Civilians used as human shields in western Syria

Armed rebels are using civilians as human shield to prevent the Syrian army from making advances in Western Syria, reports revealed on Sunday. FNA dispatches said the al-Qaeda-linked terrorists use civilians, including women and children, as human shield in al-Qusseir city in the Western province of Homs. In similar reports earlier this year, Syria's local media disclosed that the notorious terrorist group, Al-Nusra Front, "is using children as a human shield in clashes with the Syrian Army". According to a report by Cham Press news website, informed sources in Tunisian Salafist Takfiri groups acknowledged that a 10-year old boy, named Farouq al-Tunisi, was killed in clashes between the Syrian army and al-Nusra front on Sunday as the terrorist group was using the kid to shield its members. The sources said that Farouq along with his father were recruited by Al-Nusra Front and they were active in Syria since September. Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against Syrian forces and civilians being reported across the country. The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States. The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May 2012 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling Assad's government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States. The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure. Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said last May that the flow of weapons - most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past - has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.