Member of the Syrian Coalition’s political committee Fouad Aliko warned of a potential humanitarian disaster in Aleppo should the Assad regime and its allies carry on with their plans to encircle the city.
Aliko said that the Assad regime and its allies have already escalated brutal attacks in Aleppo in recent days, slamming the failure of the friendly countries, particularly the European Union and the United States, to provide sufficient support for the political and military opposition compared to the support Russia and Iran provide for the Assad regime.
Activists said that 30 civilians at least were killed and many more wounded in airstrikes by the Assad regime and Russian forces on rebel-held neighborhoods in Aleppo as well as on Aleppo’s rural areas on Tuesday. Russian and regime forces have conducted over 30 air raids on Aleppo since yesterday morning.
The military escalation by Russia and the Assad regime in and around Aleppo in recent days is clearly aimed at forcing residents of those areas to leave their homes in preparation for a ground attack.
A correspondent for Al Jazeera TV channel said that a high-ranking Russian officer is co-directing the military campaign on Aleppo.
Regime forces, in cooperation with the PYD militias, seek to cut off the Castello road, the last supply route to the rebel-held parts of the city.
Aliko reiterated that negotiations with the Assad regime in Geneva could not be resumed unless Articles 12 and 13 of the UN Security Council resolution 2254 are enforced. He also stressed the need for a clear timetable for the political process beginning with the formation of a transitional governing body without Assad and his inner circle. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)
