DUSHANBE, October14, 2015, Asia-Plus –
Reuters
reported on October 13 that Syria”s army along with Iranian and Hezbollah allies will soon launch a ground attack supported by Russian air strikes against insurgents in the Aleppo area.
Control of Aleppo city and the surrounding province in the area near the Turkish border is reportedly divided among the Syrian government, insurgent groups fighting Assad and the Islamic State group that controls some rural areas near the city.
A senior regional official was quoted as saying, “The big battle preparations in that area are clear.” “There is a large mobilization of the Syrian army … elite Hezbollah fighters, and thousands of Iranians who arrived in stages in recent days.”
Islamic State and other insurgents, including groups backed by Assad”s foreign enemies, have been fighting each other north of the city in an area of territory where Turkey and the United States have been laying plans to crush Islamic State, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq.
The offensive, which both officials said would begin soon, would expand on a ground attack by the same alliance last week that is targeting rebels in Hama province farther west. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said thousands of Iranian troops had arrived to take part in the offensives in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
With support from Russian air strikes, which began on September 30, and help from Lebanon”s Hezbollah and Iranian soldiers, the Syrian army is trying to drive insurgents from western areas crucial to Assad”s survival, and has recaptured a number of towns in the provinces of Hama and Latakia.
The United States and Russia are conducting separate air campaigns in Syria, which they have said are targeting Islamic State.
But Washington has said Moscow”s campaign has mainly targeted other insurgent groups including those that have fought Islamic State. Russia has denied the allegation.
In an audio message on October 13, Islamic State, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq, urged Muslims to launch a “holy war” against Russians and Americans.
The rebels are reportedly hoping for more military support from Arab states, notably Saudi Arabia, which has warned Russia its intervention will escalate the war and inspire more foreign fighters to go to Syria to fight.
Interfax
news agency reported on October 13 that Russia”s air force carried out 88 sorties in the last 24 hours, one of the biggest totals of its campaign.
According to some media outlets, hundreds of Iranian troops arrived in Syria in early October to join a major ground offensive in support of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Two Lebanese sources told
Reuters
on October 2 that hundreds of Iranian troops had reached Syria in the past 10 days with weapons to mount a major ground offensive. They would also be backed by Assad’s Lebanese Hezbollah allies and by fighters from Iraq, while Russia would provide air support.
