Syria Update
Reuters and BBC are both reporting that Syrian troops crossed into north Lebanon today, where they clashed with the opposition.
There are now 15,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, and the Turkish Red Crescent is making contingency plans--so they say--to accommodate as many as half a million refugees in an "extreme scenario."
Kadri Gürsel's column yesterday in Milliyet was translated into English today. Jump into Syria to commit suicide, he warns. It is hard to argue with any of the points he makes.
A minute ago it was reported that Assad has accepted the Annan-Arab League peace plan. This would be the second Arab League plan he's accepted; obviously the first one didn't take.
Syrian opposition activists are now meeting on the outskirts of Istanbul and to judge from initial reports, squabbling like children. Yesterday Barçın Yinanç (who is quite a good reporter) explained what Ankara was hoping to achieve with this meeting, but it doesn't sound as if they're getting very far.
There are reports that the Free Syrian Army is using child soldiers.
Grim news all around.
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Comments:
Feb '11
Re: Syria Update
Is this the Syrian regime or the rebels opposing the regime who have crossed over?
Re: Syria Update
Both.
Feb '11
Re: Syria Update
It is their problem. We should stay out.
Apr '11
Re: Syria Update
So how likely is it that the Syrian War spills out into other nations now? I assume the Syrians felt no compunction about crossing into Lebanon a nation in which they have often acted with impunity. Is it there a chance Lebanese elements will be drawn into the fight? Also why do the rebels not flee to Jordan or Iraq?
Re: Syria Update
1) Likely 2) yes 3) I don't know 4) they do.