Syrian rebels count down to ‘Zero Hour’

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that 78 people were killed on Friday in Syria, including seven children and four women. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russian and American experts are set to discuss Syrian developments and future with peace envoy Lakhdar Ibrahimi over the next few days. As activists fear a ground assault in a number of Damascus districts that have seen military reinforcements, battles continue on the outskirts and in the southern parts of the city. Correspondent Ruth Sherlock reports that the Syrian rebels were counting down to “Zero Hour” to launch an offensive on Damascus, which she said means the Syrian capital may be “facing total destruction.” The Syrian Revolution General Commission [SRGC] has announced that the Free Syrian Army has gained control of Unit 122 of regime forces in Harasta , north-east of the capital Damascus. The FSA, the Commission said, captured a number of tanks and a quantity of ammunition. The SRGC also reported violent clashes in Eastern Ghouta and aerial bombardment of Daria as well shortages in food and fuel due to a “siege” imposed on the area by regime forces. Activists had earlier reported that “most neighbourhoods in Douma in the Damascus countryside were violently shelled.” It has also been reported that regime forces had “driven tanks into the town of Souha in the eastern Hama countryside amid heavy gunfire and broke into homes.” Shaam also added that a large army force had tried to enter the town of Maademiet al-Sham in the Damascus countryside and that heavy shelling by the Fourth Platoon was continuing. Local Coordination Committees have reported heavy shelling of al-Maza military airport and the Fourth Platoon’s headquarters. In a new step that is expected to accelerate the end of the civil war, Russian Foreign Miniter Sergei Lavrov has announced that experts from the US and Russia will hold consultations with Brahimi over the next few days, Russian news agency Rea Novosti reported on Friday. The development comes after Lavrov, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and United Nations and Arab League Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Ibrahim met on Thursday to discuss possible resolutions to the Syrian crisis. “We have agreed with Americans that our experts will meet in the coming days with Brahimi and his people and simply have a brainstorm with Geneva accords on the table,” Lavrov said. “After almost 21 months,” Ban said, “more than 40,000 people have been killed. We do not know how many people have been injured.” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also commented on the crisis in a visit to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan. The UN chief noted that “any serious escalation of violence inside Syria would lead to a dramatic increase of the refugees” but said that UN organisations were “working very hard” to provide humanitarian aid. The diplomat urged the international community to “do its part for peace and reconciliation for the people of Syria and the region.” He added that he was working with his envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, to “advance a credible political transition”. "I count on the Jordanian government to keep borders open for Syrian refugees,” the South Korean diplomat said, expressing his gratitude for the “noble, noble work” done by the Jordanian government and humanitarian organisations." Ban also inspected the Islahiye refugee camp in southern. The 24-hour visit, which comes as part of a tour of the region and focuses on the Syrian issue, included talks with President Abdallah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Speaking in Iraq on Friday at a joint news conference with rime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Ban Ki-Moon said he had warned al-Assad that “if chemical weapons is used, then whoever is responsible will have to be brought to justice and will face serious consequences.” The diplomat said he expressed the international community’s “gravest concerns” to the government of Syria adding “the leaders in Syria will listen very carefully to this.” The UN chief, who met with top Iraqi officials during his two-day visit to the country, also expressed concerns about tensions between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Region over disputed territories. “There is no alternative to peaceful coexistence within a united federal Iraq,” Ban said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki also remarked on the Syrian questions, saying “the solution can only come through dialogue and the ballot box.” “These things are up to the Syrian people,” the Iraqi PM said. “We do not take the place of the Syrian people in their right to self-determination,” al-Maliki said, adding “but we are brothers and partners that are affected positively and negatively by developments.” The spokesperson for the Syrian national Coalition, Walid al-Bunni, has said in a radio interview that “any resolution the first term of which is not the removal of Assad, will not be acceptable either to the Syrian people or the coalition.” “We will not accept anything without this term,” he said. “The Syrian regime is starting to lose its grip in the field and is collapsing,” he added.