Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh
| Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Civil uprising phase of the Syrian civil war | |
| Location | Rastan and Talbiseh, Syria |
| Planned by | Gen. Maher al-Assad Gen. Yousef Ismail Gen. Ali Hamdan |
| Target | Opposition protestors |
| Date | 28 May – 4 June 2011 |
| Executed by |
|
| Outcome | Protests suppressed |
| Casualties |
74 civilians killed |
74 civilians killed
The Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh was an operation by the Syrian Army during the Syrian uprising. On 28 May 2011, after major protests, the Syrian Army launched an operation in al-Rastan, a city of an estimated 50,000 residents 20 kilometers north of Homs, and the neighboring town of Talbiseh, which resulted in the suppression of the protests and numerous deaths. The Syrian Army met some armed opposition during the operation.
In mid-April, large protests began in Rastan and the neighboring town of Talbiseh. On 29 April, some 50 members of the ruling Ba'ath Party resigned in Rastan. Soon after, while notice of the resignations was being read out at a large protest, the Military Intelligence allegedly shot and killed 17 demonstrators. A week later, about 100 tanks and troop transporters converged on and encircled the town of Rastan, after anti-government protesters toppled a statue of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and pledged to press ahead with their protests despite sweeping arrests by Bashar al-Assad's government. Throughout May, protests continued in Rastan and the neighboring areas.
On Saturday 28 May, the Syrian military entered the towns of Rastan and Talbiseh, a day after their biggest demonstrations so far. The opposition reported shooting in Talbiseh and said that soldiers were breaking into homes and arresting people. The operation started after the security forces cut-off all water supplies, electricity and telecommunications in the area and blocked all roads leading to the two towns. On Sunday, a mortar shell hit a school bus carrying children in Talbiseh, residents told Al Jazeera. An ambulance trying to rescue them was also targeted, but the wounded students were eventually allowed to be transported to the nearest hospital in Deir Balba, they said.
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