Matthew Weaver
Lebanon Daily Star
June 10, 2013
DAMASCUS/BEIRUT: Syria’s army is preparing to launch an assault on
Aleppo aimed at driving rebels out of the northern city and surrounding
province, according to media reports and security sources Sunday.
The preparations came five days after the army and its ally Hezbollah retook Qusair in center-west Syria, a year after the strategic region had fallen into rebel hands.
“It is likely the battle for Aleppo will start in the coming hours or
days, and its aim is to reclaim the towns and villages [under rebel
control] in the province,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“The Syrian Arab army is ready to carry out its mission in this province,” the source said.
Analysts say its success in Qusair has given the army the confidence
to try to suppress the insurgency elsewhere in the strife-torn country.
Full article here
