Ground Zero: Syria

Ground Zero: Syria

2012, Military and War  -    -  Playlist 53 Comments
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Ratings: 7.32/10 from 50 users.

Ground Zero: Syria is a compiled photojournalist and videographer Robert King's footage into a series of raw, largely unedited vignettes that present a snapshot of the ancient city as it crumbles and burns while its citizens are killed indiscriminately.

Amid a fierce battle between Assad's security forces and Free Syrian Army insurgents, fire swept through the old Souk of Aleppo, a historic covered market and World Heritage site.

Rebel fighters and activists have reported that the blaze was sparked by the use of incendiary mortar rounds by Assad's forces. The atrocities and war crimes currently ripping Syria apart are evident inside a field hospital in Aleppo, the country's largest city. Inside the hospital exhausted doctors indiscriminately treat civilians, members of the Free Syrian Army, and captured Syrian Army troops alike.

Every day the men, women, and children, must risk their lives to stand in line and hope that they can buy a kilo of bread to survive another day. Many of the bread factories have been destroyed amid fighting between the Free Syrian Army and Assad's troops. The few that remain are staffed by brave souls who risk their lives every day to ensure the local population has basic sustenance.

During his time in Syria throughout much of 2012, videographer Robert KIng followed Aleppo's Al-Tawhid Brigade as he dodged bullets and rocket fire to learn more about the largest brigade of the Free Syrian Army.

Warning: Contains scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.

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Eric Lawson
Eric Lawson
9 years ago

I have tried i still do not understand this war or revolution . FAS seems to be legitimate. But one never knows. Good Documentary the snipers bothered me when they say it is not them pulling the trigger. Rather it is Allah who pulls the trigger. With that kind of mind set. I loose all respect for this FSA sniper groups. This is certainly not a well organized force . I do feel sorry for the children and women in this conflict. It makes one happy to live in a peaceful and free country !!Assad should be dealt with by the international community !! I think him a heartless criminal. The bully in the school yard !!

tom horn
tom horn
10 years ago

FSA is a fraud, they tell how noble their cause is but they lie ,cheat steal,kill,rape, extort money from kidnapping people. Assad is not the problem the islamist rebels are. Look how they distroy everything then blame it all on Assad, They show childern suffer i hope you dont fall for that lie again but you will. If america had armed thugs fighting would you join them to flight for( freedom)? The rebels kill anyone who is not supporting sunni Islam as Christians, Alawite,shia people. They burn Christian Churches force people from their homes. Almost everything they tell you in this video is untrue. Look at how they eat hearts&livers out of Assads men. Did you see that video?God help you to wake up to overthrow Assad is not the answer. Do we need another violent Islamic state in the world? Sure lets all became radicals for Islam ok if it will help the childern right? Yes we have freedom in Libya,Egypt ,Iraq now thanks freedom fighters -England,france U.S.A-keep up the good work-kill Christians,Jews,anyone who is a (unbeliever) Its for democracy! The Mob rules! (Most of the rebel fighters are not even Syrians) If Assad was so evil he would have been overthrown long ago. So how would i know anthing about Syria ? I was there to visit family there the summer of 2012.Most people support Assad!

rufusclyde
rufusclyde
10 years ago

The period wherein the United States has been the most powerful actor in the world is coming to an end. The monopoly capitalist system has resulted in the reduction in the standard of living for most Americans, and the US war machine cannot be supported much longer in this system. In an attempt to maintain the status quo, the US state apparatus is being used to corner China and Russia, and that is why a war has been started in Syria. There is no alternative explanation.

Name irrelevant
Name irrelevant
11 years ago

Personally... I am surprised at how many people are still shocked at any of this stuff.
Huge prediction... Ready?
All this sh????t will continue... till mans demise.
Think I'm right?
Love u all... Mwah!

korydk
korydk
11 years ago

If you ever wondered what a hero looks like... They look like those Syrian doctors. Godspeed honorable men, you give hope for the human race.

N
N
11 years ago

All because of the ignorance of ALL religion

N
N
11 years ago

This should be seen by all. To hell with the human race !

Tanzanos Eleytheros
Tanzanos Eleytheros
11 years ago

War is the mark of a failed society! Asaad is a war criminal! The only people who are happy with war are the weapons manufacturers!

Skajadulf
Skajadulf
11 years ago

If there was oil in Syria Uk & Us would of went in Syria the first week this started.

Master Yoda
Master Yoda
11 years ago

propaganda!

Lawrence Kouju
Lawrence Kouju
11 years ago

I agree with War Dog 666 - U that war is totally a waste of human lives ... innocent and those involved in the fighting. The present age is supposed to be a civilised age if I may say so but look what is happening all over the world, war ... killing here and there, since the beginning of humanity. I bet humans will continue to kill one another for a long, long time. Come to think of it nature has a way of preventing over population of the earth ... otherwise there would be mass extinction of human beings.

War Dog 666 - U
War Dog 666 - U
11 years ago

I have viewed many videos containing acts of violence, this particular video is the worse I've ever seen. . War in our modern age has to stop, enough is enough. Those poor innocent children, it's heartbreaking.

JRushnik
JRushnik
11 years ago

You think the Syrian people want another Taliban running their country? That's all that's going to happen once Assad, a secular and reluctant leader, is gone.

JRushnik
JRushnik
11 years ago

This is not as simple as it seems. I'm not saying Assad is good, but he's definitely no worse than than the leaders of most other countries. The real problem is that he isn't doing what the US wants him to do. Have a look at where the "rebels" are getting their weapons from, funny how they always seem to end up with NATO equipment. Funny also how the "freedom fighters" mainly consist of al-Qaeda and and the US is now arming them again, just like they did in the 70s and 80s in Afghanistan. All we are doing is creating a new bin Laden because Assad doesn't bend to the will of the US.

Koke Pele
Koke Pele
11 years ago

Some of you would believe anything they throw at you in Audiovisual format...your MEDIA lie to you day in day out... how come western media are ONLY bringing us images of the so called "rebels" and their spokesmen???? What the **** does Al-Assad's have to say about this?, there are dissidents in every country...it's funny how little importance we give to the power of semantics... "terrorist"..."regime"... I'm a Spanish ex-pat... just WHAT THE **** do you think there is in Spain if not a dictatorial REGIME??? Let someone flood the streets of Spain with weapons and we'll give the world a show to remember...just like in '36. THINK for yourselves people...

Travis Dominguez
Travis Dominguez
11 years ago

Is there somewhere where i can actually watch this documentary?

Susan Ernst
Susan Ernst
11 years ago

God....save the children!

Matt Kukowski
Matt Kukowski
11 years ago

This is the work of Satanic forces. Only time will tell, VISE should employ some low altitude camera/drone footage.

nebra
nebra
11 years ago

how stupid are we still....

AllanA
AllanA
11 years ago

Thank you for a doc that doesn't really need any introduction. It's awful how this regime targets the hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. I hope the people end this a--hole's fight once and for all. I wish I was able to travel this country before. I hope I can some day.

Thanks again VICE for yet another good doc. This really needs to be on TV instead of constant reports on holiday traffic.

hernandayoleary
hernandayoleary
11 years ago

Its a joke really, Syria has democracy and votes, they are secular and civilized and we hate them and are arming al qaeda? Yet we are friends with the dictatorship in Saudia Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait and all the other dictatorships were there isnt even a sham vote and they hate and bomb America. I am sorry, these policies are backwards, no one murders more people than the dictatorships in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Carl Hendershot
Carl Hendershot
11 years ago

Women and children. WTF. War if not controlled is terrorism period.

John
John
11 years ago

The Arab League, United States, European Union, Arab Gulf States and other countries have condemned the use of violence against the protesters.

What a F##ing world we are living in...I'm speechless.

xxDarkSidexx
xxDarkSidexx
11 years ago

middle east really need to sort there ****, far east just get on with it, west get along, but the middle east just keep blowing the shi* out of each other, thats all you hear, not gonna watch this because of the poor little dudes, but seriously, stop fighting over gods that dont exsist!

Paul MacLeod
Paul MacLeod
11 years ago

What's so Civil about War anyway!?

Mihai Dorcu
Mihai Dorcu
11 years ago

Hugo...For their sake, let's end here, because you are right, I am right...nobody seems to gain from this discussion.
Let's hope it will end soon.

Mihai Dorcu
Mihai Dorcu
11 years ago

Hugo...I don't negate that in the shadows aren't some serious players, with something to gain from this, but when you say ''what does he have to gain by doing that?'' it means you don't know some Syrian history. His father killed 60000 men in 3 days, in the revolution that took place in '82, in Hama . Why? To prove a point... And from that massacre, nobody spoke against the regime, until 2011.

When it's about power, everything is justifiable for the oppressors.
I don't watch mainstream media.

Mihai Dorcu
Mihai Dorcu
11 years ago

@zatara ...I could send those videos, and they would reply that it doesn't mean that all Al-Assad army behaves like this.
If somebody really wants to know the reality from there, it can be found on the internet, you just have to look harder.

I don't know if I'm the right person to advocate for them, I just reacted impulsively when seeing that this subject is so easily discussed, without the proper knowledge of the facts.

I don't know what Vice Media is selling, but here they portrayed some of the reality, that could be shown.
Peace to everyone.

Mihai Dorcu
Mihai Dorcu
11 years ago

No problem, if you can stand seeing a boy having his fingers cut with an razor blade,inch by inch, a man that is stabbed in his face, and having his ear cut off...then OK, but I don't think this is the point.
Today the army of Al-Assad has bombed a baker's shop, killing 300 people...maybe that it will convince you.

Mihai Dorcu
Mihai Dorcu
11 years ago

First of all, Mr. Nutzack, please, for the sake of all the people that fight for their rights in Syria. apologize for your comment.
My best friend is Syrian, and I receive all the "fresh" news directly from the front, and if you would like, I could send you dozens of videos showing Bashar's army slauthering children, women just for fun.

After this revolution will end, they will have their hands full trying to build a new nation, but at least they will do it in a free manner, because this is all that is about, freedom.

Syria is one of the few countries, that wasn't concerned with 21 December, because for them, it is daily like the end of the world.

If we could just eliminate greed and lust for power, then everything else would be much more easier.
Peace to everyone.

Mihai Dorcu

eugene eugene
eugene eugene
11 years ago

dirty american propagandist bull****.. majority of FSA are foreign fighters according to founder of Medcine San Frontier after doing a six month stint at a Syrian field hospital... also credible stories know emerging, that credibly sugget that the first to fire on civilians, were Saudi agents(ie. working for the USA)

Harry Nutzack
Harry Nutzack
11 years ago

what a blatant propaganda piece. is vice now a member of the fundraising arm of the FSA?