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Syrian Forces Renew Attack on Aleppo Syrian Forces Renew Attack on Aleppo
(about 1 hour later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forces loyal to the Syrian government stepped up their assault on the key rebel stronghold of Aleppo on Friday, leading to some of the heaviest fighting in months, according to outside observers and fighters in the city.BEIRUT, Lebanon — Forces loyal to the Syrian government stepped up their assault on the key rebel stronghold of Aleppo on Friday, leading to some of the heaviest fighting in months, according to outside observers and fighters in the city.
President Bashar al-Assad’s troops launched their renewed offensive at the same time that American officials signaled a willingness to provide greater support to the rebels, including the provision of small arms, ammunition and a variety of anti-tank weaponry like shoulder-fired rocket-propelled grenades. President Bashar al-Assad’s troops’ renewed offensive began as American officials signaled a willingness to provide greater support to the rebels like proving them with small arms, ammunition and a variety of anti-tank weaponry like shoulder-fired rocket-propelled grenades.
The commander of the main Western-backed rebel group, Gen. Salim Idris, said that new weapons will boost the morale of his fighters, who have suffered a series of losses in recent weeks. The commander of the main Western-backed rebel group, Gen. Salim Idris, said that new weapons would help the morale of his fighters, who have suffered a series of losses in recent weeks.
“We hope to have the weapons and ammunition we need in a few weeks,” he said in an interview with the television news channel Al Arabiya.“We hope to have the weapons and ammunition we need in a few weeks,” he said in an interview with the television news channel Al Arabiya.
Mr. Assad’s government lashed out at the American decision to arm the rebels, saying in a statement released by the official media that government forces were engaged in a struggle with terrorists and the United States was guilty of rank hypocrisy. It remained unclear when arms might start flowing to the rebels and the Syrian Army’s offensive in Aleppo seemed to suggest that they wanted to take advantage of what they see as the currently weakened state of the rebels. Mr. Assad’s government lashed out at the American decision to arm the rebels, saying in a statement released by the official news media that government forces were engaged in a struggle with terrorists and that the United States was guilty of hypocrisy.
“The White House has issued a statement full of lies about the use of chemical weapons in Syria based on fabricated information,” the regime said in a statement issued Friday by the Syrian Foreign Ministry. “The United States is using cheap tactics to justify President Barack Obama’s decision to arm the Syrian opposition.”
The Syrian regime received renewed support from Russia, with a top foreign policy adviser to President Vladimir Putin’s saying that the United States did not have proof to back its claim that government forces had used chemical weapons.
“The information that has been presented, the facts that have been presented do not look convincing to us,” Yury Ushakov told reporters in Moscow
It remained unclear when weapons might start flowing to the rebels, and the Syrian Army’s offensive in Aleppo seemed to suggest that the government wanted to take advantage of what its saw as rebel weakness.
The fighting on Friday was fiercest in and around the eastern rebel-held neighborhood of Sakhour, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists inside the country for information.The fighting on Friday was fiercest in and around the eastern rebel-held neighborhood of Sakhour, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists inside the country for information.
Government forces bombarded the area with missiles and tank shells for several hours before sending in ground troops from two directions in an attempt to gain control over the strategically important roadways that cut through the area, witnesses said.Government forces bombarded the area with missiles and tank shells for several hours before sending in ground troops from two directions in an attempt to gain control over the strategically important roadways that cut through the area, witnesses said.
It was unclear if the assault was successful. Some rebel fighters in the city suggested it was designed as much to make a show of strength as to actually seize territory. Rebels said on Friday they had repelled the Assad forces. It was unclear if the assault was successful. Some rebel fighters in the city suggested that it was designed as much as a show of strength as it was an attempt to actually seize territory. Rebels said Friday that they had repelled the Assad forces.
Abu Louay, an activist in Aleppo, said that rebels were preparing for heavy fighting to take place around the airport as well. Abu Muawiya, the commander of several battalions in Aleppo known as “al-Buraq al-Islamiya,” said in a telephone interview that rebel forces had not lost any ground and were prepared for a government assault.
Located near the Turkish border, Aleppo is Syria’s largest city and before the war was a bustling hub of commerce, prized for both its beauty and ancient treasures. As the rebellion grew after the government’s bloody crackdown against largely peaceful protesters in March 2011, Aleppo was at first spared the worst of the violence. But in July 2012, rebels aligning themselves with the Free Syrian Army stormed the city and after months of brutal urban battles, established control in many areas. The strategic victory came at a great cost, reducing whole neighborhoods to rubble and leaving scores dead or wounded. “We will have martyrs no doubt,” he said, “but we will kill a lot of them.”
As the fighting has worn on, residents who remained in the city have suffered from shortages of oil, food, medicine, doctors and gas. In all, more than 90,000 people have been killed in fighting across the country, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday. Abu Louay, an activist in Aleppo, said that rebels were preparing for heavy fighting around the airport as well.
In recent weeks, Mr. Assad’s military has been emboldened, scoring key victories in strategically important areas and gaining the unreserved backing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group. Earlier this month, government forces managed to recapture the strategic city of Qusayr, near the border with Lebanon, which had been under the control of insurgents for a year. The city had provided a conduit for the insurgency to funnel weapons and fighters from Lebanon. Located near the Turkish border, Aleppo is Syria’s largest city and before the war was a hub of commerce, prized for both its beauty and ancient treasures. As the rebellion grew after the government’s bloody crackdown against largely peaceful protesters in March 2011, Aleppo was at first spared the worst of the violence. But in July 2012, rebels aligning themselves with the Free Syrian Army stormed the city, and after months of brutal urban battles it established control in many areas. The strategic victory came at a great cost, reducing neighborhoods to rubble and leaving scores dead or wounded.
The government soldiers were backed by Hezbollah militants and together they successfully drove out Sunni rebels following a drawn-out battle, which brought deepening sectarian schisms into sharp relief. The battle for Qusayr marked a clear setback for rebel forces, prompting many observers to refer to it as a turning point in the Syrian conflict. As the fighting has worn on, residents who remained have suffered from shortages of oil, food, medicine, doctors and gas. In all, more than 90,000 people have been killed in fighting across the country, according to a United Nations report released on Thursday.
In recent weeks, Mr. Assad’s military has been emboldened, scoring key victories in strategically important areas and gaining the unreserved backing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group. Earlier this month, government forces managed to recapture the strategic city of Qusayr, near the Lebanese border, which had been under the control of insurgents for a year. The city had provided a conduit of weapons and fighters from Lebanon to the insurgents.
The government soldiers were backed by Hezbollah militants, and together they successfully drove out Sunni rebels following a drawn-out battle, which brought deepening sectarian schisms into sharp relief. The battle for Qusayr marked a clear setback for rebel forces, prompting many observers to refer to it as a turning point in the Syrian conflict.
If the recent military gains hold, the embattled Mr. Assad will have more leverage on the diplomatic front during an international conference set in Geneva, which is expected to take place later this month.If the recent military gains hold, the embattled Mr. Assad will have more leverage on the diplomatic front during an international conference set in Geneva, which is expected to take place later this month.
However, his position will be complicated by the Obama administration’s conclusion, announced Thursday, that government forces have used chemical weapons against rebel forces during the course of the civil war. Mr. Obama has long said that the use of such weapons represented a “red line.” However, his position will be complicated by the Obama administration’s conclusion, announced Thursday, that government forces have used chemical weapons against rebel forces. Mr. Obama has long said that the use of such weapons represented a “red line.”
Intelligence officials believe 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks, but caution that the number could be much higher. Intelligence officials believe 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks, but they cautioned that the number could be much higher.
The Assad government has denied using such weapons and accused the United State of hypocrisy in a statement released through the official state media on Friday. The Assad government has denied using such weapons and criticized the United State in a statement released through the official state news media on Friday.
“While seeking banal means to justify the U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to arm the Syrian opposition, the U.S. is practicing a flagrant double standard policy in dealing with terrorism,” the statement read.“While seeking banal means to justify the U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to arm the Syrian opposition, the U.S. is practicing a flagrant double standard policy in dealing with terrorism,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are urging Mr. Obama to go even further in his support for the rebels, including the establishment of a no-flight zone to provide a safe haven for opposition forces. However, imposing a no-flight zone would require the United States to destroy Syria’s air defenses and draw America deeper into a conflict that the Obama administration has been wary of from the outset. Some American lawmakers are urging Mr. Obama to go even further in his support for the rebels, including the establishment of a no-flight zone to provide a haven for opposition forces. However, imposing a no-flight zone would require the United States to destroy Syria’s air defenses and draw America deeper into a conflict that the Obama administration has been wary of from the outset.

Hania Mourtada reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Marc Santora from New York.   

Hania Mourtada reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Marc Santora from New York.