30 April 2013
There are signs that Lebanon might participate in the Syrian conflict, since there are growing signs of involvement of religious groups – Sunnis on the side of the rebels, Shiites on the side of the regime – in the Syrian situation.
29 March 2013
The NGO Human Rights First has published a report that documents the supply chain that enables the atrocities committed by the Assad regime. The report Enablers of the Syrian Conflict How Targeting Third Parties Can Slow the Atrocities in Syria contains information indicating that enablers of Syrian atrocities include the country’s large allies, but also smaller countries and commercial entities.
Source: Human Rights First | Stop the Atrocity Supply Chain
Source: Human Rights First | Enablers of the Syrian Conflict How Targeting Third Parties Can Slow the Atrocities in Syria | March 2013
25 March 2013
The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced that it will receive some 5,000 refugees from Syria. The first refugees should arrive in Germany by June. According to the official statement, the German Ministry of Interior intends to promote a coordinated European response together with UNHCR to protect refugees from Syria. The Minister will meet the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres in April, when he will launch a resettlement appeal to the EU.
Source: Bundesministerium des Innern | Nachrichten | Flüchtlinge aus Syrien (in German only)
25 March 2013
The New York Times reports that in recent months, with help from the C.I.A., Arab governments and Turkey have sharply increased their military aid to Syria’s opposition fighters. The airlift has grown to include more than 160 military cargo flights by Jordanian, Qatari and Saudi cargo planes landing at Esenboga airport near Ankara, and at other Jordanian and Turkish airports. American intelligence officers helped the Arab governments shop for weapons, and vetted groups and rebel commanders to determine who should receive the weapons when they arrive.
Source: The New York Times | Arms Airlift to Syria Rebels Expands, With C.I.A. Aid
14 March 2013
France and the United Kingdom made announcements that the two States were considering bypassing the European Union (EU) arms embargo in order to arm Syrian rebels. The EU is set to discuss its embargo again in May.