Syria: Soldiers Clash with Rebels

Fighting between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and rebels in northern Syria has intensified over the past month, as at least 23 people were killed on Saturday. At least 15 are reported dead in the northwestern province of Idlib, where fighting lasted for three hours, as the The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said “seven members of the security forces were killed, along with five army defectors.” The fighting comes a day after the U.N. urged the international community to protect Syrian civilians and “condemned Syria for “gross and systematic” violations by its forces, including executions and the imprisonment of some 14,000 people.”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden warned that the events in Syria could ignite regional instability, and stated “We stand with Turkey and a growing chorus of nations in calling for President Assad to step aside.” Biden also called on Turkey to implement sanctions on Syria, with State Department Spokesperson Mark Toner adding “our goal and the goal of these sanctions, rather, is to apply pressure directly on Asad’s regime, on their ability to purchase new arms to use against the opposition.” However, some Syrians are expressing concern over the sanctions as they are hurting the declining economy, with one Syrian noting “this is a way to make us starve to punish the president.”