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Battle of Tremseh

Coordinates: 35°16′23″N 36°30′17″E / 35.27306°N 36.50472°E / 35.27306; 36.50472
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Template:POV-title

Turaymisah operation
Part of the Syrian Uprising
LocationTuraymisah, Hama Governorate, Syria
Date12 July 2012
Deaths103–305 (opposition claim)
50 (government claim)
Turaymisah operation
Date12 July 2012
Location
Turaymisah, Syria
Result Syrian Army victory[1]
Belligerents
Free Syrian Army

Syria Syrian government

Strength
250-300 (government claim)[2] 800 (opposition claim)
Casualties and losses
50 rebels killed (opposition claim)[3] 3 soldiers killed (government claim)[4]
no civilian casualties (government claim)[5]
103-150 killed overall (SOHR claim)[1][6][7]
220 killed overall (Hama Revolutionary Council)[7][8]
305 killed overall (SNC claim)[9]
280 killed, 200 missing (LCC claim)[10]

The Turaymisah killings or Tremseh killings (Template:Lang-ar) was a reported massacre against armed rebels, claimed by the opposition, during a military operation that took place in Turaymisah, Syria, in the late hours of 12 July 2012 during the Syrian uprising.[11] On 14 July, 2012 the UN observer mission issued a statement, based on the investigation by its team that went to the town, that the Syrian military mainly targeted the homes of rebels and activists contradicting claims of a civilian massacre.[12] [13]

Events

A Syrian Army convoy was ambushed by rebels near Hama, which led to a counter-attack from the Syrian Army, and reports suggested government troops were trying to take back the town from rebel forces.[14][15]

The Local Coordination Committees in Hama and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Syrian Army and the Shabiha, backed by tanks and attack helicopters, entered the town of Turaymisah, after a rebel withdrawal, and summarily executed over a hundred people. Initial reports put the death toll at more than 100.[16] Lol. Later reports said the death toll of the massacre to be between 220 and 250,[8][17][18] when over 150 dead bodies were found in the local mosque after Syrian army forces left.[19] The people in the mosque, who tried to find shelter there, apparently died when the building was shelled and then collapsed on them.[20]

A number of the dead were reportedly rebels,[21][22] which was confirmed by the opposition group SOHR by stating that dozens of the dead were rebel fighters,[23] including Lieutenant Ibrahim Zuait al-Tarkawai.[24] Jaafar, a Sham News Network opposition activist, said that only seven civilians and 30 rebels were killed.[25][21] This was in line with the military's claim of killing a "big number of terrorists".[26] SOHR put the overall death toll at 150, with only 40 confirmed dead by name thus far.[6] A villager who managed to escape the area said that Alawite militiamen entered after Syrian rebels retreated from the area and committed the massacre. The survivor said that houses and mosques were set ablaze by the government forces.[27]

The Syrian government denied responsibility, saying that the massacre was perpetrated by "armed gangs" and that three members of the security forces were killed fighting them. The government also gave a lower figure of 50 civilians being killed.[22] The Syrian government subsequently retracted the claim and denied that any civilians died at all, saying that they "had carried out a special operation against rebel forces killing many rebels and capturing dozens of others," adding that no civilians were killed.[28]

An opposition member was quoted as saying, “It appears that Alawite militiamen (Shabiha) from surrounding villages descended on Turaymisah after its rebel defenders pulled out, and started killing the people. Whole houses have been destroyed and burned from the shelling."[29]

Another was quoted as saying, "Around 6:00 AM of Thursday morning, Assad forces surrounded the village with heavy weaponry and tanks, more than 800 soldiers of Assad forces were in the mission, after couple of hours, they started arbitrary artillery shelling on the village. People fled their home to seek shelters in school and the mosque. Assad forces shelled the school and the mosque causing collapses in the buildings which resulted in tens of deaths. Shabiha from the surrounding villages came to support Assad forces and to kill more of the village people, which escalate the number of victims in this massacre."[30]

The UN observer mission head, Robert Mood, said that the Syrian army was still conducting assaults with heavy weapons around the town the following day.[31]

Kofi Annan confirmed that the Syrian army used heavy weaponry such as tanks, artillery shelling and attack helicopters against the town, and requested a temporary ceasefire to be installed so that monitors could investigate the massacre.[32]

By the evening of 13 July 2012, the opposition Syrian National Council claimed a new total figure of 305 killed.[9] However, at the same time, other opposition activists backed away from their earlier estimates of over 200 dead. One local activist stated that he had confirmed 74 deaths, but had only 20 names. Another provided a list of 103 names.[33] Others also said the death toll may have been less but was certainly over 100.[34]

On 14 July 2012, the facts over the event remained unclear with new details emerging that would indicate that what was called a massacre was more of a battle between the military and opposition fighters that ended in a defeat for the rebels. Videos, televised confessions of captured fighters and reports from non-local activists backed up this version. The videos of the victims that have emerged showed mostly young men of fighting age. Another video was said to show a group of rebel reinforcements heading to Tremseh, all of them armed young men in civilian clothes. A team of UN observers was sent to the town to investigate. It was pointed out that while previous massacres were usually followed by long lists of names and videos of killed civilians emerging at the same time, as well as corroboration by UN observers who would fault the Syrian Army, this was not so in this case. Some opposition groups still claimed a large number of civilian deaths happened while others put the death toll at far less and stated most were rebels. The opposition activist group SOHR stated that it had been able to confirm only 103 deaths, 90 percent of them young men, and the group's director, Rami Abdul-Rahman, said that the majority of people killed in Tremseh were either rebel fighters from the town or from surrounding towns.[1][35] Later, he was more precise, stating that at least 50 rebels were killed.[3] The opposition activist group VDC confirmed, by this point, the names of only 18 people to have been killed.[36]

Late on 14 July, the UN observer mission issued a statement, based on the investigation by its team that went to the town, that the Syrian military mainly targeted the homes of rebels and activists contradicting claims of a civilian massacre.[12][13] Opposition activists gave a new revised figure of 103 to 152 dead but stated they were expecting the number to rise because, according to them, hundreds of were people were unaccounted for and locals believed many bodies remained in the fields that were close to army checkpoints or were disposed of into the Orontes River. The UN observers could not immediately determine the total number of casualties and announced they would return to the area the next day to further investigate.[3]

Reactions

International

  •  United Nations – U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the massacre, stating that he is “outraged” by reports of horrific mass killings.[37] UN-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan also condemned the massacre and stated that Syrian forces had used heavy weaponry.[32]
  •  Canada – Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird noted Canada was appalled by the killings, and encouraged further action from the international community. "Canada urges all members of the UN Security Council to come to agreement on a resolution that will impose tough, binding economic sanctions against the regime."[38]
  •  France – The French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero argued that the Syrian government must take the "first step towards a cessation of violence" as evidenced by the tragedy.[39]
  •  Iraq – Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the killings and described the deaths as an "ugly massacre". In a statement on his official website he said "The ugly massacre that took place in Tremseh town, in Hama province, provokes feelings of concern and condemnation. This reprehensible crime, which we condemn strongly ... should be an additional incentive for everyone to abandon the methods of violence, murder, revenge and terrorism in solving problems."[40]
  •  People's Republic of China - China strongly condemned the massacre. Liu Weimin, spokesman of Chinese Foreign Ministry said "China has always strongly denounced actions that harm innocent civilians. We hope the concerned Syrian parties should take concrete measures and fulfill their commitment to cease violence as soon as possible".[41]
  •  Russia – Russian Foreign Ministry said the massacre served the interests of those who supported a sectarian conflict in Syria, but did not directly apportion blame.[31]
  •  Turkey – Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the massacre saying "This is another example of Syrian regime's attacks and massacres on its own people. We strongly condemn and curse the killing of nearly 200 innocent civilians, most of them women and children". The statement said the massacre had shown that the Syrian regime had lost all legitimacy and it had to be stopped at once for the sake of regional and international security. The statement also urged Security Council "to take necessary steps immediately".[42]
  •  United Kingdom – UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the alleged massacre in Tremseh as "shocking and appalling".[43]
  •  USA – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a press release and stated that she was deeply saddened and outraged to learn of reports of yet another massacre committed by the Syrian regime in Turaymisah.[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Neil MacFarquhar (14 July 2012). "Details of a Battle Challenge Reports of a Syrian Massacre". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  2. ^ Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria - syria news (28 February 2012). "Terrorists al-Younes and Darwish: Gunmen Spread Across al-Treimseh Based on Orders and Before Army Forces Entered It". Sana.sy. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Syria UN Observers Investigate Reported Tremseh Massacre
  4. ^ Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria - syria news (28 February 2012). "SANA: Terrorists Overrun al-Treimseh and Perpetrate a Massacre". Sana.sy. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. ^ Syrian Arab News Agency: SANA, Damascus Syria - syria news. "The Armed Forces Carry out "Qualitative Operation" in al-Treimseh and Causes Heavy Losses among Terrorists". Sana.sy. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Activist claims Syria massacre dead mostly rebels; videos show victims". Al Arabiya. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  7. ^ a b Elali, Nadine (13 July 2012). "Exclusive: An eyewitness to the Treimsa massacre". Now Lebanon. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Syrian activists report new massacre". Al Jazeera. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  9. ^ a b "More than 300 people feared killed in Syria's bloodiest massacre". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: An eyewitness to the Treimsa massacre". Nowlebanon.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  11. ^ Borger, Julian (13 July 2012). "Syria: at least 200 killed in Hama province massacre, say activists". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  12. ^ a b Tremseh killings targeted rebels – UN monitors, RT, 2012-07-15
  13. ^ a b Syria: Tremseh killings targeted rebels, UN says
  14. ^ "Syrian army shelling 'kills more than 100' in Tremseh". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  15. ^ "Tough sanctions urged after Syria village killings". The Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Report: At least 100 killed in Syrian village". Ynetnews.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Syrian opposition reports 'massacre' in Hama province". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  18. ^ Betty, David (12 July 2012). "Syrian opposition activists: more than 200 dead in Hama village massacre". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Syrian forces commit new massacre in Hama; Russia rejects new U.N. draft resolution". English.alarabiya.net. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Syrian troops massacre more than 200: rebel leader". Thejakartaglobe.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  21. ^ a b UN meetings and Syrian massacres: Timing is everything, RT, 2012-07-14
  22. ^ a b "Syria crisis: Conflicting reports of Tremseh killings". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  23. ^ "Syria activists: Regime killed scores in village". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  24. ^ Oliver Holmes Reuters 6:24 a.m. CDT, July 14, 2012 (13 July 2012). "Syrian opposition reports massacre of 220 civilians". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Syria massacre dead mostly rebels, activists say". Now Lebanon. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  26. ^ Jim Muir. "Syria unrest: Kofi Annan shocked at Tremseh 'atrocities'". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  27. ^ DPA. "200 massacred in Hama, claim Syrian activists". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  28. ^ AFP. "'Terrorists, no civilians' killed in Treimsa: Syria army". Dawn.Com. Retrieved 14 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "19 hours ago" ignored (help)
  29. ^ Khaled Yacoub Oweis and Erika Solomon Reuters. "Syria: 200 killed in new massacre". Thestar.com. Retrieved 14 July 012. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  30. ^ "Hama activist describes massacre". Blogs.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  31. ^ a b "U.N. says massacre 'extension' of Syria air force operation; Russia condemns killings". Al Arabiya. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  32. ^ a b "Annan condemns Syria massacre, says Assad forces have used heavy weaponry". Al Arabiya. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  33. ^ Elizabeth A. Kennedy and Zeina Karam. "UN blames regime forces for Syria massacre". Onlineathens.com. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  34. ^ "Death, Grief in Syrian Village, US Cries 'Murder'". This Day Live. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  35. ^ Syria: UN observers probe Tremseh killing
  36. ^ "Violations Documenting Center" (in Arabic). Violations Documenting Center. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  37. ^ "Ban and UN-Arab League envoy condemn latest attacks on Syrian civilians". Global Security. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  38. ^ "UN blames Syrian massacre on regime forces - World - CBC News". CBC News. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  39. ^ Constantine, Zoi (14 July 2012). "Syrian regime condemned for Tremseh massacre". The National. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  40. ^ [http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp? xfile=data/middleeast/2012/July/middleeast_July166.xml&section=middleeast&col= Maliki’s Syria stance slammed]
  41. ^ "China strongly condemns Syria massacre". CNTV. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  42. ^ "Turkey condemns massacre in Syria's Hama". Anadolu Agency. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  43. ^ "Syria crisis: Tremseh 'massacre' - Friday 13 July 2012". The Guardian. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  44. ^ "Assad Regime Massacre in Traymseh" (Press release). US Departent of State. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

35°16′23″N 36°30′17″E / 35.27306°N 36.50472°E / 35.27306; 36.50472

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