Syria Fall 2013
Sniper Den 2
Hameed Obsi, 31, fires a heavy machine gun from a sniper den while taking fire from regime soldiers on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes.
Rebel Portrait 7
A masked rebel carries a homemade rocket through a field in the outskirts of Hama province, Syria, on Monday, October 28, 2013. About 100 fighters from eight local brigades announced they were uniting to form a new force called "Liwaa Mujahideen Hama" or "Brigade of Fighters in Hama." At the meeting, LMH officials said the coalition would be able to organize safe passage for aid workers throughout the province. Fighters compared weapons and socialized.
Rebel Portrait 34
A masked rebel fighter draped in bullets poses for a photo in the outskirts of Hama province, Syria, on Monday, October 28, 2013. The man was part of a gathering of about 100 rebel fighters from eight brigades who announced plans to unite to form a new force called "Liwaa Mujahideen Hama" or "Brigade of Fighters in Hama." At the meeting, LMH officials said the coalition would be able to organize safe passage for aid workers throughout Hama. Fighters compared weapons and socialized.
Rebel Portrait 8
Close to 100 fighters from eight rebel brigades gathered in a field in the outskirts of Hama province, Syria, on Monday, October 28, 2013 promising to open routes for humanitarian aid in the province. The rebels announced they were uniting to form a new force called "Liwaa Mujahideen Hama" or "Brigade of Fighters in Hama." At the meeting, LMH officials said the coalition would be able to organize safe passage for aid workers throughout Hama. Fighters compared weapons and socialized.
Rural Syria 3
Murad al-Obeidi tenses at the sound of an approaching plane while manning an anti-aircraft weapon in Syria's Hama province on Friday, November 1, 2013. Though less battle-ready than those in Syria's cities, rural fighters enter firefights ready to die. Rural brigades often sacrifice training to save money on bullets.
Bomb Shelter 1
Amar Hamoud, 7, listens for explosions a bomb shelter in Kafranbel, Syria, on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The sound of an approaching airplane caused the children to run for the shelter. Repeated bombings by government forces have resulted in post-traumatic stress for much of the village, including hundreds of children. There are no facilities in Kafranbel to treat PTSD and rural Syrians tend to view the disorder as a passing phase or a sign of personal weakness.
Bomb Shelter 2
Waleed Hamoud, 6, prepares for an explosion in a bomb shelter in Kafranbel, Syria, on Saturday, October 19, 2013. The sound of an approaching airplane caused the children to run for the shelter. Repeated bombings by government forces have resulted in post-traumatic stress for much of the village, including hundreds of children. There are no facilities in Kafranbel to treat PTSD and rural Syrians tend to view the disorder as a passing phase or a sign of personal weakness.
Rebel Radio 1
Azzat Ali Shaikh smokes while editing a radio program at the Fresh Fm headquarters, an anti-government radio station in Kafranbel, Syria on December 6, 2013. Shaikh and his peers at Fresh FM represented the educated, pro-democracy faction of Syrian rebels who since 2013 have been enduring attacks from the Assad government, ISIS and al-Qaeda.
Sniper Den 29
Hameed Obsi, 31, crouched, loads a heavy machine gun in a sniper den on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes everyday.
Sniper Den 30
Hameed Obsi, 31, loads a heavy machine gun in a sniper den on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes everyday.
Rural Syrian Rebels 14
A rebel fighter, adjusts his rifle in Syria's Hama province on Thursday, October 31, 2013, a few hours before an attack on a government outpost. Though less battle-ready than those in Syria's cities, rural fighters enter firefights ready to die. Rural brigades often sacrifice training to save money on bullets.
Rural Syrian Rebels 15
Abu Ghazi, a rebel fighter, piles into a pick-up truck smeared with mud to reduce its reflectance in Hama province, Syria on Thursday, October 31, 2013, a few hours before an night attack on a government outpost. Rural fighters are less battle-ready than those in Syria's cities. Rural brigades often sacrifice training to save money on bullets.
Rebel Outpost 40
Abu Mohammad, 38, runs passed a destroyed wall in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, rebel fighters holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes everyday.
Prayer Before Battle
Abu Ghazi, a rebel fighter, prays on a rooftop in Hama province, Syria on Thursday, October 31, 2013, a few hours before an attack on a government outpost. Rural fighters are less battle-ready than those in Syria's cities. Rural brigades often sacrifice training to save money on bullets.
Prayer Before Battle 2
Abu Ghazi, a rebel fighter, prays on a rooftop in Hama province, Syria on Thursday, October 31, 2013, a few hours before an attack on a government outpost. Rural fighters are less battle-ready than those in Syria's cities. Rural brigades often sacrifice training to save money on bullets.
Sniper Den 39
Hameed Obsi, 31, center, loads a heavy machine gun in a sniper den on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes everyday.
Rebel Outpost 49
Ala Khushem, 28, struggles to keep warm on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring multiple airstrikes and the cold weather.
Rebel Outpost 42
L-R Hameed Obsi and Abu Mohammed sit by a fire on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring airstrikes and the cold weather.
Rebel Outpost 41
L-R Hameed Obsi and Abu Mohammed sit by a fire on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring airstrikes and the cold weather.
Rebel Outpost 43
L-R Abdul Kareem, Hameed Obsi, Abu Mohammed, Khalid Haloof and Ala Khushem joke with each by a fire on the frontline in Marat al-Nouman, Syria, on Tuesday, December 3, 2013. As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, holding the the city from recapture by government forces means rebels engage in daily sniper battles while enduring airstrikes and the cold weather.