Syrian fighters leave shattered Baba Amro

BEIRUT: Defeated Syrian rebels left their shattered stronghold in Homs yesterday after a bloody 26-day army siege aimed at crushing a symbol of the year-long revolt against President Bashar al-assad.

Activists said a few fighters had stayed on in Baba Amro, which has endured weeks of shelling, sniper fire and privation, to cover their comrades’ “tactical withdrawal”.

Soon afterward, the International Red Cross said Syrian authorities had finally given it permission to take aid into the district today.

“The Free Syrian Army and all the other fighters have left Baba Amro,” one activist said. “They pulled out.” A pro-government figure proclaimed that troops had “broken the back” of the rebellion and that the fall of Baba Amro heralded impending victory over a Western-backed insurgency.

A statement in the name of the fighters urged the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups to enter Baba Amro to protect and bring aid to 4 000 civilians who had stayed in their destroyed houses.

“We warn the regime against any retaliation against civilians and we hold it fully responsible for their safety,” the statement said, adding that the rebels had been forced to leave because they were short of supplies and ammunition.

The ICRC said it had received a “green light” from the Syrian authorities to enter Baba Amro today.

One activist said Syrian sol-

Red Cross given green light to bring aid to district today

diers had begun moving into Baba Amro from all directions after most of the fighters left, and were hunting the rest.

At least 17 rebels were put to death with knives after they were chased into nearby fields, he said. Scattered gunfire could be heard inside Baba Amro and sporadic shelling hit nearby districts. The overall level of combat exchanges seemed to have receded.

The drama in Homs unfolded without any immedi- ate comment from Syrian officials or the state media, but Taleb Ibrahim, a Syrian analyst close to the government, said the military’s operation in Homs had “broken the back of the armed groups”.

“It’s the beginning of Syria’s final victory over the Qatari, Saudi, French, American and Zionist conspiracy against Syria,” he said.

There was no immediate word on the fate of wounded French reporter Edith Bouvier and French photographer William Daniels, who had been among a group of journalists trapped in Baba Amro.

Two of these, US correspondent Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik, were killed in a bombardment a week ago.

Two others escaped into Lebanon.