Accounts of the protracted siege on civilians in the fortress are like tales from ancient history. It is hard to believe such events are taking place in Syria today. The lightly-armed popular committees, whose only sin is that their political outlook differs from that of the majority in the district, are besieged by rebel battalions, who in turn are besieged by Syrian soldiers, who are themselves under siege, running out of weapons and heir appeals for relief going unheeded.