Casualties pile up as Russia strikes Aleppo
Opposition fighters fire shells from their position in Aleppo’s southern countryside, towards regime positions on July 31, 2016.
(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – Syrian regime’s ally Russia launched heavy air strikes overnight on the outskirts of Aleppo city, slowing an assault by rebels seeking to break a government siege.
The assault began on Sunday and is intended to ease the blockade of the opposition-held east of Aleppo city, where an estimated 250,000 residents have been under regime siege since July 17.
Head of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel Rahman in a statement said, “Russian raids didn’t stop all night on the front lines and this has slowed the rebel offensive and allowed regime troops to retake five of the eight positions that rebels had held since Sunday.”
“This battle is the last chance for rebels. If they lose, it will be difficult for them to launch a new assault to break the siege,” Abdel Rahman said.
The Observatory said, “50 rebels and allied jihadists have been killed in the air strikes. Six persons also died and 10 were wounded in a mortar fire upon regime-controlled districts of southwest Aleppo.”
The Observatory added, “At least 30 civilians have been killed since Sunday in rebel bombardment on the government-held districts of Aleppo.”