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Syrian Opposition Vows to Break Aleppo’s Siege | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A man walks with the aid of a crutch past damaged buildings in the old city of Aleppo June 27, 2015. Reuters


Beirut – Syrian regime and allies took advantage of incidents in Turkey and launched series of airstrikes on opposition-controlled areas to the west of Aleppo. They targeted medical centers including Omar bin Abdul Aziz Hospital which is now out of service.

This came hours after the Washington-Moscow agreement to some serious procedure to try and save the cease-fire in Syria. Meanwhile, Syrian Opposition vowed to launch its “Aleppo Battle” soon to break its siege.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) declared that, “Eleven civilians, including four children, were killed by air raids after midnight in the Bab al-Nasr area of Old Aleppo, and seven others were killed in Fardous neighborhood.”

Military source at the Syrian Opposition said that the rebels are trying to exert all needed pressure to break Aleppo’s siege. The source told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that during the last few hours, opposition fighters were able able to target regime sites in the municipal building and Aleppo citadel, killing and injuring a number of them.

The military source also revealed that revolutionary factions, including Fatah army, are preparing for the big Aleppo battle to liberate it. He added that there are over 25 fronts in Aleppo and the rebels can succeed in penetrating one of them and breaking the siege.

Meanwhile, Agence France Press (AFP) published a report during which it said that eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo are under constant raids.

AFP correspondent reported that Omar bin Abdul Aziz hospital in the Maadi neighborhood was hit in the bombing, wounding some of the staff and patients inside. The hospital was also targeted with barrels forcing the administration to shut down.

Activist Abdul Qader Allaf pointed out that the hospital is now completely out of service. He mentioned that this the fourth time in two years that the regime targets the hospital.

Allaf told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the regime took advantage of the incidents in Turkey and diversion of the failed coup and intensified its air raids on opposition areas in Aleppo.

He explained that this bombarding is aggravating the sufferings of the besieged people because, and according to Allaf’s information, the food supplies can barely last for a month.

AFP added that opposition responded to the attack by bombing the western neighborhood under regime control.

The latest field developments came after a lengthy 12-hours talks between U.S. State Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov in Moscow. They had reached a common understanding on the steps now needed to get Syria’s peace process back on track.

It is worth mentioning that since 2012, regime and opposition had divided control over Aleppo’s neighborhoods, second largest city in Syria. Over 200 thousand citizens have been under siege in the eastern neighborhoods since last week after Syrian regime was able to gain control over Castello Road.

As for Aleppo countryside, and Menbij front specifically, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were able to control the national hospital in Menbij city under ISIS control.

Syrian News Desk reported fighter of SDF Ahmad Ibrahim saying that the forces have gained full control over the hospital and a number of surrounding buildings following fierce clashes with ISIS fighters.

Ibrahim confirmed that the clashes led to the death and injury of over 40 ISIS fighter, while eight members of SDF were killed and 19 others injured. He added that forces are now on the outskirts of al-Rabta streets in Menbij west neighborhoods.