Inside Source: Idlib Province under Occupation by Security Forces

Security forces have escalated their attacks in the province along the Syrian-Turkish border, killing one man and capturing three others attempting to re-enter Syria from the Turkish border. Three additional men were able to escape back across the border. The Syrians were mostly from Idlib, one was a Sheikh from Aleppo.

This is just one of numerous incidents that have occurred at the border, and suggest that the Syrian regime has a duel purpose for preventing people from leaving the country and returning: 1) those who leave, do so with news from inside the country and provide better sourcing for news stories about the situation in Syria which results in unfavourable news coverage of the regime and; 2) preventing Syrians from returning is a preventative measure to keep one less person from participating in the protests and potentially bringing news into the country from the outside world or relaying information from the external Syrian opposition.

After Syrian refugees in Turkey began speaking to the international news media, the regime attempted to seal the border, giving orders to shoot on-site anyone attempting to "illegally" cross the border. Some eight thousand refugees remain on the Turkish side of the border. This is not the first time the province has seen violence. In Idlib City on Friday, July 15th, people attended evening prayers at one of the main mosques in the city. Friday being a big protest day, many who had gathered for prayer were planning on holding a protest shortly after. Upon exiting the mosque, security forces who had gathered in front of the entrance immediately opened fire.

At least one protester was confirmed dead and numerous others were wounded. Everyone retreated back into the mosque, pulling the dead and wounded back in with them. This form of collective punishment has become all too common around the country as the regime attempts to quell the current uprising.

Idlib province is sandwiched between the Turkish border to the West, Aleppo province to the East and Hama province to the South. A hotbed of anti-regime sentiment even before the current revolution, people in this province began protesting very early on -first in support of the city of Deraa and later in general against the regime.

While reporting has focused on the situation in major cities like Homs, Hama and Lattakia, the situation in Idlib province is also very bad. Idlib is a more rural province and therefore may garner less media attention, but Idlib province is strategically important because of its border with Turkey through which defecting soldiers and protesters often exit the country and who bring with them the latest information from inside Syria.

Major protests occurred in the towns of Jisr Al'Shaghour, Ariha, Maarit Al'Nouman and Kafr Nabal. All have been attacked or currently have tanks stationed within or nearby. the region of Jabal Az'Awiya (noted on the map in dark brown) has been especially hard hit. In the past six weeks, whole villages have largely been abandoned due to indiscriminate shelling from tanks. A newer tactic employed by security forces is to shoot in the direction of villages at random to force residents to stay inside and not attend protests.

More updates to follow soon...