Début de l’offensive du régime et de ses alliés au nord d’Alep, visant l’encerclement d’Alep. Selon Reuters, avec l’appui de l’aviation russe.
Offensive annoncée comme une revanche suite à l’offensive rebello-alQaïdesque dans le sud d’Alep : ▻http://seenthis.net/messages/479263
▻http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-idUSKCN0XB1IH?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNew
Syria’s army backed by Russian warplanes launched an assault north of Aleppo on Thursday, threatening to block a vital rebel route into the city in fighting that has cast new clouds over Geneva peace talks.
Syria’s recent upsurge in fighting, particularly around the northern city of Aleppo, has proven the most acute challenge yet to a cessation of hostilities deal agreed in February and soured an already bleak mood as opposing sides gather in Geneva. [...]
In Aleppo, government forces and their allies were focused on the area around Handarat Camp, overlooking an important access point held by rebels into the city, which is split into zones held by the government and opposition.[...]
“The escalation started at night. The area is of great importance. If the regime advances, this will tighten the grip on Aleppo,” said Abdullah Othman, head of the politburo of the Levant Front rebel group.
Fighting near Aleppo has been escalating for two weeks, mostly to the south of the city where government forces backed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other militias have been waging fierce battles with rebels including Nusra Front fighters.
The al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic State groups are not included in the cessation of hostilities agreement.
Speaking in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the rebels of breaching the truce to reconquer lost ground. “The opposition is trying to recover what they lost,” he said.
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