Assad’s tanks move on Aleppo rebels

SYRIA: Syrian tanks stormed a rebel-held district of Aleppo on Wednesday, sparking fierce clashes that a security official said marked the start of a long-threatened ground assault on the key battleground city.

The assault on the country's commercial capital came as Amnesty International raised concerns about the plight of civilians in the city and warned both sides they would be held accountable for any attacks on civilians.

“The assault has genuinely begun,” the security official in Damascus told AFP.

“The army is advancing to cut (the southwestern rebel redoubt of) Salaheddin in two. It will not take long, even if there are still some pockets of resistance.” On Sunday, an official had said the army had massed 20,000 troops for the assault to recover Aleppo, of which the rebels claim they hold half. He said the insurgents had 6,000-8,000 men.

Wassel Ayub, a commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, told AFP “regime forces advanced into Al-Malaab Street (in Salaheddin) with tanks and armoured vehicles, and fierce fighting is now taking place in the area.” A rebel commander said his men were being prevented from mounting a counter-attack by snipers.

The army first shelled several districts of the northwestern city before dawn.

AFP