[View the story "Fractured revolution" on Storify ]Fractured revolution Does the Free Syrian Army accurately represent the Syrian people? Storified by The Stream · Mon, Sep 10 2012 11:03:58
WARNING: Some of the following content is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.
In March 2011 peaceful protests erupted in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad calling for the downfall of his government. Following attacks on protesters, members of the military began to defectfrom their units and take “defensive measures” to "protect civilians" from the Assad government's paramilitary "Shabiha" and soldiers. In an effort to unite all military defectors under one banner, the Free Syrian Army was announced on July 29th, 2011.
Here former Air Force Colonel, Riad al-Asaad (no relation to the Assad family) announces the formation of the FSA:
اعلان تشكيل الجيش السوري الحرa198123
While peaceful protests continue throughout the country on a daily basis, the uprising has ridden the wave of armed resistance seeking to overthrow Assad through force. The Free Syrian Army continues to grow in size and strength and has seized sizeable chunks of territory from the government, although it remains quite fragmented.
The below maps of Syria show FSA's territorial expansion from the early months of 2012 till mid-August:
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Between February and June the FSA seized control of large swaths of the countryside, surrounding Syria's two main cities, Damascus and Aleppo.
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Armed resistance against the Assad government also occurs in eastern Syria. The city of Deir al-Zor is a hotbed of the insurgency, while Qamishli in the northeast witnessed the rise of Kurdish militias who fight government soldiers.
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In the span of four days in July, the Free Syrian Army launched offensives to take Aleppo and Damascus from the Assad government. While they were forced back into the suburbs during the short lived "Battle of Damascus", they currently hold a number of neighbourhoods in Aleppo.
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Notably, they've also taken hold of three border crossings, including this one in Azaz north of Aleppo.
LOVE! The new border checkpoint in Azaz, Aleppo. Can't wait until the day these are all over the country. #Syria - http://twitpic.com/arte7xNora Basha
This video shows the FSA in Azaz following the defeat of government forces there.
اعزاز مقبرة الدبابات و أولى لحظات تحرير المدينة 19-7-2012morek682682
Initially, the FSA's weapons were limited to AK-47s and rifles from volunteers. As the conflict drags on, however, the FSA's weapons have become more sophisticated, acquiring heavy machine guns, missiles, and in some cases, rockets. This upgrade in weaponry is largely due to smuggling across the Turkish and Lebanese borders and FSA raids on government facilities.
The videos below show some of the FSA's latest weapons.
جبل الزاوية 2khaledalhamoud
عملية نوعية لكتيبة شهداء حران العواميد 2 9 20127si-y79aDyMlIMYN2HbxUg
The FSA and Syrian political opposition have made repeated calls for anti-aircraft weaponry to even the battle with Assad.
In a recent development, the FSA has taken down a number of the government's planes. This video shows the crash site of a MiG-23 after being attacked by the FSA.
لحظة سقوط الطائرة العربية4-9-2012OxXPDgrNjz6v8XkUOi_EEg
The FSA's activities have also gotten them in trouble, leading to criticism from a wide range of parties. The UN
reported that both the armed opposition and the government were responsible for violating human rights. The FSA received much criticism following the capture and killing of alleged government paramilitary Zaino al-Barri and his entourage. Members of the al-Barri clan were accused of killing protesters prior to the FSA's arrival in Aleppo. This incident sparked criticism from revolutionaries for the manner in which the paramilitaries were killed.
The video below shows the
public killing of Zaino al-Barri and other members of the al-Barri clan by an FSA firing squad.
1/8/2012 اعدم زعيم شبيحة حلب النجس زينو بري الكلب +18tabshoor1
This video shows al-Barri being tortured prior to his killing (warning: graphic).
Torturing of Al Berri Tribe chief in Aleppo by Terrorists شکنجه رئیس آل بری حلبardalanhamrah
This blog
post from well-known Syrian blogger Maysaloon asks that FSA be held accountable, stating that their actions have implications on Syria's future.
FSAAJstream
There is no one Syrian "opposition" - and the Free Syrian army is still, in spite of its best efforts, more of a franchise #SyriaMaysaloon
The al-Farouq Battalion, which operates in the Syrian governorate of Homs, announced in this video that it would treat prisoners of war according the Geneva Conventions.
كتائب الفاروق بيان الملازم أول عبد الرزاق طلاس حول معاملة الأسرىVdynUuLyHwREWfWUxSI4jw
Another common criticism of the FSA is that they allegedly work in tandem with groups such as al-Qaeda. There are also many reports that foreign fighters continue to breach Syria's borders, joining the fight against the government in the northern part of the country.
Al-Qaeda brigades founded in Syriaflashpointreport
According to this
report , the FSA has also taken action against al-Qaeda operatives in Syria.
A Lebanese extremist tried to set up an "emirate" in Homs a few months ago, all he got was several bullets in the head from the Free Army.
foreign militias fighting on the Syrian soil are not rebels, they are terrorists PERIOD! MSM always insults people's intelligence #SyriaTamara تمارا
Syrian activist Rami Jarrah (otherwise known as
@AlexanderPageSY ) spent some time this month with the FSA in Syria, documenting their activities. Here's a recent Facebook post on
why he continues to support the FSA, despite the presence of "foreign elements".
FSA2AJstream
I support the FSA, these people are neglected heroes, they complained of Lack of support & that alqaeda are intruding http://pic.twitter.com/ZzZOmHEbAlexander Page
FSA are legitimate battalions trying to get clean funding in a world where that's almost impossible and hence comes the competition (AlqaedaAlexander Page
Another criticism of the armed resistance movement is that it remains very divided in both
organisation and
funding . A new initiative to unite all armed resistance groups under the command of a "Syrian National Army" has emerged. Battalions from Homs and Idlib, however, have thus far refused to join the effort.
Announcing the formation of the "Syrian National Army".
الاعلان عن البيان التأسيسي للجيش الوطني السوري 3.9.2012bossmudar
The Commander of the FSA, Riad al-Asaad, released a statement arguing that the Free Syrian Army should keep its current name, rather than change it to the "Syrian National Army", and that all major decisions regarding armed resistance in support of the revolution should come after surveying all those who fight against Assad.
بيان الجيش السوري الحر على ما يسمى الجيش الوطني mp4mrfsa01
Netizens are split in their support of armed resistance.
I am proud supporter of the Free Syrian Army, the true defenders of our homeland.#FSA is In your face #Assad,we are coming to get you.Mouna Hashem منى †
Every time FSA pulls off some stunt, pisses off the regime, who then get ready to take revenge. FSA "strategically withdraws," civilans die.Omar
I support the FSA 100%. I also know it makes mistakes. #SyriaBSyria
in case you were wondering, yes some FSA units in Aleppo have looted warehouses, shops and even houses. "spoils of war" they said #Syriaedward dark
You want discipline? Give the poor buggers fighting a heavily armed army proper weapons and steady supply of money and ammo. Simple. #SyriaNuff Silence
if you're not careful, you will turn into the very thing you're fighting against. this is what's happening to the Rebels in #Syriaedward dark
ppl suppose that because I dare criticize & expose the crimes of armed rebels I must be a regime goon. where were u when I was protesting???edward dark
If they hit the airport every last bit of support (which is especially scarce these days) the FSA has will be gone. Starting with me.Omar
Persuasion of equating #FSA crimes to #Assad 's is like trying to enter a camel through a pinhole || #Syria #3SuriyehArmaniyeh
Syrian writer Amal Hanano
speaks of revolution and going through internal change in order to "build a new society," accepting the many differences of opinion within Syria.
FSA3AJstream
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