Syria launches large-scale offensive on Aleppo

Analysts say the battle in Aleppo is of utmost importance to both sides in Syria.

The Syrian army has launched a large-scale offensive against rebels in Aleppo, the country's most populous city and second in importance after the capital Damascus.

Analysts say the battle in Aleppo is of utmost importance to both sides in Syria.

The offensive was launched after the Syrian government deployed several special forces units to the eastern flank of Aleppo, while the southern and southwestern areas received combat helicopter squadrons to prepare for combat.

According to the latest sources, under the support of tanks and fighter jets, the Syrian army has advanced into many southwestern areas where anti-government forces have been concentrated since the attack on July 20.

“Since early morning, artillery has been firing on Salaheddin and Hamdanieh near the center and many other areas,” a witness at the scene said.

Before the fighting broke out, the opposition also stepped up defensive measures such as piling sandbags around fighting positions and setting up field hospitals in some schools and mosques.

However, with limited weapons and ammunition, this force was unable to cope with the heavy weapons of the government forces. The fighting forced many Aleppo civilians to run to shelters and left at least 12 people dead.

Analysts say the battle in Aleppo is of utmost importance to both sides in Syria.

Under President Bashar al-Assad's regime, it is the commercial capital of northwestern Syria and home to a large number of businessmen, who remain strong supporters of the government.

Meanwhile, for the opposition, Aleppo is the "key" to controlling the North and is on the way to "rewriting the Benghazi script" in Libya before. By capturing Aleppo, the opposition will establish a safe buffer zone for reorganizing their ranks, training fighters and receiving weapons from outside.

International call for ceasefire

Before the counter-offensive in Aleppo, the United Nations (UN), the US, the UK and many Western countries called on factions in Syria to cease fire to prevent a possible humanitarian disaster.

“The United Nations is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Syria. I call on the Assad regime to immediately stop these attacks and make clear that chemical weapons will not be used under any circumstances,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in London.

“Attacks in Aleppo could cause a real humanitarian disaster,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and British Prime Minister David Cameron called on the UN Security Council, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), and the Arab League (AL) to step up international efforts.

Meanwhile, the head of the Syrian National Council (SNC) Abdel Basset Sayda asked the international community to arm the Syrian rebels.

"We want weapons that can stop tanks and fighter jets. That's what we need," Mr Sayda told reporters in Abu Dabi.

Mr Sayda also urged the SNC's foreign allies to intervene in Aleppo outside the framework of the UN Security Council and put President Assad on trial for "massacre".

However, Russia warned that foreign support would only cause more bloodshed, as the Syrian government would not bow to the rebels.

“A tragedy is possible in Aleppo and the opposition bears some responsibility,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned at a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

According to statistics, there are currently nearly 3 million people living in Aleppo, which suddenly fell into war a week ago after government forces repelled attacks in the capital Damascus./.

According to VOV.vn - DT