6 years ago, at this time of year, Aleppo saw the most barbaric Assad bombing, Russian airstrikes, and siege. All hospitals were levelled, markets closed, electricity cut, no food no water, people were dying every hour. The world was silently watching.
30/11/2016, Over 45 people including women and children were killed while they tried to flee the besieged East Aleppo.
Imagine this. It was just another day in besieged Aleppo where Russian planes hit close to a children's hospital.
Two children crying for their younger brother who was killed in a barrel bomb in besieged Aleppo. Lest we forget. (25/8/2016)
Iran, Russia, Assad forces used cluster, incendiary thermite, white phosphorus, thermobaric, napalm, barrel bombs and all fire power they had against the people of Aleppo.
Even from the early days of the Syrian revolution, Hezbollah actively supported Assad regime and participated both logistically and on the ground, brutally crushing demonstrations across Syria. Their members were deployed to suppress, assault, and detain protestors.
Hundreds of Hezbollah members entered Syria between 2011 and 2012, concentrating in vital locations such as the capital Damascus, Sayyida Zainab to the south, and areas in Aleppo, particularly Nubl and Zahra. They also stationed in Kafriya and Fua in the northeast of Idlib, long before the large-scale deployment that increased over time since 2013.
Today marks 24 years since the death of Hafez al-Assad. In this thread I'll mention some of the massacres he committed against Syrians.
Tal al-Zaatar Massacre (1976), committed by Lebanese militias backed by Hafez al-Assad against one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut at the time, which housed 50k-60k people. 7 month siege, 55,000 shells fired over 52 days, massacre of more 3000 people.
Hama Massacre: On the morning of 2/2/1982, Hama city was besieged by Rifaat al-Assad on the orders of Hafez al-Assad. After intense airstrikes and shelling, Assad's forces stormed the city and carried out a massacre in which 40k people were killed, 100k arrested, 15k disappeared
12 years ago during the month of July the city of Hama witnessed massive protests marking a significant chapter in the Syrian revolution.
A thread🧵on how it began from peaceful protests on 1/7/2011 to a siege and a brutal crackdown on 31/7/2011.
Since early June, protesters have been conducting massive sit-ins in Al-Assi Square on a weekly basis, despite attempts by Assad forces to prevent them using force, including the Children of Freedom massacre on 3/6/2011 resulting in death of 65 people.
The atrocities against protesters only fueled more people to join the protests from Hama and its countryside. One of the most significant protests in June was the protest on Friday, 24/6/2011, which saw around 200,000 people.
- Power outage left Damascus and its surroundings without electricity for hours.
- No fuel to run generators during power outage.
- Gov. institutions stopped operations and electronic transactions due to lack of Internet.
- Private bakeries have cut back their production due to shortage of diesel.
- Factories have been closed until next week.
- Gas bottle price exceeds 25,000 Syrian pounds.
- Most of the government subsidized gas stations are closed.
11 years ago on this day 18/4/2011 the first sit-in protest was held at the new clock tower in Homs. This thread I'll explain how the peaceful sit-in turned out to a pool of blood of martyrs.
On 17/4/2011, a massacre by Assad regime in the city of Homs claimed the lives of dozens of people. This sparked outrage, and next day, after funeral prayers for those who died, it was decided to stage a sit-in protest at new clock tower which was later known as Freedom Square.
People began to flock to the clock tower square shortly before sunset, and the area was completely crowded by the time the sun set. The sit-in was scheduled to last until the next day. Approximately 40,000 people from all over Homs took part in the protest.