Syrian army defectors, who operate under the banner of the Free Syrian Army, say that a senior army officer was killed on 11 December after refusing to fire on civilians in Homs. Maher al-Nueimi, a spokesman for the FSA, said that Brigadier-General Salman al-Awaja was given instructions to fire on residents of al-Quseir in Homs. When he refused, Nueimi said, he was killed. The FSA says that a large number of defections took place after the killing, as clashes broke out between al-Awaja's supporters in the army and the other soldiers who killed him.Syria – 12 December 2011 – 09:31. Al Jazeera (12 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012. The Observatory said two people were killed in the clash with defectors in Kfar Takharim and two armoured vehicles were destroyed. On 12 December, three civilians and two defectors were killed during clashes in Idlib province. Fighting in Ebita, in the northwestern province of Idlib, continued throughout the night and into the early hours on 12 December. At least one fighter was killed and another injured in the assault. The FSA killed ten troops in an ambush on a convoy in Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This attack was allegedly done to avenge the deaths of 11 civilians previously killed. A Syrian officer was also killed in a revenge attack.Syrian Defectors Kill 7 Security Force Members in Revenge Attack. Voice of America (13 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012. Loyalist soldiers reportedly fired upon a civilian car near Homs on 14 December, killing five people, in response, the Free Syrian Army staged an ambush against a loyalist convoy consisting of four jeeps, killing eight soldiers. The same day, three anti-government military defectors were wounded in clashes with Syrian security forces in the village of Hirak in Daraa province. The FSA engaged loyalist army units and security service agents south of Damascus on 15 December, leading to 27 loyalist deaths and an unknown number of FSA casualties. The clashes broke out at three separate checkpoints in Daraa province around dawn Between 8 and 15 December, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported the deaths of 68 members of the state security forces.Five Army Martyrs Escorted to Final Resting Place . Sana.sy (8 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Five Army, Security Forces and Civilian Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (8 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Three Army Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (11 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Thirteen Army, Security and Police Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (11 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Seven Army, Security and Police Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (13 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Seventeen Army and Security Forces Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (14 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Seven Army, Police and Security Forces Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (15 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012.Eleven Army, Police and Security Forces Martyrs Laid to Rest . Sana.sy (15 December 2011). Retrieved on 23 March 2012. A lieutenant colonel of the FSA was killed by the Syrian army on 17 December according to Local Committee, and opposition source.
