Happy rebels somewhere
 * Scorpion saw the devastation and dialogue with the owners of the destroyed houses 6-12. – Same rebels, angry woman
 * Hula Scorpion destruction shelling 7-12 – Suleiman tours totally destroyed building with shell / RGB remains.

December 10th

 * (10-12-12) Al-Houle | FSA Ambushes Regime Forces --CE (talk) 18:05, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

December 11th
Massacre?
 * Massacre in hand and some survivors certificate 11-12
 * Some of the injured from the scorpion shelling 11-12
 * Scorpion some martyrs who Akharjnahm 11-12