The Syrian National Council Warns Against the Regime’s Plans to Commit a Massacre in Homs

Evidence received from reports, videos and information obtained by activists on the ground in Homs, indicate that the regime paving the way to commit a massacre in order to extinguish the Revolution in Homs and to discipline by example, other Syrian cities that have joined the Revolution.

The regime is driving violent sectarian incidents to justify this potential murder. The regime has tried hard to ignite the sectarian conflict using many dirty methods, which have included bombing and burning mosques, torturing and killing young men, and kidnapping women and children. The regime also took a significant step today that in burning oil pipelines in the neighborhood of Baba Amr to blame what the regime calls “armed gangs” in an attempt to crush the peaceful uprising on the pretext of a war on terrorism.

The information received in this regard from the people of Homs indicates that a large number of military troops and vehicles have surrounded the city. The number of troops is estimated to be in the thousands, along with a large number of heavy duty military vehicles. The regime forces have also set up more than 60 checkpoints just inside the city of Homs around the different neighborhoods.  These are all signs of a security crackdown operation that may reach the level of a total invasion of the city.

We warn of the consequences of committing such a crime that could result in a massive number of casualties. We also reaffirm our knowledge and the world’s knowledge of the extent of the brutality of this regime and the possibility of a recurrence of major crimes it has committed, such as those committed in Hama in 1982. We hold accountable the regime, and behind it the Arab League and the International Community of what could happen to innocent civilians in the next few hours or days, and the implications for the region as a whole in the near future.

The Syrian National Council also calls on all relevant international organizations and human rights organizations to take immediate action to pressure the international forums to provide immediate protection to civilians in Homs in particular, and throughout Syria in general.