Syria Today: Turkey "Backs US-Enforced No-Fly Zone"

Turkish PM Erdoğan1513 GMT: American Ambassador Meets with Opposition inside Syria.

US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, crossed the Syrian border yesterday and met with opposition leaders. What's interesting is that Ford arrived in Turkey after meeting with Russian officials in Moscow. ABC reports:

It is Ford's first visit back to Syria since he left in February, 2012, when the U.S. embassy suspended operations in Damascus as the opposition effort to oust Syrian President Bashar al Assad developed into a full-blown civil war. Since then, Ford has become the Obama administration's point man on Syria and point of contact with the Syrian opposition.

A U.S. official confirmed Ford's secret visit, which occurred along the Turkey-Syria border. He briefly crossed into Syria to meet with opposition leaders before returning to Turkey. Ford did not go deep into Syria, according to the official.

"It was literally just across the border," the official said.

A State Department official confirmed that Ford had "spent some time" at a border crossing to discuss the situation in Syria with members of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian opposition. Ford had gone to the border to participate in the U.S. government's delivery of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) that the U.S. is providing to the Syrian Coalition and Supreme Military Council.

What was on the agenda? Many Syrian oppositions leaders expressed serious doubts over the announcement, made by US Secretary of State John Kerry, that the US and Russia desired to negotiate a political settlement to this crisis. Ford was possibly sent to Syria to allay those concerns. In fact, Robert Ford just released a statement, in Arabic, saying that the American position that Assad needs to step down has not changed:

US Amb to #Syria Robert Ford tapes video in Arabic emphasizing that #Assad +"circle" have no place in transition gov. youtube.com/watch?v=QP9Ymn…

— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) May 10, 2013

John Kerry also expressed today that "In our judgement, President Assad will not be a component of that transitional government."

!506 GMT: Turkey to Screen for Chemical Weapons.

Turkey is deploying a team of experts to the border in order to scan wounded Syrians for signs of chemical weapons attacks.

The civil defence team, equipped with a specialist vehicle which can detect evidence of chemical, biological and nuclear substances, has been stationed at the Cilvegozu border gate near the town of Reyhanli, Anatolian said.

This team may be able to detect the presence of chemical weapons ealier, but also may be able to cut down on false rumors, several of which have spread in Turkish tabloids over the last two weeks.

1429 GMT: Cameron's Meeting With Putin Ends

British news outlets were quick to report UK premier David Cameron's comment that the "history of Syria is being written in the blood of their people":

"History of Syria being written in blood of its people" - @david_cameron says, after meeting Russian President Putin bbc.in/10wRI0q

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 10, 2013

In contrast, the Russian press is so far leading with the more anodyne fact that Russian president Vladimir Putin has invited Cameron to view preparations for the Sochi Olympics.

RT did go on to report that Cameron and Putin discussed "other issues" such as the development of bilateral trade, and Syria.

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Warsaw that Moscow would not supply prohibited offensive weapons to Bashar al-Assad, Interfax reported. Lavrov reiterated that Russia was only supplying equipment on past contracts, mainly air defenses.

1443 GMT: Hezbollah & Regime Fighters Surround Key City.

Assad forces and HEzbollah fighters have nearly surrounded the town of Qusayr, south of Homs. Today, leaflets were dropped on the city from aircraft warning civilians to leave and rebels to surrender, according the AFP:

Troops backed by fighters from the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah have advanced throughout the area around Qusayr, which fell to the rebels more than a year ago.

Activists said Qusayr is surrounded by government forces on three sides, and that approximately 25,000 residents are believed to still be in the city.

The area has been a strategic boon to the rebels, who used it as a base from which to block the main road from Damascus to the coast, impeding military movement and supply chains.

1423 GMT: Damascus Bombed, but Protests Continue.

Every Friday for the last 787 days, Syrians have taken to the streets to protest against the rule of President Bashar al Assad. At first, Syrian protesters called for reform. Then the Syrian streets called for the resignation of President Assad. As the violence escalated, protesters chanted for the execution of the President. In fact, every Friday's protest has a theme, voted on by activists in a Facebook poll. Today's theme roughly translates to "Freedom from Sectarian Genocide in Syria," a reference to the horrific killings in Banias.

In Damascus, the bombs are falling all across the eastern districts. The LCC has posted videos of injured civilians in Kaferbatna after shells fell, fires burning in Zamalka, and plumes of smoke rising up in East Ghouta. Just a few kilometers away, however, a large protest rally was reportedly held in Irbin:

But then there is this video, reportedly taken today in nearby Douma, where dozens of explosions have filled the city with smoke:

Protesting, and just living, in Syria is a very dangerous activity.

But hope remains. Here is today's message from Kafranbel, written in English, French, and German: "We, the Syrians, never wallow in the valley of despair."

A young boy in Yadouda:

A young boy in Kobani, Aleppo, expresses a similar sentiment:

The Kurdish city of Kobani- Banner... #GenocideInBanyas twitter.com/iRevolt93/stat…

— A (@iRevolt93) May 10, 2013

1415 GMT: Russia Won't Deliver Advanced Missiles.

Yesterday there were reports that Russia was planning on sending Syria the advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Now, Itar-Tass news agency reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied this. According to the report, Lavrov said that Russia would fulfill current arms sales contracts, but the S-300 was not included in those contracts.

there exists, however, a conflicting report:

AFP: #Russia is finalizing delivery of missiles to #Syria, #Lavrov says

— NOW English (@NOW_eng) May 10, 2013

1444 GMT: Russia Quiet On Putin's Talks With Cameron.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is in Sochi for a working meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin on SyriaRussian news agency, with both leaders expected to give statements after the meeting. Meanwhile, Russian news agency RT has published an editorial by a political analyst criticizing Cameron's position on Syria as out of step with other world leaders.

State news agency Interfax dismisses Cameron in another way, by reporting only that Putin planned to invite the British premier to view Russia's preparations for the Sochi Olympics.

1329 GMT: Rebel Offensive in Idlib.

Another area that is under rebel attack is just west of Al Neirba, in a brick factory that has been commandeered by the Assad regime in order to guard the road south of Idlib (map). The area has been under heavy rebel bombardment for more than a day now, and videos show more rebel artillery and rockets focused on taking the checkpoint. Another video shows a rebel flatbed truck equipped with a heavy machinegun firing on the base.

It is very early in this offensive, but it appears that the rebels have effectively closed off the highways to the south. If they can remove this checkpoint and capture Neirab, they will control a critical stretch of road in central Idlib province.

1315 GMT: Rebels Launch Offensive to Take Idlib.

The "Retaliation for Banias" offensive has begun. Massive battles are being fought in the ring of towns that surround Idlib city, the provincial capital held by the Assad regime. Rebel forces have converged from the mountains to the west and the towns to the north, east, and south, and have brought an impressive array of firepower to the battle. With several key Assad airbases tied down with their own problems, and with the Assad offensive to retake Ma'arrat al Nouman to the south stopped, the rebels appear to be making what could be the final push to consolidate all of Idlib province. They are launching this attack to avenge the death of hundreds, or possibly even thousands, of civilians who were reportedly killed by Alawite militias in Banias in the last two weeks.

We've seen videos of rebel tanks, artillery, howitzers, mortars, and anti-aircraft guns all headed towards the front line. Much of this equipment has been kept away from the front for fear of Assad's aircraft. Those fears appear to be fading as Assad's airbases in the region are under siege.

One of the key fronts is the town of Neirab, about 10 kilometers southeast of Idlib city (map). This video shows some of that battle last night. Keep in mind that most of what you are hearing are rebel guns and artillery. Also, there are a few interesting moments. An incoming Skype call can be heard, as can radio transmissions, and what sounds like Morse code. This offensive appears to be extremely well coordinated by rebels who are mostly comprised of former Assad military:

Rebel forces firing tanks, howitzers, and Grad rockets at a regime base today - note, however, that the sound of an Assad jet can clearly be heard at the end. Assad's air defense may be stretched thin, but this appears to have been made a priority:

James Miller takes over today's live coverage. Thanks to Scott Lucas and other EA staff for getting us started today.

0857 GMT:Oil Smuggled from Eastern Province.

Reuters reports that a network of tribes and smugglers is exploiting the chaos of the war to create an illicit oil trade in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, creating problems for EU nations wishing to support the opposition by purchasing Syrian oil.

A number of tribes have allegedly taken over oil production facilities and pipelines in areas that have fallen under their control, extracting crude oil and smuggling it in small tankers across the Turkish border.

Opposition sources reveal that they have engaged in talks with the tribes now controlling oil production in Deir al-Zor in the hope that they will share profits to support the opposition. There is concern among some opposition leaders that the issue could lead to conflict with the tribes, further fragmenting the rebels.

One rebel commander told Reuters "This is very difficult, people now have tasted money and also tasted the power that comes with it. They will not give up without a fight...The rebels do not want to clash with anyone right now. It is a tribal province and anything could backfire against the rebels - who themselves are sons of tribes."

0550 GMT: Casualties

The Violations Documentation Center puts the confirmed death toll at 59,931 since the conflict begin in March 2011, an increase of 66 from Thursday. Of those killed, 46,971 were civilians, a rise of 37 from yesterday.

0010 GMT: US Ambassador Meets Opposition Inside Syria

Ambassador Robert Ford, the former US representative in Damascus and the State Department's lead official on Syrian policy, crossed into northern Syria on Wednesday via the Bab al-Salama crossing on the Turkish frontier.

Ford met the head of the Aleppo Military Council, Abdul Jabbar Okaidi, who thanked him for the first US shipments of $125 million of announced non-lethal aid, including ready-to-eat meals for insurgents.

0001 GMT: Turkish PM Erdoğan Supports US-Enforced No-Fly Zone

Speaking with US NBC News, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has supported an American-backed no-fly zone: "Right from the beginning…we would say 'yes’."

An earlier version of the story was even stronger, with Erdogan saying he would back the no-fly zone and also US ground troops inside Syria.

Erdoğan pressed Washington, "We want the United States to assume more responsibilities and take further steps. And what sort of steps they will take, we are going to talk about this."

The Turkish prime minister also said:

It is clear that the regime has used chemical weapons and missiles. They used about 200 missiles, according to our intelligence.

There are different sizes [of] missiles. And then there are deaths caused by these missiles. And there are burns, you know, serious burns and chemical reactions. And there are patients who are brought to our hospitals who were wounded by these chemical weapons.

Erdoğan said Turkey would share intelligence with the United Nations Security Council. He rejected the idea that Assad's opponents have used such weapons, saying they lacked access to the armaments.