Syria foils attempt by terrorists to cross into Turkey, escalation in Homs

Following Damascus’ conditioned approval on the Arab observer plan, the world is still waiting for the Arab League’s reply to the letter sent by the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.  

Exclusive sources told LBCI TV station that the Arab League Secretary General is contacting Arab Foreign Ministers to look into the response.

On the ground, SANA reported that Syria foiled an attempt by an armed terrorist group to cross into Turkey, Monday night. 

Inconsistent and contradictory information echoed about the situation on the ground in the Syrian city of Homs which witnessed a dangerous escalation in violence, leading to numerous deaths and countless cars and homes destroyed.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the Shabiha groups affiliated to Syrian President Bashar Assad kidnapped and killed a number of people from the city’s neighborhoods, although the Syrian newspaper, Al Watan, reported that clashes in Homs erupted between security forces and gunmen. Al Watan added that gunmen attacked military checkpoints and that armed groups killed a number of civilians and soldiers, denying rumors spread by the opposition that Khaled Bin Al Walid Mosque was shelled.

On “The Revolution is Calling You” Tuesday, demonstrations calling for freedom in Inkhil, Hama and the Aleppo countryside as well as in Idlib and the Al Midan neighborhood in Damascus were carried out. Rumors were flying about arrests and raids conducted by security forces in Harsata, and gunfire could be heard in Baalaba in Homs.

Given the developments in Syria, Jordan called on Iraq to allow the passage of its trucks carrying vegetables and fruits to Turkey and Europe through Iraqi territories.

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a meeting in Geneva with seven members of the Syrian opposition.