Unlike the revolutions in Egypt and now Libya that gripped the world's attention, there are no foreign news crews broadcasting live footage of events unfolding in Syria.
Beginning with the 2009 Iranian protests following disputed elections in
that country, social media tools have been instrumental in relaying
images and reports of state violence and oppression with the outside
world when those states block access to traditional journalists.
One tool, YouTube, has been instrumental in nearly all of the unrest
rocking the Arab world since December of 2010. Now, videos shot on
cellular phones and uploaded to YouTube are providing the outside world
with a shocking window to peer through as reported death tolls rise and
violence spreads in Syria.
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Because access for traditional journalists is so lacking, JPost.com
decided to share a selection of videos purportedly depicting the events
taking place in Syria in recent days. While
The Jerusalem Post was unable to verify the authenticity of the following video clips, they were reviewed by
The Post.
The first video purportedly shows what appear to be dozens of
plain-clothed Syrian security officers quickly deploying onto the
streets and then beating and rounding up civilians.
The second video purportedly shows a group of men apparently seeking
shelter as government forces fire in their direction. In an earlier
portion of the video, a man who appears to have been shot is shown lying
dead on the ground.
The following video, purportedly shot in Daraa depicts what seems to be a
Syrian security forces firing live ammunition at protesters armed only
with sticks and metal pipes.
The Jerusalem Post was unable to authenticate any of the above videos.