11 Killed in Syria’s Aleppo as Russian Troops Clash With Shi’ite Militias

Reports suggest two sides are contesting control over checkpoints

With Syria’s major northern city of Aleppo already facing rocket fire from al-Qaeda forces in Idlib, the pro-government forces within the city itself are now causing trouble, with at least 11 reported killed in fighting between the Russian military and Shi’ite militias.

Details are still emerging, but the fighting seems to have taken place near a vegetable market, and several civilians are among the slain, and there are conflicting ideas of what caused the fighting in the first place.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights suggested that control over checkpoints was a big priority, with both sides charging people to cross the checkpoints, and considering it a substantial money-maker.

Others suggest recent Israeli airstrikes near Aleppo are also fueling the tensions, with some of the militias believing that Russia is effectively coordinating with Israel on the strikes, and looking to benefit when the militias end up in the line of fire.

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.