Sunday, July 29, 2012

Chapter Twelve : Back to square one


The UN observers suspended their mission in Syria since the violence has increased in the past few days, and they’re staying in their hotels doing nothing now. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The exact same thing happened to the Arab League observers’ mission few months ago, and now comes the part where the regime’s killing machine is loose to cause death and destruction all over Syria.  That’s what experience tells us.

June 17th, 2012, First day without the observers running around taking notes. Nothing strange happened today anywhere near me. The same amount of daily shelling we’ve been through the past few days.

June 18th, Cellphones networks are down. We saw that one coming since the regime only connected cellphones and 3G when the UN observers arrived in Homs. Now that they’re gone, coverage went with them. No one watching = No communications.

June 19th, news about a Russian ship being held in Europe that was heading to Syria with military helicopters and other heavy artillery. We’re glad this ship didn’t make it through since the regime’s been using helicopters to attack villages for a while.
More news from Russia, this time about actual marines coming to protect the Russian interests in Tartus. I certainly hope no one comes, and if they do, I hope they never go back alive. Russia is supporting the regime politically, and sending Assad all kinds of weapons to kill us, and now sending marines? That’s invasion.
Enough about Russia, we woke up with no electricity, and that lasted for five and a half hours. A heat wave has been around for a few days now and without AC our lives turned into actual hell.

Heavy shelling started, but not any heavy shelling, things I never heard before were happening. 11 missiles were launched in 4 seconds, then another wave of 19 missiles, then 22, then 14 more missiles. All that happened in few seconds. Not minutes, seconds. God knows what happened where all those missiles hit.
No cellphones, 3G, or Dial up for the second day.

June 20th, the numbers of casualties are increasing every day. The attacks have become more vicious than ever all over Syria. Still no cellphones, 3G, or Dial up.


June 21st, A Mig 21 fighter jet arrived in Jordan and the pilot asked for the right of asylum which was granted for him. That’s good news but I believe the regime will get the jet back.
Cellphones worked for a couple of hours after 8:30 PM, but 3G is still not working.
More than 120 deaths in Syria today.

June 23rd, a tank, a Shilka, and two pickup trucks filled with armed security forces came to my neighborhood around 9 AM, and they targeted Jorat Al Shayyah for an hour and a half then left without being attacked by anyone since they’re in an area filled with civilians. That’s how the regime’s forces use civilians as shields, their tanks attack from inside inhabited areas so the FSA can’t fire back.
At 11:30 it started raining and the weather changed.
10 PM, heavy close shelling caused my house to shake with every shell being launched.

June 24th, I went to Waar, and on my way I found four spots where the tank was attacking from. The tank leaves two big circle marks on the ground where it attacks, and that’s how the streets of my neighborhood were ruined.

June 25th, I went to Midan, and saw the destruction there and it was beyond what I imagined, and that ruined my day. A while after that I got a call about one of my relatives who was killed in Old Homs. He left three kids and his wife behind, then news about one of my friends being injured with a shred of mortar in his leg. This is a very bad morning.
Cellphones worked for a few hours then got disconnected again.
I then saw a big water spraying vehicle accompanied by two security forces pickups heading to Waar, knowing that I never say the water spraying vehicle in action. I don’t think they’ve ever used it as they go straight to shooting at protestors here.
The daily death toll has become 70-130 a day, yet the world is still okay with it.

June 26th, new cement barriers were installed all over the main Ghouta street and Kurnich street isolating parts of Hamra and Ghouta even more than they already are.
Still no cellphones or 3G. We got used to that once again.

June 27th, a huge truck filled with armed soldiers and two big machines guns in the back crossed my neighborhood towards the street that takes us to Jorat Al Shayyah.
Once again cellphones worked for a few hours. I honestly think it’s better if they stop connecting and disconnecting them. Keep them disconnected is easier for us. I don’t even take my phone with me when I leave the house anymore, unless I want to take pictures of listen to music.

June 28th, a tank arrived at 11:15 AM and started shooting near the healthcare center, then moved close to the Red Crescent storage facilities and targeted Jorat Al Shayyah again from there. I heard rapid machine gun shooting coming from that area as well.
9 PM, the sounds of tank shooting, mortar being launched, and a sniper created a symphony of destruction in my neighborhood.
120 deaths all over Syria today.

June 29th, the same thing that happened yesterday. The tank arrived at the same time and it targeted the same areas then left. Kids in my neighborhood now know when to wait for the tank to watch it shooting, and to swear at the soldiers from far away.
2:40 PM, Security forces came into my completely empty street and started shooting. This happened many times before and I think they’re just bored and are shooting for fun.

June 30th, the last day of the month went with more than 100 casualties all over Syria. Douma has fallen in the hands of the regime’s army after weeks of shelling and tens of deaths.
A martyr’s funeral was targeted in Zamalka in Damascus leaving 70-80 new martyrs. This happened many times in Syria in the past months, people going to bury a martyr end up getting buried the very next day. We still can’t bury our dead in peace.
I believe there is no humanity left in the regime anymore; it has become a beast with an unlimited blood thirst, and it shall be put down by any means necessary.
A meeting in Geneva happened and we all didn’t get our hopes up since the world has been failing us one time after another for the past 16 months. They came up with a new plan which I know that it’s going to fail sooner than later. Russia is still holding on to Assad and will keep sending him weapons and supporting him with all it’s got. We only have ourselves and the FSA now. 133 deaths today.

July 1st, the day started with a new type of shelling. The rockets that are being used are causing so much noise, and I haven’t heard such noise before. Some are saying the regime’s using Grad missiles now, but I’m not sure. All I know is that a very loud explosion sound is heard every 30 minutes or so since 6 AM.
I went to another neighborhood to go online, and during that time I read news about security forces attacking my street. I went home and my parents told me what happened. A big truck filled with armed security forces came in and started shooting randomly and people in the street started running in all directions in panic. The vehicle then left the street and headed to a street nearby and did the exact same thing. This terrorism must end. We’re not afraid of it anymore. We will face it and end it all no matter what. The new path of our movement is clear now. I am convinced that there is no other way but to support the FSA in their fight against Assad’s forces.

July 2nd, I went to Damascus. It was quiet and disgusting. Most people are still living like nothing is going on, and this has to change immediately.
July 3rd, I went to Inshaat and saw the destruction there. Didn’t take any photos or videos since I know everything’s been filmed before many times. However, seeing things in person is nothing like seeing videos or photos. I saw parts of Baba Amr and there are no words I can use to describe how awful it is.

July 5th, yet another day that I won’t forget. I woke up at 4:30 AM to go get bread but since the shelling started at 3:30 AM, and there is nearby shooting I decided not to go. I opened my window and saw three security forces vehicles. A white pickup truck, a blue “police” vehicle, and the “Assad’s Syria” green vehicle that I saw so many times before. Armed security forces were all over my street and the next street as well. I’m glad I didn’t go out. Some of them walked around shooting for a couple of minutes then they went in their cars and left at 6 AM, except for the white pickup. A while later I was able to go back to sleep.
I woke up around 11:30, and was about to go out when I heard a helicopter. It sounded so clear and so close. It was about 12:30 when the helicopter fired a missile. The explosion was scary and I saw smoke from my balcony, and small rocks and dirt covered the street and hit my apartment’s windows. I looked up but couldn’t see the helicopter. I went out immediately, and heard the helicopter coming back. I saw its tail and heard a small explosion then it disappeared behind the buildings. I headed to where the explosion noises came from and on my way I saw cars smashed. I took a picture of one and a man told me to hide my phone because there is an armor vehicle nearby and security forces wearing normal clothes instead of uniforms.
I hid my phone and kept walking and saw the dirt all over the street next to the one that was hit and heard some people talking about injuries. I kept walking and saw where the missile hit. The street was destroyed and many cars were hit. One of them was cut in half, and the two halves were very far apart and from the looks of it, one part flew away and hit a building before it landed under it. I’m not sure what happened and I don’t think anyone really is since the street was empty. The ones who were injured weren’t in the same street because if they were, they would’ve been killed and torn to pieces.
The missile hit right in front of Al Khayrat mosque which was empty since there was no prayer at the time.
I went online after that and posted about what I just witnessed including seeing a tank and an armor vehicle in Hamra, and another tank in Ghouta. Those tanks didn’t open fire
 A friend who lives there told me that electricity is gone, and then we lost electricity as well, and therefore we lost internet connection too. I went back home but passed by the targeted street once again and saw a Red Crescent ambulance and an electricity truck fixing the harmed wires. I saw that the street where the missile hit have a pond in it now after water filled the hole. I wonder when those pipes will get fixed.
I had dinner at home and went out again and talked to some people who actually saw the helicopter opening fire. They said they saw the missile being launched but none of them had a video or a photo of it.
Of course this barely made it into the news since other areas in Homs have been getting hundreds of missiles every hour since early morning like Jorat Al Shayyah, Qusoor, and Karabis.
I saw trails of black smoke all over Qusoor in the afternoon.

July 6th - 10th, those days saw a new amount of tank, helicopter, and missile attacks on Jorat Al Shayyah and Qusoor. The attacks start around 3 AM and continue all day. Most of my neighborhood is closed and security forces are always present. Various vehicles come and go. They stay around all day and all night, and they open fire randomly every now and then. My area isn’t a good place to be anymore.

July 11th, I went to Waar and military helicopters were all over that area all day. A security check point stopped me on my way back home and the one who checked my car looked 19. He gave me a weird look and told me to step down so he can “See my height”, then he took me to his boss who kept my ID for a few moments asked another person to “take me”. They walked me for a few seconds, stopped me and showered me with questions. Where I was, where I was going, why am I going there, and what am I going to do. They asked about my house, my job, my age, etc. The higher officer then looked at me and told them to let me go and gave me my ID back. The only reason they did all this is because that young man didn’t like the way I look. Some people get caught like this then disappear and show up tortured or killed afterwards. It’s not my time I guess.

July 12th, two massacres in the morning, one in the afternoon and a major one at night. The last massacre occurred in a village near Hama called Tremseh which harvested more than 220 souls. I completely lost all hope in any political peaceful change in Syria. It’s all up to FSA now.
July 13th, the tank comes a bit late this morning, shoots and leaves like always. Black smoke is all over Qusoor and Jorat Al Shayyah, and some new areas around Mimas.
In the afternoon I was able to see huge columns of black smoke over Jorat Al Shayyah and Karabis and the smoke kept on coming up from those areas for hours after the shelling stopped.

July 14th, the tank that usually comes to Ghouta came of course, then a second tank followed, and they kept coming, opening fire, and leaving all day, and I’m not sure how many tanks actually came anymore since I lost track because they really did come and leave a lot.
5:30 PM, the attacks got more frequent from those tanks then they left around 6, then came again opened fire and left.

My area has become a playfield for tanks and security forces are always around with their vehicles and pickup trucks, and of course their guns. This changed a lot in the past few days, to the worse, and we’re waiting for something to happen and change all that.

49 comments:

  1. Do you think the threat on Syria is engineered by USA? Is the USA really there to make you "safer" or are we there for some sinister agenda from the power elite in our world?

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  2. We read about your story on the news. Our hearts and prayers are with you.

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  3. So sorry for you -- so sad. The U.S. citizens are seemingly powerless to be heard as we are caught up in an election year of cowards on all sides, all political persuasions. Unfortunately, your area of the world is a playing ground for world politics, colonialism, and natural resource extraction. Nevertheless, none of this is excuse for the killing of innocents, or, for that matter, the destruction of souls by pulling them into fighting unrighteous wars. May God be with you.

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  4. my heart and prayers are with you. May god be with you. And take care.
    Give the best of what you can and rest to god. May this war end very soon with smile on the faces of the citizen of Syria.

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  5. I hope it comes as some comfort that you are not forgotten, although I am sure it feels as though you are. Is there anything we can do for you?

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  6. Please be safe, I can't imagine being under constant threat of my life and fighting for freedom..
    I guess I have been taking my freedom as granted..

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    1. Thank you. You really gotta hold on to the little things in life and enjoy them. They might go away in a second. I hope they won't though

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  7. You're very brave for talking about this. I hope you are all right.

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  8. I am also a blogger but i am living away from my home (Yemen). We have all been through a very tough period but nothing compares to the destruction and trauma that Syria is going through now.

    I found your blog on CNN. You are inspirational and i hope that things get better for you soon.

    Regards,

    Mohamed

    http://pol-i-tick-ing.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you and enjoy your freedom in Yemen. We were 100% with you as you know :)

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  9. Your observations help us understand what is happening inside Syria. Stay safe my friend.

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  10. I saw you blog posted on CNN, it's amazing to read how much better the details are that you are reporting vs. world news organizations. I hope you stay safe and praying for peace for your people soon.

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  11. Greetings from Panamá in Central America, I read about your blog on CNN. We really hope Syria reaches peace very soon, no one deserves to live in such a hostile enviroment. Keep in mind that people from all over the world are with you, thousands, millions of prayers are pronounced everyday in the name of Syria and its people. We will not leave you alone!

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    1. Thank you. Hope to see some of the dictators in your area thrown out soon as well. Chavez and such. Freedom and peace for all

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  13. Big Al it has been said across many cultures that God helps those who help themselves; your fellow Syrians are doing just that, so I know they will succeed. If God could speak to the men fighting for freedom this very minute, he would say to strike at the enemy frequently, briefly and randomly. Furthermore, he would say that the closer those strikes are to the enemy, the less effective his planes and helicopters become. Share God's words.

    Have courage and persevere, but never ever give up baking because the world needs good pizza.

    Good Luck

    P.S. Have a little Arak with that pizza if you can find it.

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  14. You are a hero. Your writing is important and it is being heard. Thank you - from my heart.

    All good wishes.

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    1. I'm no hero. I'm just a dude with a smartphone and plenty of time, but thanks :)

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  15. Dude you have balls of steel, what you living at the moment is hell just reading your post I can feel the anger, depression and how hard your life must be, no friends, no family , tons of people that you know are gone....... dude let me tell you something, you are one of the toughest dude out there any dude living in your country is a tough mofo........ I write you more so you can feel good to know that you have thousand of people in states fuckign reading your blog and rooting for you..... you are a men.... and you know deep inside of you ... that if you make it to this hell...... you can make it thru anything......... don't give up...... the present might look black but behind all that there is some hope, keep living and thank you for your courage.

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  16. Stay safe and don't give up. It was incredible to read your blog, you have indeed great strength, keep blogging we are listening to you.
    Thanks for allowing us to share.........

    Hugs and appreciation from Scotland

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  17. I read about your blog on CNN, and can only hope that the publicity has a positive impact for your country, without compromising your safety. Hang in there; I can't imagine being in your position. Prayers to you, your family, and your country. -- Julia, USA

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  18. Linked from CNN, where I just read about yet another defector- the astronaut. HANG IN THERE, and know that many Americans are watching Syria and hoping for freedom and peace for all of it's people. Thank you for enlightening the world to the horrible reality that is life in Homs. STAY SAFE!! -- Sheila

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    1. Yep, the astronaut and now the prime minister. Some good news come around now and then. Thanks Sheila

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  19. News of your blog has reached the UK and appeared in the Daily Mail this morning. I am so sorry for what is happening in your country. My thoughts are with you. Mandy, England

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  20. You and so many others in Syria are so brave. You are warriors and role models for all of us to fight for what we beleive in. I hope this ends soon. You are in my prayers. James, United States

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    1. We're trying to make Syria yet another "Land of the free". Your freedom is what we seek here. And we will have it soon. Thanks for the prayers Jim

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  21. Just read your blog after seeing the link on the Daily Mail website here in the UK. Cant even begin to imagine what daily life must be like for you living under that fear. The people in UK are sickened by the killing and the world wants to do something to help, and if it wasnt for the cowards in China and Russia then the world would be there now helping. I speak for many when I say that I am frustrated that we cannot do anything. Can I just ask you, if Assad does fall from power, what will happen in Syria then? Dont you fear it could become even worse? Gary, UK

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    1. Thank you Gary for reading and caring.
      We will have an election and a new constitution in Syria that respects freedom and real democracy for everyone.
      We're planning for a transition period lead by a temp government.

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  22. Hi Big Al Brand,

    I came across your blog when one of my friend shared the link. I share the pain the that Syrian people are going through now and I pray to god that you guys soon have a peace and happiness in your country...

    I think you are a very brave person. your expressions are all very powerful...

    Dont feel alone..i think the whole world is behind the Syrian People, for the cause of peace. I hope soon Politicians around the world will join us too.........

    All the best and may god bless Syria...

    PSn

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  23. I am so sorry to hear about what you are facing. The news we get is not near as insightful as your reporting. Our lives are totally different and I now realize all that I have taken for granted. I hope one day you are truly free and safe in the place you call home.

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  24. I've been trying to understand what's going on in Syria for some time, but the US media can't always be fully trusted to report just the facts. After hearing all kinds of garbage, it's -- for lack of a better word -- "nice" to hear from someone actually there, living through the massacre. I am so sorry that this is happening, and that no one is doing anything about it. I will be praying for you all. I am so deeply sorry.

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    1. Thank you Justin. Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. And don't be sorry, just wish us luck :)

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    2. I'd love to have some questions answered...what's your email?

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  25. this is what I call syrian blogsphereeeeeeeeeeeeee
    go for it
    Bravo man

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