Signs of abuse in Syria rebels' pow camp

The battle rages on in Syria for control over the country’s largest city, Aleppo. CNN’s Ivan Watson, who is in Syria, calls it a “grinding urban battle.” Despite being outgunned by the Syrian Army, rebels are making significant advances, and claim to have captured a police station on Tuesday. Syrian State TV provided contradictory information and claimed government forces liberated that police station, though they lacked the video evidence provided by opposition groups.

Ivan Watson reports that the Free Syrian Army is receiving boxes of ammunition from across the Turkish border, though it is unclear where the shipments originated. The shipments mainly consisted of light ammunition and RPG rounds. RPGs—or rocket propelled grenades—have been key in the rebels’ fight against al-Assad’s more heavily armed forces.

In the words of one opposition fighter, “They’re giving us just enough to keep this revolution alive, but not enough to give us a decisive victory.”

Watson also gained access to a Free Syrian Army prison housing government forces and militia forces loyal to al-Assad. Through the rebel captors claim to treat their POWs better than the Syrian Army, Watson met prisoners whose bodies show signs of abuse, most likely at the hands of their captors, from notable bruises to deep cuts. Watson said one captive trembled in fear.