Damascus fighting cuts off Internet, airport

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: Reuters

By Oliver Holmes

BEIRUT - Syrian rebels battled forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus on Thursday, forcing the closure of the main airport road, and the Dubai-based Emirates airline suspended flights to the Syrian capital.

Residents also reported Internet connections in the capital were down and mobile and land telephone lines working only sporadically in what appeared to be the worst disruption to communications in Syria since an uprising began 20 months ago.

The past two weeks have seen rebels overrunning army bases across Syria, exposing Assad's loss of control in northern and eastern regions despite the devastating air power that he has used to bombard opposition strongholds.

Rebels and activists said the fighting along the road to Damascus airport, southeast of the capital, was heavier in that area than at any other time in the conflict.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE8AJ1FK20121129

[joshcryer]

1. This thing is going to go on for a long time.

Shades of the Algerian War.

All internet is off in Syria as well as mobile service. They clearly want to shut down communication amongst the rebels.