Social Media Monitor: A Bloody Day in Damascus

Four explosions took place in Damascus on Thursday, February 21, causing the death of some 90 people and leaving scores injured. The most violent of these was the bombing that targeted a Baath party headquarter in Al-Mazraa district, which killed more than fifty people.

Opposition supporters presented a number of interpretations of the incident. Activist Ali Atassi suggested that the explosion, which caused some damage to the Russian embassy, was a message from the regime to deter Russia from withdrawing its support to Assad.

".… What could be better than a bombing near the Russian embassy that would harm innocent Syrians and terrify the Russians to make them renew [their support]"
“.… What could be better than a bombing near the Russian embassy that would harm innocent Syrians and terrify the Russians to make them renew [their support]”

Abd Aidy, an activist at the relief organization Najda Now, suggested that the regime is responsible for its role in creating instability.

"The regime bears the full responsibility of the Damascus explosions today, as well as every explosion that is taking place in Syria, even if it was perpetrated by unknown parties. The regime is responsible for driving the country to this painful situation."
“The regime bears the full responsibility of the Damascus explosions today, as well as every explosion that is taking place in Syria, even if it was perpetrated by unknown parties. The regime is responsible for driving the country to this painful situation.”

Scriptwriter Fadi Qoshaqji, who is not affiliated with the opposition, denounced the attack in a comment on Facebook:

"A single drop of blood that was shed today, a single wound or a single scream from a bereaved mother…would matter more to me than politics... May the martyrs rest in peace and damn all the murderers and gloaters, as well as whoever asks for more killing."
“A single drop of blood that was shed today, a single wound or a single scream from a bereaved mother…would matter more to me than politics… May the martyrs rest in peace and damn all the murderers and gloaters, as well as whoever asks for more killing.”

SCUD missiles shower Aleppo

The regime has escalated its use of SCUD missile that are launched from the headquarters of the 155th brigade in the Qatifah area outside Damascus, according to the opposition activists. The Syrian Minister of Information Omran al-Zoabi denied that the regime is firing ballistic missiles.

Videos are circulating on YouTube show destruction that activist say is caused by SCUD missiles in the quarters of Tariq Al-Bab and Al-Ard Al-Hamra in Aleppo and the city of Maadan in Al-Raqqa province.

The governor of the Iraqi province of Nineveh said on Friday, March 1 that a Syrian SCUD missile landed in the area of Tellafar near the border with Syria.

The London-based journalist Moussa al-Omar sarcastically commented on the fact that these missiles are targeting Syrian territories instead of Israel, Syria’s declared enemy.

"We would really like to see just one missile falling on Tel Aviv; consider it a Syrian province!"
“We would really like to see just one missile falling on Tel Aviv; consider it a Syrian province!”

The ex-spokesman of the Syrian National Council Radwan Ziadeh described the use of SCUD missiles against civilian areas a sign of Assad’s madness.

"As time passes, it is obvious that Assad has a grudge against Syria; he has destroyed it, killed its people and eradicated its historical memory. When we see the destruction left by the SCUD missiles we are certain that he is a madman and a traitor."
“As time passes, it is obvious that Assad has a grudge against Syria; he has destroyed it, killed its people and eradicated its historical memory. When we see the destruction left by the SCUD missiles we are certain that he is a madman and a traitor.”

Activist Imad al-Abbar blamed the international community for remaining silent about this shelling:

"Some say that that the international community should deter the regime from using air force and ballistic missiles because afterwards the regime will not hesitate to use chemical weapons, and only then the world will feel sorry for its silence … I'm almost certain that that's exactly what the international community wants for Syria – [the destruction of] both the regime and the people. Is there any favour [for the international community] that is more valuable than Syria's self-destruction? I think even the Israelis never dreamt of a day like this!"
“Some say that that the international community should deter the regime from using air force and ballistic missiles because afterwards the regime will not hesitate to use chemical weapons, and only then the world will feel sorry for its silence … I’m almost certain that that’s exactly what the international community wants for Syria – [the destruction of] both the regime and the people. Is there any favour [for the international community] that is more valuable than Syria’s self-destruction? I think even the Israelis never dreamt of a day like this!”

TV icon Yassine Baqqoush killed

"Farewell Yassine" – Facebook
“Farewell Yassine” – Facebook

The well-known Syrian and pan-Arab comedian Yassine Baqqoush was killed on Sunday, February 24. A YouTube video shows his body laid down by his car, while a commentator was saying that “al-Assad gangs” targeted his car in Al-Assali district with a rocket-propelled grenade. The Syrian government TV accused “terrorists” of targeting Baqqoush with a mortar shell. Comments made by opposition supporters on social media outlets suggested that Baqqoush was a supporter of the opposition, and a YouTube video shows FSA fighters having a friendly conversation with him as he crossed one of their checkpoints near Al-Yarmouk camp in Damascus.

Baqqoush was known since the 1960s for his secondary role in television series starring actor Dureyd Lahham, who has sided with the regime since the start of the events in Syria. But Baqqoush and Lahham have now switched roles, according to the Jordanian TV presenter Suad Qatanani.

"…Today Baqqoush has taken the leading role when he became a martyr, while Lahham is an extra waiting at the doorstep of the regime."
“…Today Baqqoush has taken the leading role when he became a martyr, while Lahham is an extra waiting at the doorstep of the regime.”

Script writer and political activist Rima Flihan also mourned Baqqoush, saying:

"…His name has moved from the opening credits to the roll of honour…rest in peace Yassine Baqqoush"
“…His name has moved from the opening credits to the roll of honour…rest in peace Yassine Baqqoush”

Father Paolo Dall’Oglio in Syria again

Dall'Oglio visiting the cemetery in Tal Abiad, escorted by FSA fighters
Dall’Oglio visiting the cemetery in Tal Abiad, escorted by FSA fighters

A short YouTube video that was published on Friday, February 22 shows the Italian Jesuit priest Paolo Dall’Oglio addressing a number of Syrians holding the revolution flag in the city of Tal Abiad, in the north-eastern province of Raqqa, which is under the control of FSA. In the video, Dall’Oglio appears saying that he is “among his people and in his country.”

 In a longer version that was circulated on Facebook, Dall’Oglio appears talking about the struggle against the regime as “our mission.”

The Syrian government expelled Dall’Oglio in June 2012 for supporting the opposition. He had spent 28 years in Syria and was noted for his role in renovating the ancient Mar Mousa monastery in the countryside outside Damascus.