FOR weeks, the Syrian regime has been sending text messages warning residents of the rebel-held eastern half of Aleppo that they face “annihilation” unless they leave the city. Sceptical, with ample reason, of the regime’s promise of safe passage, few have done so. Instead, they have been bracing themselves for the next wave of bombing.
Their wait came to an end on November 15th as Syrian warplanes, attack helicopters and heavy artillery pounded neighbourhoods in the east of the city for the first time in weeks. The renewed onslaught on Aleppo came the day after a telephone conversation between Donald Trump, America’s president-elect, and Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president. Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced the start of an operation to “deliver massive strikes” against terrorist targets in the provinces of Homs and Idlib. Activists in the city say that Russian warplanes are also now back in action over Aleppo, although the Russian government denies this. It is possible that the renewed assault on Aleppo is being conducted only by the Syrian regime’s planes.
The resumption of bombing comes a week after...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/2f88vb3
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