While I'm thoroughly outraged at the NYT for its shenanigans in favor of the fascist administration, there's
an article up currently about civilians coping with the violence, with some very moving but disturbing pictures.
The caption for one picture in particular knocked me out:
We used to play soccer 11 on a side. Now there's only enough for three against three.
That's 11-year-old Muhammad Sattar speaking. His twin brother was killed in a bombing. Can you imagine these six kids? Politics aside, this is simply heartbreaking.
"My grandfather and I took down our curtains in our home so we could wrap the dead boys in them. He did not want them to lie exposed, uncovered, in the streets. First, we tore the curtains in half. Then my grandfather and I went into the street. Together we wrapped my dead friends. We used to play soccer 11 on a side. Now there's only enough for three against three."
- MUHAMMAD SATTAR, 11, second from left
Twin brother was killed in a bombing
There is also this, from the fathers of three young soldiers who were killed:
"He was a very brave boy. Nothing scared him. Nothing can prepare you for the death of your son."
- FATHER OF BASHIR ADIL KHAMES AL-MAYAKI
"My son saw a man. He suspected he was a bomber. He tackled the terrorist, wrapped his arms around him as he detonated. There were many people in the street. He saved so many of them."
- FATHER OF NASSER ABID MUHSIN
"He sacrificed himself for his country. He was 18 years old. He had served for two and a half years. He was our youngest son. We are proud of what he did."
- FATHER OF ALI MAYID KHALAF
Last one:
"The police officer had sustained three injuries to the chest. The wounds were the result of a terror attack. Vital signs unstable. He was seriously injured. He was dying. There were eight doctors working on him; three were specialists. When he was declared dead, his fellow officers attacked the doctors and nurses. They blamed us for his death. They then destroyed our emergency room. In the last few months, such attacks have become the norm."
- DR. AHMED MUTHAFAR
Emergency room doctor
Terribly sad.