On the ground with the Free Syrian Army

Foreign journalists have been mostly unable to work in Syria since the uprising began last March and a harsh government crackdown ensued. Two undercover FRANCE 24 reporters provide an exclusive report of conditions on the ground.

By Adel GASTEL / Karim HAKIKI (video)
FRANCE 24 (text)

With the Syrian authorities’ harsh crackdown on a citizen uprising that began last March, foreign journalists have been mostly unable to work in the country. The death of French cameraman Gilles Jacquier in the restive city of Homs earlier this year came as a harsh reminder of the risks run by those who have tried to report on the conflict between President Bashar al-Assad’s government and protesters.

RUSSIA SAYS WILL NOT BACK UN CALL FOR ASSAD TO GO

Russia said Friday it will not support any United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down from power, warning that an early vote on a new Western-backed text was doomed to failure.

The Security Council, where Russia wields veto power, was due to gather later Friday to consider backing an Arab League initiative to end a crisis that the UN estimates has claimed more than 5,400 lives.

But FRANCE 24 reporters Adel Gastel and Karim Hakiki went undercover and were able to enter the northern Syrian town of Binnish for an exclusive report. They spoke to members of the Free Syrian Army, who said they had succeeded against all odds in driving out heavily armed government snipers.

The footage below of a conversation between FRANCE 24 reporter Karim Hakiki and a soldier from the Free Syrian Army is the first in a series of reports from Syria to be aired this week.