Who are the Syrian rebels?
By Ghazi Balkiz, NBC News Producer: Farmers, barbers, bakers, policemen. These are just a few of the professions of the men who call themselves the "Free Syrian Army" or simply, "the rebels" in Syria’s mountainous northwestern Jabal al-Zawiya area.
An NBC News team made up of chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, cameraman John Kooistra and myself recently entered Syria to report on the conflict there. In the course of our reporting we came across many people who were involved in the struggle against Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's regime.
The rebels who we met came from various backgrounds, all walks of life and all ages. They opened their homes to us and welcomed us with open arms. We had no choice but to trust them as our guides as we traveled with them around the war-torn region. We had come to report on their side of the conflict.
Editor's note: Many of the rebels identified themselves by the common Arab custom of 'Abu' and their eldest son's (or daughter's) name. For example 'Abu Abdo' means 'Father of Abdo.'
Editor's note: Many of the rebels identified themselves by the common Arab custom of 'Abu' and their eldest son's (or daughter's) name. For example 'Abu Abdo' means 'Father of Abdo.'
Syrian Ali Bakran, an air conditioning repair man by trade, has turned into a militia commander to fight against the leader of his home country, Bashar al-Assad. After being fired upon while peacefully protesting, Bakran left his job and formed a citizen's militia. NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel journeys inside Syria.
Behind Syrian rebel lines
Rebels’ Russian-made AK-47s looted from Syrian Army checkpoints hang on the wall in their command center.
Rebels share a meal of “fateh,” chickpeas, bread and yogurt topped with herbs and tomatoes. The rebels have popular support in the area, so food is often cooked and delivered to them by locals.
Syrian children raise the victory sign in a village in the mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area. Children have not been able to go to school in most of the villages in the area since the fighting began.
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The Uprising: Syrian man leads militia against AssadSyrian Ali Bakran, an air conditioning repair man by trade, has turned into a militia commander to fight against the leader of his home country, Bashar al-Assad. After being fired upon while peacefully protesting, Bakran left his job and formed a citizen’s militia. NBC News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel journeys inside Syria.
Abu Khalid, a member of the “Justice Brigade” in Jabal al-Zawya, plays with his 1-year-old daughter as fellow rebels look on
An NBC News team recently traveled to Syria to report on the conflict there. To learn more about the rebels struggle against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, they followed a group of men who call themselves the "Free Syrian Army" in the country's mountainous northwestern Jabal al-Zawiya area. The following photos give a glimpse into the daily lives of the rebels.
In this photo rebel commander Ahmad Bakran points out a Syrian Army checkpoint to NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel in the village of Marayan.
Umm Ahmad at age 105 is the oldest woman in the newly liberated town of Marayan in northern Syria. During the siege of her town by the Syrian army, she and other town elders did not leave. Umm Ahmad's house was hit by mortar fire three times. She was wounded in her leg in one of the attacks. One of her sons was killed by Syrian forces while another son was held and tortured, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs.
A boy holds anti-aircraft rounds up to the camera and smiles in the newly liberated town of Marayan in northern Syria. At night time in the town the loud sounds of bombardment and explosions can still be heard as the Syrian army continues to shell this and other villages in Jabal Al-Zawya. Mothers told me that their children are very frightened of explosions' sounds and that they suffer from nightmares.
A rebel holds a gas mask left behind by the Syrian army in the newly liberated town of Marayan in northern Syria. Rebels tell us that what they fear the most is a chemical attack by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The fact that Syrian forces had gas masks with them increases this fear.
A boy holds anti-aircraft rounds up to the camera and smiles in the newly liberated town of Marayan in northern Syria. At night time in the town the loud sounds of bombardment and explosions can still be heard as the Syrian army continues to shell this and other villages in Jabal Al-Zawya. Mothers told me that their children are very frightened of explosions' sounds and that they suffer from nightmares.
A rebel holds a gas mask left behind by the Syrian army in the newly liberated town of Marayan in northern Syria. Rebels tell us that what they fear the most is a chemical attack by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The fact that Syrian forces had gas masks with them increases this fear.
A boy stands in the courtyard of his house next to a room that was damaged in a mortar attack in a northern Syrian city. His father was seriously wounded and the boy received slight wounds when the shell struck the house as the family was eating.
NBC Producer Ghazi Balkiz traveled with NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel through northern Syria, where they met with rebels resisting the army forces of President Bashar al- Assad. Rebels only travel at night in rebel-held areas away from the Syrian army's prying eyes. They tell us if they travel by day they would get shot at. Here we traveled with the rebels at night on what they call "Rebel Roads" to reach a town that the army has just pulled out of. The way it works is that when rebels travel in an area that is not theirs, in every town they go through they stop and talk to the local rebels and the town residents. Locals usually send a rebel escort who knows the area well until the next town is reached and the process gets repeated.
Rebels in Jabal al-Zawiya area use motorbike parts to jerry-rig this heavy machine gun so they can operate it manually. The rebels say a weapons shortage is the main reason why they have not toppled the Assad regime yet.
NBC Producer Ghazi Balkiz traveled with NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel through northern Syria, where they met with rebels resisting the army forces of President Bashar al- Assad. Rebels only travel at night in rebel-held areas away from the Syrian army's prying eyes. They tell us if they travel by day they would get shot at. Here we traveled with the rebels at night on what they call "Rebel Roads" to reach a town that the army has just pulled out of. The way it works is that when rebels travel in an area that is not theirs, in every town they go through they stop and talk to the local rebels and the town residents. Locals usually send a rebel escort who knows the area well until the next town is reached and the process gets repeated.
Rebels in Jabal al-Zawiya area use motorbike parts to jerry-rig this heavy machine gun so they can operate it manually. The rebels say a weapons shortage is the main reason why they have not toppled the Assad regime yet.
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