Rebels: 25 Killed in Shelling of Syrian Town

Panic in Yarmouk as Airstrike Hits Refugee Camp

by Jason Ditz, December 16, 2012

In another day of ugly fighting in Syria, government forces shelled the town of Helfaya, a rebel-held town in Hama Province. Rebels say the strike came after fighters from the town attacked government checkpoints, and claimed 25 people killed, though the toll is unconfirmed.

It appears to be the first time the town has been attacked in nearly a year, and while a video released by rebels showed a number of bodies in the street, the exact number and the identities of the victims are unknown.

A more immediate concern for the Assad regime, as it struggles to retain support in the Damascus Province, is an air stirke against the Yarmouk refugee camp, which came without warning and caused thousands of refugees to flee.

The toll from the Yarmouk strike is unknown, but scores were reportedly wounded as the bomb landed near a mosque. The reasoning behind the strike is entirely unknown, and it is likely to turn sentiment against the regime in the major camp, at a time when rebels continue to try to arm factions inside of it for a rebellion.

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