Syria: Syrian forces prepare for large-scale Aleppo offensive
The Syrian military is reportedly readying for an assault on the city of Aleppo.
“The large scale operation to wipe out the militancy in Aleppo province is expected to start in the next ten days,” Syrian military sources cited by Iran’s Fars news said on Thursday. “Fresh recruits in large groups are heading to Aleppo from the coastal province of Latakia.”
As many as 10,000 Syrian soldiers arrived in the Aleppo region on Thursday to assist in the upcoming offensive.
Jabhat al-Nusra has come to control large parts of Aleppo, the group isn’t part of the collapsing Syrian truce meaning that the Russians and Syrians could technically launch a large-scale offensive against it without violating the terms of that truce.
“It is primarily al-Nusra who holds Aleppo, and of course, al-Nusra is not part of the cessation of hostilities,” explained a US spokesman. “So it’s complicated. We’re watching it.”