Regime airstrikes in Latakia have reportedly killed at least 30 people in Latakia and Raqqah; many of the rebels in Latakia are said to be from the Al Nusrah Front. Massoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan, vowed to defend Kurdish citizens in Syria against al Qaeda-linked forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it has documented the deaths of 106,423 people since the start of the conflict in March 2011, but estimated that the actual number of casualties is twice that. A regime airstrike aimed at Islamist rebels in Raqqah reportedly killed at least 13 civilians. Islamist fighters and allied rebels shelled parts of Ras al-Ein in Hasakah. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is stepping up activities in the country, and has been supporting Shields of the Revolution, a group of military brigades.
