Damascus:
WATER
Alison Meuse @AliTahmizian 4 hod.
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UN: Two primary sources of drinking water that serve 70% of greater Damascus population are not functioning, due to "deliberate targeting"
GAS
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Rebels disrupt gas flow to millions of residents in Damascus
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:45 A.M.) - The jihadist rebels disrupted the gas flow
to millions of civilians in Damascus on Thursday
in protest of the Syrian government's demand
that they surrender the Wadi Barada area.
Based on footage posted by rebel activists,
the militants closed the gas pipelines that flow
through the eastern Qalamoun town of Jayroud in rural Damascus.
The Syrian government recently demanded that the jihadist rebels
surrender the Wadi Barada area in western Damascus
after they poisoned the water supply to millions of people in the Syrian capital.
Without much military leverage, the jihadist rebels
have turned to punishing the people living in government-held areas
as a form of retribution against the government
for their military success in the East Ghouta and Aleppo.
Civilians in Damascus are currently without fuel and water,
making the humanitarian situation dire in this historical city
that is now home to an estimated 5 million people.
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Rebels attack Syrian Army positions in northern Hama to Break Russia/Turkey brokered ceasefire
BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:50 A.M.) - Minutes ago, the Free Syrian Army and their allies
stormed the Syrian Arab Army's defenses in the northern Hama countryside,
targeting their positions southeast of the densely populated Christian village of Mhardeh.
According to a report from the National Defense Forces (NDF) of Mhardeh,
the Free Syrian Army and their allies stormed the Syrian Army's defenses at Biju Hill,
violating the nationwide ceasefire one hour after it commenced on Friday.
Syrian opposition activists claim that their forces have captured Biju Hill;
however, this has not been confirmed by the National Defense Forces.
This latest attack in northern Hama questions whether the Syrian opposition
is really committed to this nationwide ceasefire deal that was put together
by the Russian and Turkish governments earlier this week.
Based on the details released about this ceasefire,
the only factions that are excluded from this nationwide agreement
are the hardline jihadist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS)
and Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front).
BRIEFLY LOST, THEN REGAINED
BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:10 A.M.) - The Free Syrian Army and their jihadist allies
launched a surprise attack in the northern Hama countryside tonight,
targeting the Syrian Arab Army's (SAA) defenses southeast of the predominately Christian village of Mhardeh.
Initially, the jihadist rebels were able to overrun a Syrian Arab Army checkpoint at Tal Biju,
resulting in the latter's withdrawal from this site at 1:30 A.M. on Friday.
Not long after their retreat, the Syrian Arab Army and their allies from the National Defense Forces (NDF)
regrouped near the village of Mhardeh in order to launch a counter-attack.
At 2:15 A.M., the Syrian Armed Forces launched a swift counter-attack,
expelling the jihadist rebels from Tal Biju and recovering the territory they lost earlier tonight.
The jihadist
attack tonight marked the first violation of the ceasefire
by any party involved in the agreement put together by the Russians and Turks.
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