The opposition accused Syrian forces Friday of storming villages to chase down and kill soldiers who defected, while President Bashar al-Assad's government claimed the attacks targeted "terrorists" carrying Israeli-made weapons used to kill civilians.
The virulent see-saw allegations of atrocities in the hard-hit western province of Hama come as world leaders and humanitarian organizations rankle over how to staunch a crisis that has left thousands dead.
By early Friday morning, at least two people had been killed in fighting, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition rights group. That followed news Thursday that at least 62 people were killed, according to the Local Coordination Committees of Syria, an opposition network.
Opposition groups urged thousands Friday to take to the streets in Syria as part of weekly anti-government protests, which have been routinely targeted by security forces since they first began a year ago. Al-Assad's brutal crackdown on demonstrations calling for political reforms led to an uprising demanding the ouster of the regime.
Al-Assad has denied opposition claims of killing civilians, saying his forces are targeting terrorists and foreign fighters.
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Is it just coincidence that Syria is making the same claims Libya did...that Israeli made weapons are ending-up in the hands of domestic terrorists? Libya claimed that the Israeli MOSSAD and an Israeli arms corporation were arming and training men to help Gadhafi murder faithful Muslims who would never side with the invading infidels like he did decades ago.. And sure ebough, they were training and arming 50,000 men from Chad, Libya's poor neighbor. And now Syria complains about Israeli weapons finding their way into Syria. No surprise there. According to our FBI, "made in Israel" is the second most common inscription to be found on illegal weapons found in Mexico even. (second only to "made in the USA) Stop it already. Sheesh.
Is it just a coincidence that both Gadhafi and Assad are liars? Nope.
Israel was fighting in Lebanon for 18 years. Surely some Israeli weapons fell into Arab hands. Smuggling those weapons over Lebanon-Syria border is not a big deal probably, and that could definitely explain the finding.
Besides I personally don't tend to believe to "President Bashar al-Assad's government" claims, who could stage the findings in order to accuse the rebels in accepting Israeli support.
@CNN. Shouldn't it be *terrorists* rather than 'terrorists'?
@Stan. Israeli made black market weapons have always been smuggled beneath Israels border with Egypt where even to this day you will find dozens of tunnels with Jews collecting tolls on one end and Muslims collecting their fair share on the Egyptian side. Fmr. Egyptian pres. Mubarack made lierally billions of dollars over the years on this cozy little arrangement between Israel and Egypt.
I think if your government is killing you, who cares where the guns come from, you have to defend yourself. If I was protesting and being slaughtered I would hope Canada and Mexico would give us guns.
@Philip-just could not go a day without "stop it already" jeesh.
When the US was losing in Iraq, the turnaround point came when American forces began to enlist war lords and drug thugs, mostly Sunni, by arming them and paying them piles of american dollars (millions and millions). Someone living inside Syria told me a couple of weeks ago that he suspects the Mossad or another Israli proxy is arming and aiding Sunni war lords (aka "the opposition") in Syria. As a wise man said – truth is the first casulalty of war. I suspect that Israel has much to gain from toppling Iran's most powerful ally in the region, but at what cost? Until recent events Syria was one of the safest places to live in the region if you were a religious minority. A catholic priest was recently taken out by a sniper. Who really fired the shot?
With all due respect, it is not safe for many people there and has not been for a long time. It is safe as long as the people are silent. As for Israel, the Israelis have little to gain if there is a more extreme Islamist group in power, not that I believe that anyone in Israel would wish to see good people of Syria suffer more under al Assad. His is a criminal regime.
After sleeping on it... I think Assad is a liar. He's executed innocent people, detained and tortured peaceful activists, killed foreign reporters and sniped out anyone who dare leave their homes, make-shift shelters.
He's the terrorist looking for a scapegoat… Now that he's in control of the press, he can say whatever he wants.
:(
I don't remember any time when we were losing the war in Iraq and highly question any report that says that we engaged terrorists to kill the Iraqi forces we have trained, much less our own soldiers.
Fact is the Q has had a field day treking back and forth from Afghanistan to Iraq by way of our allusive ally, Pakistan. That's the way I see it and I fear for both Iraq and Afghanistan because those druglords you speak of are not going to go silently into the night.
But, I do agree, we had no business EVER going into Iraq. Their blood is on our hands. I mean that in a way that is respectful of our servicemen but challenging Bush's decisions, Congresses loss of backbone and the opperatives making decisions at the Pentagon.
Over and out...
If what your friend said is true…
I applaud Israel... they got it right!
So they're Israeli made weapons. I seriousy doubt Jesus made machine guns for a living, since he was a carpenter by trade. My point here is, that it's more about the money, Money, MONEY!!!
CNN merely enrages it's bloggers further, when there's even a hint of more talk about guns. And you know, the people eat it up, and they're "just lovin it". And the Israelis just don't care. But the profits? Ye$.
Any two bit twip with cash can buy guns. Any country that is capable of machining guns will sell them. GOT IT?
Guns are great to have. If they're properly registered and handled. No. They're not for revenge crazed idiots or people with delusions of godhood.
Jews fired the first shot at Jesus. The Roman's were just God's vengeance being executed against Israel. (according to historians, Jewish women were eating their own babies towords the end of Rome's 4-year long siege of Jerusalem, which culminated with the Jewish Temple being totally destroyed in the year of our Lord, 70AD) From the time that Jewish leaders and their Jewish thugs sought to have Jesus killed and down to this very day, Jews have been hated. It's a no-brainer why.
Forgetting convieniently that Jesus WAS a Jew.
Philip just can't go a day without hurting the ones he loves.
See Mary's post.....lol
Agree @ Jeff, that walk softly and carry a big stick thinking, wouldnt hold much merit in this case would it?
So you're all just buying the lie that there are Israeli weapons there without question?
Yes, I believe the Syrian government may be truthful in this instance, since someone I trust much more than you, and who is acually living in Syria right now, recently emailed me:
"But the media is lying about Syria, it's not the
gov that's the source of violence, but rather the death squad strategy
the US used in El Salvador and then in Iraq."
Some have delusions of admiration I see.
lol.
What? Your comment doesn't make a bit of sense. Are you heavily medicated?
Oh, those sneaky, sneaky little Germans...lol
@Schoolmarm
Sooo Jews fired the first shot at Jesus? What they use...Glock 9mm?
And your historian tells you that the jewish temple fell in 70A.D., "the year of our Lord"?
What college you graduate from?
Jesus didn't live to see 30. Get out of here...a load of crap...sorry.
Wasn't he more like, 33 or so? I guess it's all in the interpretattion, lol. You're dead on in everything in your post, Jeff.
Well look who's here?
I may not be a Christian..OK? But when I feel a load of crap comming on, I will relieve myself at some point. Oh yeah, and just one more minor detail. I'm sorry if the Nazi's didn't do a good enough job on "my" family. Good Bye. ;)
Don't leave Jeff! You're one of the few sane ones here!