Fighting Rages in Syria’s Aleppo, Damascus

Rebels Claim 60 Bodies Found in Damascus 'Massacre'

With the UN observer mission scheduled to formally expire this weekend, the Syrian Civil War is getting bloodier all the time, and fighting rages in both the capital city of Damascus and the nation’s largest city of Aleppo.

State media reported that the fighting in Aleppo is nearing the city’s key airport. The military airfield at the airport is being used by the government for air strikes on rebel forces in the region.

Foreign Minister Walid Moallem insisted that the military will eventually oust the rebels, adding that “those who think that the Syrian Arab army will be defeated are dreaming.” At the same time, the fighting seems to be going on far longer than either side figures, and looks to be close to a stalemate.

Meanwhile fighting in Damascus seems to be worsening all the time, and rebels claim to have found 60 bodies in one of the contested suburbs, claiming it was evidence of a “massacre.” Since past claims of massacres by the rebels have not proven to be very reliable, the details and accuracy of the claim remain unclear.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.