|
 Syrian government troops and their allies broke through rebel
defenses to reach two Shi'ite villages in northern Aleppo province
on Wednesday, choking opposition supply lines from Turkey to Aleppo
city.
The assault in northern Aleppo province, backed by hundreds of
Russian air strikes there, has also prompted tens of thousands of
people to flee toward the Turkish border and helped derail peace
talks in Geneva.
Hassan Haj Ali, the head of a prominent Free Syrian Army group
called Liwa Suqour al-Jabal that has received U.S. military training
in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, said the aerial bombardment continued.
"The Russian cover continues night and day, there were more than 250
air strikes on this area in one day," he told Reuters.
 "The regime is now trying to expand the area it has taken control
of," he said. "Now the northern countryside (of Aleppo province) is
totally encircled, and the humanitarian situation is very
difficult."
Hezbollah's Al Manar television said government forces and allied
fighters had taken over the town of Ratyan, which lies close to
areas they captured on Wednesday.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the
"symbolic" capture of Ratyan, but Haj Ali said it had not yet
fallen.
"There are very heavy battles in Ratyan, and an attempt by the
regime to storm it. But until now they haven't been able to enter,"
he said.
[to top of second column] |
Haj Ali reiterated calls for countries backing Syrian rebels to send
more military aid, including anti-aircraft missiles, but said he
held out little hope for the latter.
"We demand daily more support, but the issue of anti-aircraft
(weapons) has become a dream ... the dream that will not come true,"
he said.
U.S.-made TOW missiles, or guided anti-tank missiles, are the most
potent weapon in the rebel arsenal and have been supplied to vetted
rebel groups as part of a program of military support overseen by
the Central Intelligence Agency.
But while they have helped rebels to slow advances on the ground,
they are of little use against fighter bombers.
(Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
