Syrian troops attack rebel-held areas in Aleppo
Source: Agencies |
August 9, 2012, Thursday
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SYRIAN troops launched a broad ground assault yesterday on rebel-held areas of the besieged city of Aleppo and activists reported clashes as opposition forces fought back in a battle that has raged for more than two weeks.
The official SANA news agency claimed that government forces have fully regained control on Salaheddine - which is the main rebel stronghold in the northern city. It said that the military inflicted heavy losses upon "armed terrorist groups," which is the government catchall term for its opponents.
President Bashar Assad's regime has suffered a series of setbacks over the past month that point to mounting chaos in the country after a 17-month-uprising that has morphed into civil war. Four senior security officials were assassinated in Damascus, there have been a string of high-level defections including the prime minister this week, and government forces have struggled to put down rebel challenges in Damascus and Aleppo.
The regime has far more powerful weapons than the rebels and still has a firm grip on much of the country.
Aleppo, the largest city in Syria and its commercial center, holds great symbolic and strategic importance. Some 40 kilometers from the Turkish border, it has been a pillar of regime support during the uprising. An opposition victory there would allow easier access for weapons and fighters from Turkey, where many rebels are based.
There has been a marked increase in the number of refugees fleeing to Turkey in the past two days as Aleppo-based activists reported fresh clashes. Intense government bombardment of the Syrian town of Tal Rafaat closer to the border also sent scores of people spilling into Turkey for safety.
Some 2,400 people crossed into Turkey overnight to escape escalating violence, Turkey's state-run news agency said yesterday. Some 50,000 Syrians have found refuge in Turkey. Even more have crossed into Jordan and Lebanon.
"Unfortunately, there is a human tragedy going on in Syria," Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said, keeping up Turkey's criticism of the violence.
The regime has been hit by a wave of defections, most recently by Prime Minister Riad Hijab. Jordan's information minister said Hijab is in the kingdom, ending speculation about his whereabouts. Sameeh Maaytah said Hijab "entered Jordan in the early hours of dawn today along with several members of his family."
The official SANA news agency claimed that government forces have fully regained control on Salaheddine - which is the main rebel stronghold in the northern city. It said that the military inflicted heavy losses upon "armed terrorist groups," which is the government catchall term for its opponents.
President Bashar Assad's regime has suffered a series of setbacks over the past month that point to mounting chaos in the country after a 17-month-uprising that has morphed into civil war. Four senior security officials were assassinated in Damascus, there have been a string of high-level defections including the prime minister this week, and government forces have struggled to put down rebel challenges in Damascus and Aleppo.
The regime has far more powerful weapons than the rebels and still has a firm grip on much of the country.
Aleppo, the largest city in Syria and its commercial center, holds great symbolic and strategic importance. Some 40 kilometers from the Turkish border, it has been a pillar of regime support during the uprising. An opposition victory there would allow easier access for weapons and fighters from Turkey, where many rebels are based.
There has been a marked increase in the number of refugees fleeing to Turkey in the past two days as Aleppo-based activists reported fresh clashes. Intense government bombardment of the Syrian town of Tal Rafaat closer to the border also sent scores of people spilling into Turkey for safety.
Some 2,400 people crossed into Turkey overnight to escape escalating violence, Turkey's state-run news agency said yesterday. Some 50,000 Syrians have found refuge in Turkey. Even more have crossed into Jordan and Lebanon.
"Unfortunately, there is a human tragedy going on in Syria," Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said, keeping up Turkey's criticism of the violence.
The regime has been hit by a wave of defections, most recently by Prime Minister Riad Hijab. Jordan's information minister said Hijab is in the kingdom, ending speculation about his whereabouts. Sameeh Maaytah said Hijab "entered Jordan in the early hours of dawn today along with several members of his family."
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