As Assad forces continue to attack the city of Homs, The Syrian Coalition strongly urges and reminds the international community of their responsibility to protect the Syrian people from Assad’s constant assault with artillery and his usage of chemical weapons. We stress the need for an immediate response, including the opening of an emergency humanitarian corridor to remove innocent civilians remaining in the city.

The Syrian Coalition previously warned that Assad would use chemical weapons in Homs to punish those who want freedom. Over the past several hours, there has been violent bombardment with heavy artillery on Homs. We ask the international community to respond to these atrocities and exercise its full capabilities to protect the Syrian people from the Assad regime’s criminal acts.

Yesterday, Assad, with the support of Hezbollah militia, launched hundreds of rockets and continues with a campaign of severe mortar shelling. Videos released by activists show the regime shelling of the Al Khalidiyah neighborhood using new types of missiles, chemical weapons, and incendiary elements.
 
Below you will find a group of videos taken on July 5, 2013 documenting the events unfolding in Homs:

• Gases used in besieged Homs that cause unknown burns to the body, July 5, 2013
• Khalidiya neighborhood in Homs is suffocating due to heavy shelling and gasses, Warning: video difficult to watch, July 5, 2013
• Field hospital overcrowded with injured people as a result of the bombing of toxic gases in the Khalidiya neighborhood of Homs, July 5, 2013
• The regime set forests and horticulture on fire in the neighbourhood of Al Waer in Homs, July 5, 2013:

PHOTO: Ahmad Jarba has been elected the President of The National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces. He was born in 1969, in the city of Qamishli in Syria and was educated in the public school system. He holds a law degree from the University of Beirut.

Because of his anti-regime stance, Jarba was arrested, detained and questioned in the beginning of the revolution, in March 2011, by Syria’s notorious Intelligence agents.

Jarba has been supporting the Syrian revolution, providing medical and military aid, since the beginning of the revolution. He has also been a key figure in establishing political diplomacy. Jarba is also a member of the Syrian National Council and a founding member of the Syrian Coalition.