Heavy airstrikes against the Nusra Front-held half of the Syrian city of Aleppo began Friday, with officials saying it was to lay the groundwork for a ground invasion. This appears to have begun today, with Syrian ground troops pushing their way into the Farafra District.
The airstrikes killed over 200 people from Friday through Monday, and 11 people were reported killed in airstrikes again today, though the strikes seem to be more limited, as heavy fighting begins on the ground, with the Syrian military believing they can gain control of the city.
The early push was successful, as the Farafra District, in the city’s center, has been captured in the fighting. Syrian military officials say the offensive will continue until they control the entire city and have “wiped out” the insurgency.
Aleppo has been contested since 2012, and while several factions have come and gone, in recent months the military and Nusra Front have each controlled half. While Aleppo was long seen by many as the key to the entire civil war, it is unclear how much value the city has as a strategic asset anymore, after years of heavy destruction.
It has immense value. The terrorists who fancied themselves as rulers of Syria will have to be defeated. How can otherwise civilization survive if anyone with guns can take cities as hostages — and dictate to civilians for years depriving them of normal life. Syria is perhaps an example to the world what any evil power can do to you if you choose to disobey. The safety and security of small countries can no longer be taken for granted as their state snd institutions can be undermined by any number of methods. Where can small countries now seek protection when the international law is no longer respected. Terrorists used chemical weapons but government was blamed. They committed attricious crimes yet they are protected just as US now protects the skies over ISIS. There is every reason to destroy terrorists and the commercial value is the last of all the problems in and around Aleppo. Many countries will now pay more attention to groups stocking up weapons . And who is paying them — supplying them and politically coddling them.
This will rest in less democracy around the globe as nobody wants to be another Syria. Geopolitical changes are inevitable.
Syrian troops “invade” Aleppo?
Try “Liberate”.
Aleppo (known is the Arab world as Halab) is a cultural Hub of Syria.
no group can claim control of Syria without it.
Assad’s forces will do all they can to make this city part of a future Alawite/Shia state that will replace northern Syria
Assad’s “forces” are majority Sunni. The SAA is 60% Sunni, the parliament is 70% sunni, FFS even his wife is Sunni.
This is NOT Shia/Allawite vs Sunni (that is Wahabbi militant & Saudi propaganda). This war is secular/moderate Syrian against Wahabbi Jihadist extremism.
Actually it is a Shiite Muslim versus Sunni Muslims conflict you have the Iranian backed Hezbollah militants from Lebanon fighting the Sunni Muslims supported by the Saudi Arabian and Sunni Turkey C.I.A.trained mercenaries embedded in Syria Russia defending the Syrian Regime actually fighting for the only base it has in the region.This won’t end with Aleppo but it’s really sad for the people who live there.I know the real reason everyone comments on this sight is because they want war to stop and not to invoke intolerant or RACIST views.Alot of people have made very hateful comments about the Jewish people that border on hateful propaganda might want to be careful you honestly never know who could be a FBI agent embedded on this site believe me they’re watching and have been.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but hateful propaganda isn’t illegal.
Yes, the FBI keeps an eye on us. We’ve known that for a long time. They can watch all they like.
Where’d you get those figures from???Sounds made up I mean what to believe the nonsense coming out of your mouth or my lying eyes…Its obvious it’s a Muslim holy war for more influence in the region and the world powers are using each side Shiite and Sunni as proxies you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out…
Sectarian language is something the west likes to fall back on when it cannot describe what is happening in truthful terms, as it would conflict with their interests. Look up the Iraq Salvador Option.
In other words, violent foreign intervention designed specifically to cause internecine warfare is unleashed upon resisting populations. It would be the same here if the roles were reversed. You’d hear about Catholic vs Methodist vs Black vs White vs Jewish…etc, etc.
WTF. Jason, how in the hell can an army invade it’s own country. I’m truly mystified. How about attacked the enemy?
invade: “to enter forcefully as an enemy; go into with hostile intent”
Presumably the Syrian army didn’t walk in carrying flowers and picnic baskets. Neither did the Allies in 1944 when they invaded France at Normandy.
‘Liberate’ would be a better word.
Of course, the Telegraph and the NYTimes are both basically CIA news services, and the CIA is arming and supporting Al-Qaeda, so of course they can’t say ‘Liberating’.
Syrian troops are not “invading” Aleppo, they are LIBERATING Aleppo.
Keep the attack rolling until the filthy Wahabbi foat-guckers are nothing but a foul-smelling greasy smear festering under the midday sun.
YAY!!! ….. nothing like waking up in the morning to read that the Sham-CIA-Qaeda terrorists are getting their butts kicked! Great news!
And, language does matter. The Telegraph and the NYTimes always try to misdirect with language. I grew up with the language that somehow we were ‘defending’ Vietnam, where the proper descriptive words would have been ‘invading’, ‘bombing’ and ‘destroying’ that country.
And, BTW, if Al-Qaeda comes in and takes my town by force, I hope someone does come along and bomb them and liberate me. No matter how much the NYTimes hates that idea.
Yeah, because public-facing web sites with open comments have to be “infiltrated.”
I bet that when you go to the convenience store for a bag of jerky you put on commando facepaint and a stocking cap and “infiltrate” your way there, don’t you?
What happened to the last comment I posted in response to yours???Please atleas be un-biased if you’re going to post snarky comments about my post than delete my response to those comments in the form of modernisation don’t troll my posts and delete my reaction.I know you’re for censorship because the countries you support have no REAL freedom of the press but don’t do that on this site o.k. I choose to support America and the troops who defend our freedom we may not agree but don’t respond to my posts and delete my reaction…
Let’s take this from the top:
Antiwar.com has automated filters that hold some comments for moderation based on both Disqus criteria and customizations made by Antiwar.com. When that happens, I approve (most) or delete (those which are spam or hate speech) when I get by to have a look (which is several times a day but not my full-time job).
The next time I delete a comment for disagreeing with me will be the first time I delete a comment for disagreeing with me.
All that said, let’s be very clear here: You don’t get to give me orders. To the extent that anyone is in charge here, it’s not you.
Never see any references to the term “invasion” by union forces in our Civil War in the history books.
Truly. The Shenandoah Valley Campaign left lessons and scars that still resonate today.
Syria and Iran are unique situations so there’s still hope. Thanks to a US president at a crucial time period when Russia was regaining it’s influence in the world. The window of unchallenged US aggression that began with the first Gulf war has now been slammed shut. This is the only reason why progress on the PNAC agenda is stalled and is taking so long to complete.
Now the question has become, can Russia and China’s will to assert their influence in the ME survive US alignment with terrorists and the arming of terrorists. An allout US invasion is now impossible because of the threat of MAD. However, the wild card which is Trump could change that which has saved the world from a US led nuclear war. When the American people realize that Trump can’t make America great again by peaceful means then will the American people go along willingly with Trump when he fulfills his promise by other means? And will Russia and China back down and allow it to happen to Syria and Iran?