Maria’s note: The battle for Aleppo

Last Friday, U.N’s Human Rights Office accused Bashar el Asad’s troops of going from house to house, razing areas considered opposition strongholds and killing rebels and civilians. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said reports are coming out of Damascus announcing massacres of civilians, including any suspected of fighting with the opposition.  Pillay expressed her concern for the extrajudicial killings and sniper attacks that are taking place in different district of the capital. In addition to this, she has appealed rebels and government troops to respect civilians in Aleppo during the “imminent major confrontation” that is expected in the city.

Hundreds of rebels are ready for an imminent military offensive of Assad’s forces in Syria’s second city, Aleppo. Tanks and troops of the regime are gathering around the city and scattered onslaughts have already begun between both parts. The Syrian newspaper “Al Watan” defined the coming clash as “the mother of all battles”, for its importance to determine the fate of the country. 

Fearing an approaching attack, many families in the rebel areas have fled their houses and those who remain have been relocated in mosques, schools and in Alepo’s university.

The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and the Arab League in Syria, Norwegian General Robert Mood, has joined those who believe that the days of el Asad in power are numbered and the fall of his regime is a matter of time. 

British foreign secretary William Hague said today, “no nation should stand silent while people in Aleppo are threatened with a potential massacre”. 

Again, there seems to be no near-term solution to the Syrian nightmare.