On Sunday May 15, 2011 about 50 to 100 rioters hurled rocks and firebombs at Israeli forces at the security fence near the Arab villages of Bil’in and Nil’in, located near the city of Modi’in between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Hundreds of Arab protestors rioted throughout Israel during the past three days in “Nakba Day” protests against the re-establishment of Israel. Nakba Day is a commemoration day for the Palestinian people that annually recognizes the displacement that accompanied the creation of Israel in 1948.
More amateur video emerged from Syria on Tuesday, showing the aftermath of the crackdown on anti-government protests across the country and in DEIR EL-ZOR.
Video believed to have been taken on Monday showed government tanks in the town of Homs in Western Syria. Video also shows a man being carried to an ambulance with possible attempts at CPR.
DEIR EL-ZOR is the largest city in northeastern Syria on the Euphrates River and is the capital of the Deir ez-Zor Governorate, northeast of Damascus.
Protesters in the Syrian city of Deir El-Zour toppled a golden statue of the brother of President Bashar Al Assad on Sunday, as anti-government activists continued a nationwide uprising.
Basil al-Assad was groomed to fill the role of President by his father. He was chief of presidential security while running a highly publicized anti-corruption campaign within the Syrian regime. He had a reputation for being an aficionado of fast cars, and was killed in a high speed one-car crash at a roundabout intersection on his way to Damascus International AIrport in foggy weather.
While John Brennan, Assistant to President for Homeland Security said in a press conference Monday following Osama bin Laden’s death, that the operation prepared for all contingencies — acquiring Osama bin Laden dead or alive, and that there was preparation for the surrender option — then CIA Director Leon Panetta stated, “To be frank, I don’t think he (Osama bin Laden) had a lot of time to say anything,” CIA Director Leon Panetta said in an interview airing on PBS NewsHour.
Was bin Laden armed? Brennan’s answer on Monday implied that bin Laden was armed, but at Tuesday’s press briefing, White House spokesman Jay Carney stated, “He was not armed.” Bin Laden did “resist” U.S. forces … and he added that “resistance does not require a firearm.” He was killed in a third floor bedroom.
According to CIA Chief Leon Panetta, the U.S. collected an “impressive amount” of material from Osama bin Laden’s compound, including computers and other electronics, The CIA has set up a task force to act on the fresh intelligence.
On Tuesday, Panetta assembled a group of 15 aides to assess the credibility of the intelligence that was collected at the compound in Abbottabad.
Faces of apprehension in the White House Situation Room during the operation to capture or kill Osama bin Laden near Abbottabad, Pakistan.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. A classified document seen in this photograph on the notebook computer in front of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been obscured. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
View Larger Map Satellite image of apparent location of hideout compound of Osama bin Laden (aka Usama bin Laden) near Kakul Road showing incomplete construction of compound shown directly below.
Osama bin Laden, accused of leading the worst-ever terrorist attack on U.S. soil on September 11, 2001, has been reported killed. The United States has possession of the body. President Barack Obama began speaking about the news from the White House at 11:36 p.m. CDT.
Protesters in Peshawar, in northwestern Pakistan, demonstrated on Saturday against U.S. drone attacks on their country. Former cricketer Imran Khan, head of a political party known as Pakistan Movement for Justice, led the protest.
