Fighting in Syria scale up after relative weather improvement

As severity of the chilling weather started easing, fighting between government and opposition forces intensified, claiming the lives of dozens across the war-torn Arab country. Instead of being a blessing the relative improvement in the weather condition became a curse to the desperate civilians in Syria as the government air forces and artillery resumed heavy bombardment of the opposition-held areas across the country. Trying to ease the pressure on its forces, the opposition forces have also fired mortars at and launched offensives against several military and security bases. The Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) reported that Saturday clashes and violence claimed the lives of dozens of Syrians. In Muadhamiya, periphery of Damascus, government forces backed by fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah party killed ten civilians who were trying to flee the areas to escape the violence, the SRGC reported. After a brief stop due to weather conditions, the SRGC claimed the Syrian jetfighters and helicopter resumed throwing of the large barrel bombs on the opposition-held areas, particularly in Damascus suburbs. The SRGC stated that the bombardment which targeted many residential neighborhoods left enormous number of human causalities and massive damage to properties. After wrestling control over Adra industrial zone in Damascus countryside, the opposition forces founded bodies of 12 civilians who were apparently executed by government forces. Moreover, the SRGC reported that the Free Syrian Army stormed a military base in Maarat Al-Toaman in Idlib and killed scores of government forces. Two of the FSA fighters were killed in the assault on the base. In Deir Az-Zour, the FSA bombarded a military airport with mortar and eyewitnesses reported killing of dozens of the army personnel in the attack, the SRGC added. In the meantime, the UN has announced postponement of the start of the first airlift of aid items from Iraq to Syria for a second day. "Qamishli airport remains closed, but apparently weather conditions are improving," said UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Regional Spokesman Peter Kessler. The Syrian and Iraqi government agreed on the airlift was initially expected to begin on Thursday. The UNHCR plans to use the airlift to carry relief items for about 60,000 stranded people inside Syria