Gegenoffensive in Aleppo

Von Thomas von der Osten-Sacken

Unter Führung der al-Nusra Front, die sich erst kürzlich mit Billigung von Al Qaida von Al Qaida losgesagt hat, haben verschiedene Rebellengruppen in Aleppo eine Großoffensive gestartet um den Belagerungsring zu durchbrechen. Wie lange sie durchhalten werden – schließlich verfügen sie anders als ihre Gegner – über keine Luftunterstützung, ist allerdings fraglich.

Die Bewohner der von Rebellen gehaltenen Stadtviertel Aleppos unterstützen den Angriff, indem sie tausende von Reifen anzünden und, um so, wie sie sagen, eine eigene „No Fly Zone“ zu schaffen.

„Syrian rebels have launched an offensive aimed at breaking a government siege of eastern Aleppo, where the UN estimates some 300,000 people are trapped with dwindling food and medical supplies. A rebel alliance that includes the Jabhat Fatah al Sham group – which was formerly the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front – and the Ahrar al Sham group said it had taken army positions in the southwestern government-held parts of the city within the first few hours of launching a battle to break the siege imposed on rebel-held areas.

Al Jazeera Arabic’c Milad Fadel, who is embedded with Syrian rebels on the edge of Western Aleppo city, said the troops have been preparing for an extended military campaign. ‚Regime forces have several lines of defense protecting Aleppo’s western neighborhoods. This battle could last several days, or maybe even weeks,‘ he said. ‚They will first try to capture the nearby al-Hikmeh school, which is used by regime forces as a military unity. They will also try to capture nearby security points, advancing towards Aleppo’s western neighborhoods.‘“

Artikel zuerst veröffentlicht auf Jungle Blog.