THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT has vowed to respond “decisively,” after armed men reportedly killed 120 Syrian security forces and torched government buildings on Monday.
The incident happened in the northern region of Jisr al-Shughour where government troops have unleashed deadly assaults on protesters for days.
The government response to the security forces’ killing hints at an even more brutal crackdown by a regime known for ruthlessly crushing dissent.
The attack in the north would be a turning point in what so far has largely been a peaceful uprising threatening the 40-year rule of President Bashar Assad and his family.
Opposition activists were skeptical of the official casualty toll, saying the authorities were setting the stage for a new onslaught. But even they acknowledged there was fighting, although it was not clear who was involved.
Communications were cut to the area around Jisr al-Shughour on Monday and the details of the attack were impossible to verify, but there have been unconfirmed reports by activists and residents in the past of Syrians and even mutinous troops fighting back against security forces.
Adnan Mahmoud, the chief government spokesman, acknowledged that Syrian forces had lost control of some areas for “intermittent periods of time” and said residents had appealed to the army to do what was necessary to restore security.
Interior Minister Ibrahim Shaar said:
We will deal strongly and decisively, and according to the law, and we will not be silent about any armed attack that targets the security of the state and its citizens.
The surprisingly high death toll among pro-regime troops would suggest some sort of major lashback against the crackdown against the uprising — though by whom was unknown because of the seal over the area.
Regardless of who carried out Monday’s attack, it shows new cracks in a rule that has held out through weekly protests of thousands of people.
Human rights activist Mustafa Osso said there were unconfirmed reports of a few soldiers who switched sides and were defending themselves against attacking security forces, but he said the reports suggest the mutiny is limited and “does not pose a threat to the unity of the army yet.”
A Syrian activist speaking on condition of anonymity said there were unconfirmed reports of infighting between security forces.
“The situation is very foggy, it is unclear who is doing the shooting, but the situation is very serious and appears to be getting out of control,” he said on condition of anonymity.
He said there were fears the army was preparing a major attack.
Before Monday’s killings, the government and some human rights groups have said more than 160 soldiers and security forces had died in the uprising.
The latest deaths marked by far the deadliest single strike against them.
Jisr al-Shughour, about 12 miles from the Turkish border, has been the latest focus of Syria’ military whose nationwide crackdown on the revolt has left more than 1,200 Syrians dead, activists say.
The town was a stronghold of the country’s banned Muslim Brotherhood in the 1980s. Human rights groups said at least 42 civilians have been killed there since Saturday.
– AP
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