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  • P 02-Jan-2013

An Appeal From James’ Family

Unidentified gunmen kidnapped journalist James Foley in northwest Syria on Thanksgiving Day, November 22 2012.

Jim is the oldest of five children. He has reported independently and objectively from the Middle East for the past five years. Prior to his work as a journalist, Jim helped empower disadvantaged individuals as a teacher and mentor assisting them in improving their lives.

The family appeals for the release of Jim unharmed.

اختطفت مجموعة من المسلحين المجهولي الهوية الصحفي جيمس فولي في شمال غرب سوريا في عيد الشكر بتاريخ 22 نوفمبر 2012.

وجيمس هو أكبر إخوته الخمسة ويمارس عمله الصحفي في منطقة الشرق الأوسط بشكل مستقل وموضوعي منذ خمسة أعوام. وقبل عمله كصحافي، ساعد جيمس على تمكين الأفراد المحرومين فعمل كمدرس ومرشد لتحسين أوضاعهم المعيشية.

وتدعو عائلة الصحافي جيمس مختطفيه لإطلاق سراحه بدون أي أذى.

The Foley Family
+1 617-501-5484 | Call via Skype | info@freejamesfoley.org
freejamesfoley.org

Homemade rebel weapons – from slingshots to car bombs

The Syrian conflict has hosted increasingly desperate and sometimes sophisticated homemade weapons. In the Old City of Aleppo we saw plenty of homemade grenades being used- basically a pipe bomb with a fuse that the fighters were more than happy to throw for the camera.

More interesting, this giant sling shot was used to fling homemade grenades at the regime postions. It looks fun, but a few days later one of the fighters admitted a friend blew off his arm when he held the lit bomb for too long.

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Misadventure in Laramoon

One thing you shouldn’t do in Syria is take a trip in bad vehicle. There’s enough things that will go wrong. Especially don’t ride in a SUV that’s been rolled several times and has no windows and is painted in FSA colors. Especially when you will have to drive for hours through the Kurdish countryside. When it’s raining.

We were attempting to go to Laramoon, the suburb north of Aleppo where the FSA had taken a regime checkpoint and apparently had the Air Force intelligence center surrounded. We arrived wet and cold and the commanders promptly told us all filming/photographing was prohibited. This happens sometimes and it really sucks. They tell you how dangerous it is, usually true, but don’t tell you the other reasons- whether it’s because Islamists are control on the front, they believe all foreign reporters are spies, they generally resent your presence for your country not intervening in Syria etc.

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Destruction continues in Aleppo

The front lines in Syria’s largest city have become static over the last weeks. Rebels make pushes on targets of opportunity, attacking checkpoints and the airport. Meanwhile, the regime seems to be relying on airpower, mortars and an endless supply of ammunition to punish the “free” areas of Aleppo, where electricity and commerce are slowly returning. The people are getting on with it, while the war has no end is sight.

Civilians continue to be slaughtered in airstrikes. Four men are killed in an airstrike on Bab al Halab, Aleppo on 11-5. A mother and son grieve over the husband’s body.

0:00-4.4 Man weeping for brother killed in airstrike outside Dar al Shifaa hospital, Aleppo, 11-5

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  • Latest News
  • P 12-Nov-2012

Austin Tice’s parents appeal for freelancer’s release from Syria

Freelance reporter Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for going on 90 days. Today his parents held a press conference in Lebanon to appeal for his release.

Marc Tice said the family has been in touch “indirectly and directly” with Syrian government officials, but “they have indicated to us they don’t know where Austin is.”

We who met Austin in the field were impressed by his commitment to reporting on the Syrian conflict. WE continue to pray for him and work for his release.

Battle for Harem

Harem, a town of some 20,000, miles from the Turkish border has seen heavy fighting for some two weeks. FSA units have almost surrounded the Syrian Army inside an ancient citadel above Harem, but the Army is using helicopter and plane airpower to attack rebel positions below. Also, Shabiha (Assad gangs) allegedly control the central road leading to the citadel. The FSA have tried to mount coordinated attacks using mortars from the mountains and anti-aircraft guns aimed at the citadel. On Oct 30-31 we observed several FSA wounded and at least three killed in the fighting. Meanwhile the town is without electricity or running water.
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  • children flee sounds of bombing in Aleppo (Zac Baille/AFP)

Civilians in Aleppo growing impatient

ALEPPO, Syria — Behind the mansion they were occupying, a group of half-naked rebels whooped with joy as they cannonballed into the murky, half-filled swimming pool.

It was July in the small town of Anadan, about 10 miles from Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. Anadan was a ghost town, deserted except for the Free Syrian Army and the sounds of the near constant barrage of regime shelling.

The junior commander, an illiterate 24-year old, joked that while the war raged all around it, the people of Aleppo were only concerned about their barbecues. He swore the rebels scrabbling through the countryside would soon make their way to Aleppo. He promised Aleppo would burn.

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