Aleppo Becomes the Arena of the Syria Civil War

Babacar Gaye

Aleppo, the second largest city of Syria, has become the battlefield of this country’s civil war after a major rebel assault in the capital Damascus. Now government forces are focusing to Aleppo since the rebels claim to control 50 percent of the city.

Aleppo is a strategic location for the rebels due to its position near the Turkish border where weapons can be acquired. It is said that foreign fighters are joining the opposition. Meanwhile the government forces used warplanes to bomb rebels armed with rifles and machine guns.

The new leader of the UN observer mission, Babacar Gaye arrived to Damascus when several observers return home. The UN mission was extended 30 days but Russia has blocked any further extension.

According to the British-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, around 19,000 people have died since the conflict began, most of the victims are civilians. (AV)