Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Media Centre – Daily Report
December 17, 2012
Headlines: Storming attempts continue for the 30th day and the FSA destroy a number of vehicles; shelling and siege continue; Eight martyrs and dozens of injuries; dire humanitarian situation
Storming the city was attempted for a 31st day in a row.
The battles which have taken place between the FSA and the Assad gangs today have been described as the fiercest since the start of the current campaign.
Assad’s forces used strange gases which cause suffocation, burns and inflammations in the face. They also increased the number of tanks substantially and used Shilka tanks on the Damascus Road front.
Other battles were fought along other fronts including Damascus Road which reached the graveyard square as well as the western, southern, and eastern fronts.
Daraya Martyrs Battalion destroyed one tank on the south-eastern front, and damaged another tank on the western front. They also caused heavy losses in men and equipment to the Assad forces.
Brutal bombardment of the city’s residential areas and civilian houses using rocket launchers and heavy artillery continued for the 35th day in a row. As a result, seven civilians were killed and dozens of people of the city were injured. Massive destruction was caused to neighbourhoods and infrastructure.
For the second day in a row, a tank attack was launched against Abu Suleiman Aldarani Mosque which resulted in the destruction of what remains from one of the oldest mosques in the Damascus area.
*** Today’s martyrs
1. Muhammad Alnamous
2- Baby Ansaam Ahmad Ziada
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188887437902435&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
3- Abu Khalid Ziada
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188891594568686&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
4- Muhammad Shihab
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188871074570738&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
5- Rabei Abubaker
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188869087904270&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
6- Ahmad Latifa
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188863691238143&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
7- Haitham Murad
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188779401246572&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
*** Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation is increasingly getting worse for the people of Daraya, whether they are still inside or displaced outside the city.
The city is still isolated from the outside world due to power and communication cuts which have lasted for 39 days.
The need for heating fuel (a.k.a Mazot) has become all the more desperate with the advance of winter and falling temperatures.
Food and medical supplies are also in acute shortage amid deafening silence by human rights and relief organizations.
Assad gangs are located in these areas
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes around Alnakkashat area
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes near the Police Station
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes near the Graveyard square
• Along Sahnaya –Jedaideh Road which runs alongside Daraya
• Aldahadeel Road between Hammam Alqishani and Alsalam Mosque
• Around Alothman Mosque
• Around Wahab Mosque
• Snipers spread in the vicinity the above areas targeting any moving body.

Links to videos and photos that document part of the situation in Daraya today
Daraya Martyrs Battalion targeting a tank (two cameras)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdoHUQ4w9JU
Important for media, Tanks targeting residential neighbourhoods and civilian homes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DjsPgg29dE
Very important and sensitive, an attempt to rescue a baby girl in the field hospital part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQeO24YqoxU
Very important and sensitive, an attempt to rescue a baby girl in the field hospital part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_x59V_kz4
Important, Abu Suleiman Aldarani Mosque being bombed for the second time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5hILn5vDMg
Smoke caused by missile and artillery shelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps1Hu2EwOfg
Barbaric shelling burning warehouses of civilians
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XiKyQrl_Z8
Martyr Abu Khaled Ziada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0c3I80eSz0
Martyr Izz Oudah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njjuJ3cw57E
Martyr Haitham Murad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI4P7rFyHoE
Massive destruction in the historic Abu Suleiman Aldarani Mosque
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.188874214570424.15209.178176988973480&type=1